St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment

What Is St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment?

The Federation of St Kitts and Nevis launched the first modern citizenship by investment programme in 1984. It is administered today by the Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU) under the Citizenship by Investment Unit Act 11 of 2024 and the Citizenship by Substantial Investment Regulations 2023 (SR&O 27 of 2023), as amended by SR&O 20 of 2024 and SR&O 43 of 2024.

Eligible main applicants and their dependants obtain citizenship — and a St Kitts and Nevis passport — by making a qualifying contribution or real estate investment through a government-authorised agent. Citizenship is granted for life and dual citizenship is allowed. The CIU has announced a genuine-link requirement, including physical presence and residency, as part of its redesigned framework — see the FAQ below for what is known so far.

Four Ways to Qualify

Figures are the CIU's published minimum contributions or purchase prices. They do not include due diligence fees, the interview requirement, or — for the real estate and Public Benefit routes — post-approval fees and, for the real estate routes, standard purchase costs such as stamp duty. The CIU has also said that, from 2026, the Programme will begin moving away from contribution-based routes towards residency- and participation-based routes; confirm with your agent that your chosen route is still open before applying.

Who Can Apply?

To qualify as a main applicant, you generally need to:

• Be at least 18 years old.
• Make, or agree to make, one of the qualifying investments or contributions above.
• Pass the CIU's due diligence checks and meet the programme's financial requirements.
• Not be excluded by the CIU's rules: you do not qualify if you have been refused citizenship of any country; have been refused a visa by a country that St Kitts and Nevis citizens can visit visa-free and have not since obtained one; have a criminal record or are under criminal investigation; have been declared bankrupt in the ten years before applying; or are involved in activity likely to bring the Federation into disrepute.

Who Can Be Included as a Dependant?

A main applicant may include the following family members in the same application:

• Their spouse.
• Children under 18 years of age.
• Children aged 18 to 30 who are in full-time attendance at a recognised secondary or tertiary institution and are fully supported by the main applicant, and children of any age who are physically or mentally challenged.
• Parents of the main applicant or of the spouse, aged 55 or over, who live with and are fully supported by the main applicant.

Due Diligence, Interviews and Other Fees

Beyond the investment itself, every applicant pays due diligence fees and takes part in an interview:

• Due diligence fees: USD 10,000 for the main applicant and USD 7,500 for each dependant aged 16 or over.
• The main applicant must attend an interview — conducted by an independent professional firm engaged by the CIU or by CIU officials — either virtually or in person; dependants aged 16 or over may also be interviewed if the CIU considers it necessary.
• The real estate and Public Benefit routes carry post-approval fees: USD 25,000 for the main applicant (real estate routes), USD 15,000 for a spouse, USD 10,000 per dependant under 18 and USD 15,000 per dependant aged 18 or over, plus property purchase costs (mainly compulsory insurance fund contributions and conveyance fees).

Application Process

1. Choose a CIU-authorised agent — applications cannot be submitted directly to the Citizenship by Investment Unit.
2. Complete the required forms and gather supporting documents through your agent.
3. Attend the mandatory interview and undergo the CIU's due diligence review.
4. Once the CIU issues approval-in-principle, make your chosen investment or contribution and pay any remaining fees.
5. Receive your certificate of naturalisation and apply for your St Kitts and Nevis passport.

The CIU aims to confirm whether an application is approved-in-principle, denied or delayed within 120 to 180 days of acknowledging a complete submission.

Why Choose St Kitts and Nevis?

Official source: Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU), St Kitts and Nevis

This page follows the CIU's published CBI options, eligibility criteria and government notices (ciu.gov.kn). Amounts, fees and requirements are set by the St Kitts and Nevis authorities and can change; always confirm current terms with an authorised agent before applying.