St. Kitts Citizenship by Investment Program
The St. Kitts and Nevis immigration law began in 1984, making it one of the earliest citizenship by investment programs globally. St. Kitts citizenship by investment offers visa-free travel to over 160 countries and regions, including the Caribbean, UK, EU, Singapore, Philippines, etc. Applicants can include spouse, children, and parents, and need to meet one of the investment options (donation, PBO, or real estate) to obtain citizenship. Generally, a donation starts from $250,000 USD (new policy as of July 27, 2023), or a real estate purchase of $325,000 USD held for 7 years, or investment in a national public welfare project, to obtain passports for the whole family. The application cycle is stable, with passports issued 6-8 months after submission.
Program Highlights
Donation from $250,000 USD
Visa-free to 165+ countries
No personal income tax
Recognition of dual citizenship
Processing time 4-6 months
Application Process
Sign Contract
Sign service agreement and initiate service
Collect Documents
Collect immigration application documents
Document Preparation
Arrange translation and notarization of immigration materials
Submit Documents
Lawyer reviews complete immigration documents and submits to immigration department
Approval in Principle
Receive approval in principle from immigration department
Complete Investment
Real estate: client remits government application fee and balance of property purchase to designated escrow account; Donation: client remits donation to St. Kitts government account
Obtain Passport
Receive citizenship certificate and original passport
Application Requirements
- Family Members
- Main applicant, spouse, children under 18, and unmarried children aged 18-25 in full-time education, and parents of both main applicant and spouse aged 55 and above.
- Main Applicant Requirements
- Main applicant must be at least 18 years old; no criminal record.
- Investment Options
- Choose one of three: 1) Donation (Sustainable Island State Contribution) from $250,000 USD; 2) Purchase real estate of $325,000 USD or more (can be sold after 7 years); 3) PBO public welfare fund of $250,000 USD.
Fee Details
| Fee Item | Receiving Agency | Amount | Payment Timeline | Refund Policy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Consultation Service Fee | Contracting Company | 50,000 RMB per family | At contract signing | Fully refundable, see contract for details |
| Immigration Lawyer Fee | Immigration Lawyer | Real estate: $15,000 USD per family; SISC donation: $10,000 USD per family | Before submission | Partially refundable |
| Application Form Fee | Local Immigration Department | $250 USD per person | Before submission | Non-refundable |
| Third-party Fees | Third-party Agencies | 10,000-15,000 RMB | Before submission | Non-refundable |
| Medical Examination Fee | Designated Medical Center | 1,500 RMB per person | Before submission | Non-refundable |
| Background Check Fee | Local Immigration Department | Main applicant: $10,000 USD; Spouse: $7,500 USD; Children ≥16: $7,500 USD; Parents: $7,500 USD | Before submission | Non-refundable |
| Real Estate Investment Amount | Property Developer | $400,000 USD | After approval in principle | Fully refundable |
| Real Estate Lawyer Fee | Real Estate Lawyer | From $8,000 USD | After approval in principle | Non-refundable |
| Government Application Fee | Local Immigration Department | Real estate option: Main applicant: $25,000 USD; Spouse: $15,000 USD; Other dependents under 18: $10,000 USD each; Other dependents 18 and above: $15,000 USD each | After approval in principle | Non-refundable |
| SKNA National Bank Background Check Fee | SKNA National Bank | Main applicant: $200 USD; Spouse: $100 USD; Children ≤15: $50 USD each; Children ≥16: $100 USD each; Parents: $100 USD each | After approval in principle | Non-refundable |
| Sustainable Island State Contribution | Local Immigration Department | Main applicant: $250,000 USD; Main applicant + spouse: $300,000 USD; Main applicant + 1 dependent: $300,000 USD; Family of 4 or less: $350,000 USD; Additional dependent under 18: $50,000 USD each; Additional dependent 18 and above: $75,000 USD each | After approval in principle | Non-refundable |
| Citizenship Certificate Fee | Local Immigration Department | $50 USD per person | After approval in principle | Non-refundable |
| Passport Fee | Local Immigration Department | $360 USD per person | After approval in principle | Non-refundable |
Frequently Asked Questions
References & Sources
- 1.St. Kitts Immigration Department Official Website
- 2.St. Kitts Economic Development Department
- 3.Caribbean Community
Author
AiEAC Immigration Consultant
Immigration Consultant