Citizenship by Investment
St. Kitts & Nevis launched the world's first formal citizenship-by-investment program in 1984. Four decades on, it remains the benchmark by which every other CBI is measured. Direct citizenship — not residency — issued by an independent Commonwealth nation, with one of the strongest passports in the Caribbean and an Accelerated Application Process that delivers approval in 60 days.
- Minimum Investment
- From $325,000
- Standard Processing
- 4–6 months
- Accelerated Processing
- 60 days
- Stay Requirement
- None
- Citizenship
- Lifetime · hereditary
- Visa-Free Access
- 150+ countries
Why families still come to St. Kitts first.
When you have spent forty years processing applications, you become very good at it. St. Kitts & Nevis has the most refined institutional infrastructure of any CBI — the Citizenship by Investment Unit operates with the discipline of an established government agency, not a startup. Visa-free access reaches the UK, Schengen, Singapore, and Hong Kong. The passport is one of the most accepted in the Caribbean, in part because the program's age has built diplomatic trust that newer programs are still earning.
The Accelerated Application Process delivers a decision in two months — the fastest direct citizenship in the world.
Citizenship passes to your children and your children's children. Once granted, it cannot be revoked absent fraud.
150+ countries including the United Kingdom, the Schengen Area, Singapore, Hong Kong, and most of South America.
St. Kitts & Nevis does not tax worldwide income, and CBI does not create tax residency. Your tax position is unchanged.
How to qualify.
A non-refundable contribution to the SISC. The simplest, fastest, and most common route. Single applicant from $325,000; family of four typically $300,000–$350,000 with each additional dependent priced separately.
Acquisition of an interest in an approved development (typically a fractional or condo unit). Seven-year holding period before resale. Adds a tangible asset; adds operational complexity and ongoing fees.
A one-time contribution to an approved public-benefit project. Less commonly used; appropriate for a narrow client profile.
- Clean criminal record across all countries of prior residence.
- Verifiable lawful source of investment funds (extensive AML diligence).
- Good health, with no communicable disease of public health significance.
- Minimum age of 18 for the principal applicant.
- No prior refusal of a visa to a country with which St. Kitts maintains visa-free travel (cured by subsequent visa issuance).
How we run this program.
Confidential intake. We assess fit and recommend the optimal investment route — typically SISC for speed and simplicity.
Source-of-funds package, biometrics, FBI clearance, medical, references — all assembled to the CIU's standards.
Application submitted through an authorized agent. Independent due diligence conducted by the CIU's contracted firms.
Approval letter issued. Investment completed. Oath of allegiance taken. Passport issued — typically within weeks.
Questions worth answering candidly.
Why St. Kitts over a newer Caribbean program?+
Institutional maturity. The CIU has handled applications since 1984 — it is, by some margin, the most experienced CBI agency in the world. For families who value process discipline and a passport with the longest diplomatic track record, St. Kitts remains the default recommendation.
How does the Accelerated Application Process work?+
For an additional government fee, applications are placed on a 60-day track. The diligence is no less rigorous — it is simply prioritized. We use AAP for the majority of our St. Kitts files where the client's circumstances support it.
Will I be required to live in St. Kitts?+
No. There is no minimum stay requirement at any stage. Many of our clients never visit the country; oath-taking can be arranged at a St. Kitts consulate or embassy abroad.
Will US authorities know I have a second passport?+
Citizenship-by-investment is a public legal status in the issuing country, not a secret. US citizens must report all foreign citizenships and passports on relevant tax and disclosure forms. We coordinate with your CPA to ensure proper reporting from the outset.
What about the harmonization of Caribbean CBI prices?+
Following the 2024 CARICOM Memorandum of Agreement, all five OECS programs adopted minimum donation pricing in a comparable range. Pricing is now broadly consistent across St. Kitts, Dominica, Antigua, Grenada, and St. Lucia — selection turns on program features rather than cost arbitrage.
Considering St. Kitts & Nevis? Let's talk before you commit.
Thirty minutes with an experienced advisor. We'll tell you, candidly, whether this program is the right fit — and if it isn't, which one is.
You speak directly with an experienced advisor — not an intake associate.