St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment
St Kitts and Nevis operates the world's oldest continuously running citizenship by investment program, established in 1984. The primary route is the Sustainable Island State Contribution (SISC), a non-refundable donation starting at $250,000 for a single applicant. A real estate route is also available for qualifying approved developments. The program offers one of the strongest Caribbean passports with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to the UK, Schengen area, and 157 destinations in total. No residency, travel, or language requirement applies. Due diligence is conducted by the Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU) with support from international screening firms.
Program Details
- Individual Cost
- $250,000
- Family of 4 Cost
- $295,000
- Processing Time
- 6 months
- Residency Required
- None; no physical presence required
- Due Diligence
- Enhanced
- Visa-Free Destinations
- 157
- Dual Citizenship
- Accepted
- Renunciation Required
- No
Cost Breakdown
| Item | Amount (USD) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Sustainable Island State Contribution (SISC) — individual | $250,000 | Non-refundable government contribution; family of 4 is $295,000 |
| Due diligence fees — main applicant | $10,000 | |
| Due diligence fees — spouse | $10,000 | |
| Processing fees | $1,000 | Per applicant |
| Legal/agent fees (estimate) | $15,000 |
Nationality Restrictions
This program does not accept applications from nationals of: Nationals of Iran, North Korea, and certain sanctioned states are ineligible
Investment Routes
| Route | Amount (USD) | Lock-up (years) | Exit-Value Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Government Fund Donation | $250,000 | — | Sustainable Island State Contribution (SISC). Non-refundable. Single applicant: USD 250,000. Family of 4: USD 295,000. Raised from USD 150,000 (single) in the 2023 program reform. Source: ciu.gov.kn |
| Real Estate | $400,000 | 7 | Approved real estate development purchase. Minimum USD 400,000 (raised from USD 200,000 pre-2023 reform). 7-year holding period before resale to another CBI applicant; 5 years for resale to non-CBI buyer. Liquidity depends heavily on the specific development and buyer market. Only CIU-approved developments qualify. |
Realistic Total Timeline
4–8 months
End-to-end from application submission to passport issuance, based on recent reported timelines. Times assume a complete file; source- of-funds gaps or refusals can extend significantly.
Due Diligence
- Provider
- St Kitts & Nevis Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU) with third-party background screening firms (BDO, Control Risks)
- Depth Level
- enhanced
Common Disqualifiers
- ⚠Criminal record including minor offences in some categories
- ⚠Nationality of Iran, North Korea, or currently OFAC/EU-sanctioned states
- ⚠Failure to disclose all nationalities held
- ⚠Adverse findings in international law-enforcement databases
- ⚠Source-of-funds inadequately explained
- ⚠Previous CBI application refusal in another Caribbean jurisdiction
Approved Agents
Applications must be submitted through a licensed agent approved by the programme authority.
Official approved-agents directory →Family Inclusion
- Siblings
- Not included
- Parents Min Age
- 65+
- Max Child Age
- 30
- Grandparents
- Not included
Spouse and children under 18 included. Dependent children aged 18–30 in full-time education may be included. Parents and grandparents aged 65+ who are financially dependent may be included for additional fees. Unmarried siblings are not eligible.
Travel Benefits
- Visa-Free Destinations
- 157
- Schengen
- ✓
- UK
- ✓
- US E-2 Treaty
- —
- Canada eTA
- —
Post-Citizenship Tax Implications
St Kitts and Nevis has no income tax, capital gains tax, wealth tax, or inheritance tax. Holding St Kitts citizenship does not create a tax obligation unless you physically reside in St Kitts. There is no territorial or worldwide-income tax system to be concerned with for non-residents. Note: citizenship-based taxation countries (e.g., the United States) may still tax their citizens on worldwide income regardless of second nationality held.
Recent Changes
Major program reform: Sustainable Island State Contribution (SISC) replaced the previous Citizenship by Investment Fund. Minimum donation raised to USD 250,000 (single) from USD 150,000. Real estate minimum raised to USD 400,000 from USD 200,000. Enhanced due diligence requirements introduced including mandatory in-person interviews for certain applicants.
source →St Kitts temporarily suspended accepting applications from Russian and Belarusian nationals following international sanctions pressure. Status of this restriction subject to ongoing policy review.
source →
Programme FAQs
Does the St Kitts passport provide access to the UK?
Sources: ciu.gov.kn
Why was the SISC contribution raised from USD 150,000 to USD 250,000 in 2023?
Sources: ciu.gov.kn
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