St. Kitts & Nevis
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Investment from
USD 250,000
Timeline
4–6 months
Visa-free access
157 countries
Residency required
None
Programme Overview
St. Kitts & Nevis runs the world's oldest citizenship-by-investment programme, operating continuously since 1984. It is also the most expensive Caribbean donation route — a positioning the government uses to signal premium due-diligence standards and protect the passport's visa-free footprint.
Applications cannot be filed directly by investors. Your file must be submitted by a licensed local agent through the Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU), and every applicant aged 16+ should expect a mandatory interview as part of due diligence.
Key Benefits
Investment Details
Sustainable Island State Contribution (SISC) is USD 250,000 for a main applicant or family of up to four. Additional dependants: USD 25,000 under 18, USD 50,000 aged 18+. Due diligence: USD 10,000 main applicant, USD 7,500 each dependant aged 16+. Approved real estate from USD 325,000 (USD 600,000 for a designated single-family home).
Investment Options
Sustainable Island State Contribution (SISC)
USD 250,000
Non-refundable contribution covering a main applicant or family of up to four. Additional dependants: USD 25,000 (under 18) or USD 50,000 (18+).
Approved Real Estate
USD 325,000
Share in a CIU-approved development (USD 600,000 for a designated single-family home). Minimum holding period applies before resale — typically 7 years to sell to another CBI applicant.
Public Benefit Option
USD 250,000
Contribution to an approved public-benefit project. Confirm the current list of approved projects with the CIU.
Passport Mobility
Source: Henley Passport Index. Figures approximate and subject to change.
Application Process
Engage a licensed agent
St. Kitts only accepts files through authorised marketing/local agents. We coordinate with the licensed agent who will file your case.
Document preparation & KYC
Passports, police clearances, source-of-funds evidence, medical certificates, apostilles. Most files take 4–8 weeks to assemble properly.
Submission & due diligence
The CIU runs enhanced due diligence through international firms. Mandatory interview for the main applicant; dependants aged 16+ may also be called.
Approval in principle
Issued once due diligence clears — typically 4–6 months from a complete submission.
Investment & oath
Pay the SISC, complete the real-estate purchase, or fund the approved project; take the oath of allegiance.
Passport issuance
Certificate of registration issued, then passports applied for and couriered.
Eligibility & Disqualifiers
- Main applicant must be 18+ with a clean criminal record
- Verifiable source of funds and source of wealth
- Mandatory interview for the main applicant (virtual)
- Nationals of certain countries are ineligible — the restricted list changes, so confirm before starting
- No language test, education, or residency requirement
Things to Know
Mandatory interview required for the main applicant; dependants aged 16+ may also be called for interview. No language or residency requirement before grant.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there an interview for St. Kitts citizenship by investment?
Yes. The main applicant must attend a mandatory interview — usually virtual — as part of due diligence. Dependants aged 16+ can also be required to attend.
Do I have to visit or live in St. Kitts?
No. There is no residency or physical-presence requirement before or after citizenship is granted.
Can siblings be included?
St. Kitts allows qualifying siblings under defined conditions, along with spouse, children, parents, and grandparents — each paying their own due-diligence and government fees.
What extra fees apply beyond the USD 250,000 contribution?
Government processing, due diligence (USD 10,000 main applicant; USD 7,500 per dependant aged 16+), interview, certificate, and passport fees. Agent/legal fees are separate — get a written all-in quote.
Programme Facts
- Programme type
- Citizenship by Investment
- Residency requirement
- None
- Dual citizenship
- Allowed
- Family inclusion
- Spouse, dependent children, parents, grandparents, siblings
- Tax benefits
- No income tax on foreign-source income
- Official source
- Government website
- Data checked
- 2026-09-29
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