St. Kitts & Nevis
Established in 1984, this is the oldest citizenship by investment program in the world. It grants visa-free access to 150+ countries, including the UK and the Schengen Zone.
Investment routes
Every figure below is the published minimum for a single applicant. Family size, due diligence fees, and government processing fees can adjust the final total.
A single applicant's non-refundable contribution to the government fund; family-of-four applications are priced higher under the current fee schedule.
Purchase of a government-approved development or condo unit, held for a minimum of 7 years before resale. Recovers part or all of the capital depending on the property market at exit.
A higher-tier real estate route buying an approved single-family home, also held for 7 years. Unlike the development/condo route, it cannot be resold to another CBI applicant.
Eligibility at a glance
18 years old for the main applicant.
Investment funds must be demonstrably lawful, supported by bank reference letters and a documented source-of-wealth history.
No criminal record; a police clearance certificate is required for every dependant aged 16 and over.
Spouse, children, and, under current rules, parents and grandparents aged 55 and over of the main applicant or spouse can be included on one application.
A clean medical certificate, including screening for communicable diseases, is required for all applicants.
How the St. Kitts & Nevis process works
Engagement & pre-clearance
We review your background and source of funds before you commit money, to surface anything the government's due diligence would flag later.
Application filing
A licensed local agent submits the full application package to the Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU). St. Kitts & Nevis requires filing through an authorised agent rather than directly.
Due diligence, biometrics & interview
The CIU runs background checks through independent European, UK, and US firms; a mandatory interview and biometric enrolment (fingerprints, facial image, iris scan) are both required, with collection centres available in St. Kitts and a number of overseas cities.
Approval & investment
Once approved in principle, the donation or real estate payment is made and the Certificate of Registration is issued.
Passport issuance
The passport is issued once registration is complete. The full cycle typically runs 3–4 months from filing under current standard processing.
What this program includes
- Visa-free access to 150+ countries
- Commonwealth citizenship
- Spouse and dependants included
- Zero tax on foreign income
- Renewable citizenship, 5-year cycle
Questions about St. Kitts & Nevis
Why does this program require an interview when some others don't?
St. Kitts & Nevis introduced a mandatory applicant interview in 2018 as part of a broader due diligence tightening across the CIU. It's a standard verification step, not a sign your application is under extra scrutiny. Every applicant goes through it.
Is the old 60-day fast-track option still available?
No. The previous Accelerated Application Process, which offered a 60-day turnaround for an added fee, has been discontinued. Standard processing now runs 3–4 months for a clean file.
Can I add a family member after the passport is already issued?
Yes, though it requires a separate add-on application rather than simply amending the original file, and carries its own government and due diligence fees. It's more efficient to include all intended dependants in the initial filing where possible.
Does the real estate route lock me into owning property indefinitely?
No, the 7-year holding period is a minimum, not a permanent commitment. After it lapses, the development/condo route can be resold, including to another CBI applicant; the single-family home route can be resold but not to another citizenship applicant.
Is the $250,000 donation figure per person or per family?
It's the single-applicant contribution. A family of four is priced higher under the government's tiered fee schedule, which adds a fixed amount per additional qualifying dependant.
Find out if St. Kitts & Nevis fits your case
A short consultation confirms eligibility, the realistic total cost for your situation, and the fastest route to approval.
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