St. Kitts Citizenship by Investment Program

Introduction to the St.Kitts Citizenship by Investment Program

St.Kitts Passport St. Kitts & Nevis (St. Christopher & Nevis) Citizenship-by-Investment Program was established in 1984 under the regulations of the 1984 Citizenship Act, Section 3 (5) making it the longest established Citizenship-by-Investment Program. Citizenship is granted based on a substantial contribution within St Kitts & Nevis.

Investors of good character and repute can opt to make a contribution to the development of St Kitts & Nevis and in return are given the opportunity to apply for citizenship and a passport within the legal framework of the Federation of St Kitts & Nevis.

In 1983 independence was gained from Britain and a twin island federation was formed; Nevis with an area of 93.2 km² and St Kitts with 168.4 km². The Federation is a British Commonwealth nation with the Head of State being Queen Elizabeth II and a well functioning democracy based on Britain's parliamentary system.

The St. Kitts & Nevis Citizenship-by-Investment Program facilitates you and your family's ease of travel throughout the world to over 100 countries visa free. Holding St. Kitts & Nevis citizenship also gives expansion on your business opportunities without being taxed on worldwide income.

Qualification Requirements

Applicants for the St. Kitts & Nevis Citizenship-by-Investment program need to be of outstanding character with:

no criminal record,
excellent health,
high personal net worth, and
make an investment in a government-approved Real Estate development, or monetary contribution to the Sugar Industry Diversification Foundation (SIDF).

Investment options

Sugar Industry Diversification Foundation (SIDF) Contribution

High net worth individuals may also choose to make a monetary contribution to the Sugar Industry Diversification Foundation via one of the prescribed contribution levels as follows:

USD $250,000 - Single Applicant
USD $300,000 - Family with up to 3 dependents (spouse + 2 children below 18 yrs)
USD $350,000 - Family with up to 5 dependents (spouse + 4 children below 18 yrs)
USD $450,000 - Family with up to 7 dependents (spouse + 6 children below 18 yrs)
USD $50,000 - Additional per person above 7 dependents
USD $50,000 - Each child 18-24 yrs (up until a day before 25th birthday)
USD $7,500 - Due diligence for Main Applicant
USD $4,000 - Due diligence for each dependent above 16 yrs

Real Estate Option A - Redeemable Preferred Share Offer (Buy Back Option)

The Redeemable Preferred Share Offer (RPSO), is Kittitian Hill Resort Development's exclusive product with Arton Capital and is commonly referred to as the Buy Back Option. The offer allows applicants to purchase a share within a specially appointed Cottage Suites within the development for a purchase price of USD $400,000.

The applicant is renouncing any income or dividends from the company, in exchange for the guaranteed option to re-sell the property back to the developer after 5 years.

After the 5 year "must hold" period the purchaser will have the option to:

Redeem their share for the exact same purchase amount (USD $400,000), or
Re-sell the property to a private buyer, who can also apply for St. Kitts & Nevis Citizenship, or
Choose to retain ownership.

Owners of Redeemable Preference Shares benefits:

Owners are entitled to 7 free nights of accommodation per year of use of a four-bedroom Cottage Suite during the Resort Season.
Qualified persons will receive complimentary membership to Preferred Residences. Preferred Residences membership allows members to trade their use time with other resorts in the Preferred Residences network worldwide.*
Will receive complimentary membership to the Kittitian Hill Golf and Tennis Club.
Receive annual audited accounts of the Special Purpose Company that will reflect the actual financial performance of the property during the five-year period.
Will not pay any Home Owners Association (HOA) fees, Property Taxes, Property Insurances or any other costs associated with the property.

*Membership in the Preferred Residences Program will not be offered to citizens of countries currently on the US sanction list. This list may change with time.

Real Estate Option B - Property Investment

The property purchased must be minimum USD $400,000 in a government-approved real estate development. The property must be owned and maintained for a minimum of five years.

Property registration, processing fees and taxes must be paid in addition to the property purchase.

Real Estate (option A or B) Government Fees:

USD $50,000 - Main Applicant
USD $25,000 - Spouse
USD $25,000 - Child below 18 yrs
USD $50,000 - Child above 18 yrs
USD $7,500 - Due diligence of Main Applicant
USD $4,000 - Due diligence for each dependent above 16 yrs

Note: All fees indicated became effective as of January 1st, 2012.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Citizenship-by-Investment program approved by the St. Kitts & Nevis government?

Yes. St. Kitts & Nevis (St. Christopher & Nevis) Citizenship-by-Investment Program was established in 1984 under the regulations of the 1984 Citizenship Act, Part II, Section 3 (5).

Benefits of St. Kitts & Nevis Citizenship

As one of the oldest of its kind in the world, the St.Kitts & Nevis Citizenship by Investment Program provides the following prime benefits:

Fast processing within 4 months with inclusion of dependent children below 25 years of age
No physical residency requirements
No travel requirement during the application process to St.Kitts & Nevis
No interview, education or management experience required
Obtain visa-free travel to more than 100 countries including Schengen Zone (25 EU countries), Canada, UK, Hong Kong, Singapore, etc.
No tax on worldwide income.

Furthermore, St.Kitts & Nevis recognize dual citizenship, therefore you can still benefit from your current Citizenship status.

The application process

The below summarized timeline is based on the required process that should be followed by all applicants for the Citizenship-by-Investment Program in St.Kitts & Nevis.

The procedure follows 6 basic steps, which are dependent on the successful completion of the previous step.

FAQ

What are the requirements and financing options to apply for this Program?

The main requirements to enter into the St Kitts & Nevis program are based on the investment of either purchasing real estate or making a donation into the SIDF. Additional requirements enforced include the good character, police clearances and security background checks of applicant and dependents if applicable, as well as medical and HIV testing.