Legal Background
The Citizenship--by--Investment Program of St.Kitts and Nevis is one of only three currently existing
official programmes of its nature in the world. The Commonwealth of Dominica in the Caribbean, and Austria
in Europe run the other two programmes.
The programme was established in 3 1984 and is based on Chapter VIII (Sections 90--95) of the Constitution,
and Section 3(5) of the Citizenship Act, 1984 (No. 1 of 1984,) which stipulates that any person can apply for
naturalization and may be eligible for citizenship on payment of the prescribed fees, if the Cabinet is satisfied
that such person has invested substantially in St.Kitts and Nevis.
Investment Options
The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis provides two qualifying options for Citizenship--by--Investment:
investment in real estate (“real estate option”) and cash donation to the government (“SIDF option").
1) Real Estate Option: The investor is to make an investment in 1 a designated real estate project
(approved by the Government) in the amount of at least US$400,000.00.
The investor cannot resell this real estate for a period of 5 years, after which that property may be
eligible for use in another Citizenship--by--Investment application.
The associated expenses will involve legal fees for real estate closing, which are normally 1.5% of
the purchase price; government assurance fund of 0.2% of the purchase price; land and property tax of
approximately 0.5% of the property value, per annum; and property insurance of approximately 0.5% of
the property value, per annum.
The registration fees related to the application for citizenship under this option are:
- US$50,000.00 for the head of the househol (male or female) or any adult;
- US$25,000.00 for either spouse;
- US$25,000.00 for each child under 18 years;
- US$50,000.00 for every adult dependent 8 of the application between the age of 18 and 25.
The due diligence fee is US$7,500.00 for the investor and US$4,000.00 for other applicants
16 years and older.
Agent service fees, cost of application booklets, certificates of citizenship, passports, courier
delivery and other disbursements will be added to the above fees. Please ask for a full quotation.
2) SIDF Option: The investor is offered to make a donation to the Sugar Industry Diversification
Foundation (public charity). The amount depends on the number of family members applying for
citizenship:
- US$250,000.00 for a single applicant.
- US$300,000.00 for a family with up to three (3) dependents (main applicant + spouse and two minor children).
- US$350,000.00 fo a family with up to five (5) dependents (main applicant + spouse and four minor children).
- US$400,000.00 for family with up to seven (7) dependents (main applicant + spouse and 6 minor children).
- US$500,000.00 for every additional dependent, if more than seven (7).
- US$50,000.00 for each unmarried dependent child of the main applicant between the ages of 18 and 25.
The due diligence fee is US$7,500.00 for the investor and US$4,000.00 for other applicants 16 years and older.
Agent service fees, cost of application booklets, certificates of citizenship, passports, courier delivery and
other disbursements will be added to the above fees. Please ask for a full quotation.
