St Kitts & Nevis - International Residency, Immigration and Citizenship by Investment
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St. Kitts and Nevis - Citizenship by Investment Program

St Kitts Citizenship by Investment program has been one of the longest established economic citizenship programs in existence, which has been in operation since 1984 and has a legal base on the provisions of St Kitts Constitution. The Government of St Kitts & Nevis aims to attract suitable investors who are willing to make a substantial contribution to the development of the St Kitts and Nevis Federation.

Sustainable Growth Fund (SGF) (Recently announced)

Government of St. Kitts and Nevis introduced with a press release a new fund called the Sustainable Growth Fund (SGF) and a revised real estate offering under the Citizenship by Investment regime.

According to the government press release, the citizenship by investment under SGF will be as follows:

  1. A single applicant: US $150,000, inclusive of Government fees
  2. The contribution for a family of up to four: US $195,000 following incremental steps

The funds collected under this investment offering will invest in sustainable areas for the benefit of every citizen and resident of St. Kitts and Nevis in the areas of healthcare, education, alternative energy, heritage, infrastructure, tourism and culture, climate change and resilience, and the promotion of indigenous entrepreneurship.

Revised real estate offering:

1.  A US$400,000 investment may now attract two applicants at US$200,000 each plus government fees with the condition of resale the property after 7 years instead of 5 years. This new offering will not replace the existing real estate investment option priced at US$400,000, plus US$75,000 in Government fees, and which can still be resold after five years


Citizenship by Investment Program

St Kitts Citizenship by Investment program has been one of the longest established economic citizenship programs in existence, which is in operation since 1984 and has a legal base on the provisions of St Kitts Constitution. The Government of St Kitts & Nevis is willing to attract investors of good character to make a substantial contribution to the development of the Federation.

While there are strict guidelines of the law and regulations, the Citizenship by Investment program is not complicated for Investors and offers many advantages, such as:

·  no residency requirement,

·  no English assessment,

·  no medical evaluations,  

·  short processing times, as little as 90 days

·  covers all dependent family members including parents

·  only government authorized agents can handle applications

Program details and criteria for qualification

To qualify for citizenship of St. Kitts and Nevis under its Citizenship-by-Investment program, the Government requires either an investment in a designated real estate (Real Estate option) or a contribution to the Sugar Industry Diversification Foundation (SIDF Contribution option) of St Kitts.

A. Real Estate Option

Under the Real Estate option, the minimum Investment required for Citizenship is US$400,000.00 in a government approved real estate project. In addition to the cost of real estate investment, some Government fees have to be paid:

Government Processing Fees

·  US$35,000.00 for the main applicant

·  US$20,000.00 for the spouse of the main applicant

·  US$10,000.00 for each dependent, whether a dependent child of the main applicant under eighteen years of age or a qualified dependent of the main applicant above the age of eighteen years, other than his or her spouse.”.

·  US$7,500.00 for due diligence and processing fees for the main applicant

·  US$4,000.00 for due diligence background checks and processing fees for each dependent over 16 years

Government Due Diligence Fees

There are also authorized agency fees and real estate purchase fees that should be taken into consideration.

You can find a list of currently approved real estate projects for Citizenship in the “Real Estate in St Kitts and Nevis”section.

B. SIDF Contribution Option

Sugar industry has been the major economic contributor to the St Kitts and Nevis economy for centuries. With the closure of sugar plants and fields in 2005 by the Government, creating new economic development areas and establishing new industries to replace the sugar industry has been the priority for St Kitts and Nevis Government. For this purpose, The Sugar Industry Diversification Foundation (SIDF) was established in order to provide funding to the development of alternative industries and support to secure the sustainability of such economic areas. SIDF is a public charity audited by PriceWaterhouseCoopers.

With the Citizenship by Investment program SIDF Contribution option, the Government aims to use the contributions from Investors for the development of St Kitts economy.

The SIDF contribution amount for Citizenship varies based on the number of dependents of the Applicant.

·  Single Applicant: a non-refundable contribution of US$ 250,000

·  Applicant with up to 3 dependents: a non-refundable contribution of US$ 300,000

·  Applicant with up to 5 dependents: a nonrefundable contribution of US$ 350,000

·  Applicant with up to 7 dependents: a non-refundable contribution of US$ 450,000

·  US$7,500.00 for due diligence and processing fees for the main applicant

·  US$4,000.00 for due diligence background checks and processing fees for each dependent over 16 years

Government Processing Fees

In each of these categories, the above amounts include government processing fees. For the main applicant, spouse and dependent children under 18. For the dependent children between 18 and 25, provided that they are full time students and unmarried, or dependents over 65, an additional fee of US$ 50,000 is paid to the Government.

Government Due Diligence Fees

In addition to the contribution amount and government fees, there are also authorized agency fees to be considered.

C. Hurricane Relief Fund

Hurricane Relief Fund (HRF) was introduced to recover the damage of the Hurricane season in 2017. HRF will assist the St Kitts & Nevis government with repairs of public infrastructure and private properties. HRF option will be available only for 6 months until March 30, 2018.

Under HRF option, the investment contribution amounts have bee reduced as below:

Single applicant: a non-refundable contribution of US$150,000
Main applicant with up to three dependents: a non-refundable contribution of US$150,000 is required
Additional dependents, regardless of Age: US$25,000

Non-refundable due diligence and processing fees: US$7,500 for the main applicant, and US$4,000 for each dependent of the main application who is over the age of 16 years.

Please consult us for more details about the Real Estate or SIDF Contribution options and your eligibility for the Citizenship-by-Investment program. 


Discover St Kitts and Nevis 

St. Kitts & Nevis is an independent English speaking federative island state made up of two islands, St. Kitts and the smaller Nevis, which are separated by a channel two miles wide. St Kitts and Nevis, also part of the group of islands known as the Lesser Antilles, is located in the eastern Caribbean approximately 2,000 km southeast of Miami. The natural beauty, blue and sunny skies, warm waters and white sandy beaches make this Caribbean country one of the most attractive spots in the World.

The island was originally inhabited by the Arawak and Carib tribes and called “Liamuiga”, meaning fertile island. With the arrival of Christopher Columbus at the end of 15thcentury, the Island was renamed St. Christopher (St. Kitts) and it became first site for the British and the French permanent settlements in the New World. The two nations struggled for control of the Island, and in the 1783 Treaty of Versailles, the French ceded the Island to the British. During the Colonial era, St. Kitts played an important role in the expansion of the British Empire, and was known as the “The Pearl of the Caribbean”. St. Kitts and Nevis has been independent since 1983 and is a member of the UN, WTO, IMF, ILO, WHO, the Organization of American States (OAS), the British Commonwealth, Caricom and many other international organizations. 

Historically, the major industry of the region has been the sugar industry. St. Kitts, with its rich volcanic soil and warm climate, has been an ideal location for growing sugar cane for over 350 years, making St. Kitts the world leader in sugar cane cultivation, and a catalyst for the industrial revolution.  In 2005, due to the removal of trade preferences and un-competitive production costs forced, The St. Kitts Government closed both the cane fields and sugar factories.

Why invest in St. Kitts and Nevis for Citizenship? 

There may be various personal reasons you may be considering a second residency or citizenship. You may think that it is always good to have options for residency and possess a second passport; or simply want the convenience of a visa free travel. May be your reason is security; you are concerned about the well-being of yourself and your family. Perhaps, economic reasons made you to start this search. You want to diversify your investments, protect your wealth or benefit some tax advantages.

Whatever your personal reasons are, the general facts below about St. Kitts might help you make an investment decision in St. Kitts for Citizenship.

· Well established political and legal system, member of British Commonwealth

· No personal income tax

· Generous incentive package including corporate tax incentives, exemption from import duties, exemption from withholding taxes and export allowance for qualified investments

· Small business incubators for IT related businesses

· A stable currency fixed at 1 USD to 2.70 ECD

· A well regulated financial services sector, the financial capital of the Eastern Caribbean

· Investor friendly government and agencies

· English is the official language

· Modern infrastructure: roads, air and sea ports, water and electricity and telecommunication

· Direct air access from key North American markets and the United Kingdom

Moreover, knowing that St Kitts Citizenship by Investment program has been one of the longest established economic citizenship programs in the world, you would be more thrilled and comfortable to explore your options for St Kitts Citizenship.


Real Estates in St. Kitts and Nevis eligible for Citizenship by Investment

Government approves real estate projects basis that are eligible for the Citizenship by Investment program on an ongoing. Please note that the real estates purchased under this program cannot be sold for 5 years. However, with a new regulations passed in 2012, the next buyer may also qualify for citizenship. The new regulation will protect the value of your property and bring more liquidity to your investment.

Currently, there are over 50 Government approved projects on the Island that would qualify for the Citizenship-by-Investment program. Do note that each development has a different set of rules that can affect the eligibility of the client for the citizenship program and the processing times for Citizenship applications. Therefore, when considering the real estate investment in St. Kitts and Nevis for Citizenship purposes, we advise our clients to consider the following very important points:  

·  Fair market value of the property (Is the real estate worth the money?)

·  Five years maintenance and earning potential (How easy to maintain your property while you are away? Can you offset some upkeep cost with potential rental income?) 

·  Resale value and marketability of the property (Can you easily sell your property after the 5 years hold period?)

·  Eligibility for the Citizenship program and efficiency in completing citizenship paperwork (Is the real estate project eligible for immediate Citizenship application? Can the Developer's Office handle the legal paperwork efficiently and effectively in a timely manner?)

·  Approvals and special government concessions (Is there any considerations on the project you need to be aware of?)

·  Track record, financial strength and reputation of the Developer (Can the Developer deliver what he promises? Are there any risks that might jeopardize your Citizenship application and investment?)

Please consult us for more details on recommended real estate projects and we will be happy to help you with your real estate investments in St. Kitts and Nevis.