The world's longest-standing Citizenship by Investment program. Acquire global mobility, financial freedom, and luxury real estate for your family.
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The World’s Longest-Established CBI Program: St Kitts and Nevis launched the world’s first Citizenship by Investment (CBI) program in 1984, creating a long-established pathway for eligible international investors and their families to obtain citizenship through qualifying investment.
Citizenship Before Passport: Investors do not purchase a St Kitts and Nevis passport directly. They first apply for citizenship through the official Citizenship by Investment Program, satisfy the applicable eligibility and due diligence requirements, and complete a qualifying investment. Once citizenship is granted, they may submit a separate passport application.
Legal & Secure Framework: The program operates under the laws of St Kitts and Nevis and enables successful applicants, together with qualifying family members, to obtain full citizenship subject to the program’s legal, financial and due diligence requirements.
Investment With National Impact: Funds generated through the program support national development priorities, including infrastructure, economic resilience and sustainability initiatives across the Federation.
This guide covers St Kitts and Nevis citizenship requirements, investment options, government fees and costs, eligible family members, the CBI application process, due diligence, biometrics, passport application and renewal, and international travel access.
Enjoy complete tax efficiency with zero personal income, wealth, capital gains, inheritance, or estate taxes applicable to citizens and residents.
Hold one of the world's most powerful second passports, unlocking seamless visa-free access to over 156 global destinations including the UK, Singapore, Hong Kong, and 29 Schengen Area countries.
Include your spouse or legal partner, dependent children up to age 30, and dependent parents aged 55 and older under a single application, with options to add dependents post-approval.
Benefit from one of the fastest second-citizenship programs globally, with the Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU) delivering streamlined vetting and approvals in just 4 to 6 months.
Experience complete freedom with zero requirements to reside in, visit, or relocate to St. Kitts & Nevis before, during, or after receiving your citizenship—an ideal solution for UAE residents and global executives.
Retain your existing passport while securing lifetime St. Kitts & Nevis citizenship that can be passed down to future generations by descent as an enduring family legacy.
Non-refundable contribution / donation
CIU-approved development
Condominium / single-family private home
CIU-approved public benefit project
To qualify for St. Kitts citizenship through the investment programme, all main applicants must meet the following criteria.
The main applicant must be a legal adult at the time of application submission.
A valid passport from your current country of nationality is strictly required.
Proof of financial ability to meet the required minimum investment threshold.
Documents confirming the legal and verifiable origin of your income and investment funds.
A clean criminal record is mandatory for all main applicants and included dependants.
Government-mandated background checks conducted by independent international screening firms.
Applicants must be in good health at the time of official application submission.
Main applicant must attend a CIU interview. Dependents aged 16+ may also be required.
Choose an official Authorised Agent to guide and submit your application.
Prepare and submit all official forms and necessary supporting documents.
Undergo rigorous due diligence background checks and attend the required mandatory interview.
Receive official notification of the Citizenship Unit’s decision or any requests for additional information.
Upon receiving Approval in Principle, complete your qualifying financial outlay and government fees.
Receive your official Certificate of Registration as a newly recognized citizen.
Complete biometric enrolment where applicable and file for your official passport.
The Citizenship Unit currently states that it will advise whether an application is approved in principle, denied, or delayed for cause within 120–180 days after acknowledgement of submission. This is not a guaranteed end-to-end completion time.
For an investor looking at a second country of citizenship, the Programme offers defined government-approved investment routes rather than a residence-only “golden visa” structure.
It may appeal to people seeking a second passport, family inclusion and broader international mobility, but the decision should be based on the full cost, eligibility, investment structure and long-term obligations.
Choosing a second country is a legal and financial decision, not simply a travel decision. Compare the route with your family needs, investment objectives and the rules that apply when you file.
Get clarity on eligibility parameters and available investment pathways.
For investors, the route is citizenship by investment first, passport second. Applications to the Citizenship Unit cannot be filed directly by the applicant; they must be submitted through an officially listed Authorised Agent.
The main applicant is subject to due diligence and a mandatory interview, while dependents aged 16 or over may also be interviewed if required.
Once citizenship is granted, the new citizen receives official citizenship documentation and may then apply for a passport.
The passport strength of St. Kitts and Nevis is best understood through the destinations its nationals can access and the conditions attached to that access.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs currently states that nationals enjoy visa-free access or entry permits to more than 100 countries and territories.
A passport ranking can help compare passports, but ranking providers use different methodologies and positions change over time.
For that reason, a third-party passport ranking should not be presented as an official government score or a permanent measure of passport strength.
Yes. In ordinary circumstances a St. Kitts and Nevis national travelling to the United States must obtain the appropriate US visa unless another exemption applies. The U.S. Department of State publishes visa classifications and reciprocity information for nationals of Saint Kitts and Nevis.
There is no single passport price for an investor. The qualifying investment is only one part of the overall cost.
Under the SISC, the current minimum economic contribution applies for a main applicant or a family of up to four.
+ US$25,000: Per dependant under 18
+ US$50,000: Per dependant 18 or over
Published mandatory due diligence fees required for the vetting process.
Main Applicant: US$10,000
Dependants (16+): US$7,500 each
The Public Benefit and real estate routes can also carry post-approval application fees, while property routes involve transaction and conveyance costs.
A tailored estimate should separate the qualifying investment, due diligence, government charges, dependant costs, property costs where relevant, and passport-related charges.
The main applicant must be at least 18, make or agree to make a qualifying investment, and satisfy the Programme’s due diligence and financial criteria.
Qualifying dependents may include a spouse, children under 18, children aged 18–30 in full-time recognised education who are fully supported by the main applicant, certain adult children with physical or mental challenges, and supported parents of the main applicant or spouse aged 55 or over.
Eligibility is not automatic. The Citizenship Unit identifies grounds that can prevent approval, including certain criminal, immigration, financial and reputational issues.
Biometrics Required is now a material part of the passport process for Citizenship Programme applicants and citizens. The program officially launched on 14 April 2026.
Biometric enrolment is mandatory and may be booked immediately after receiving approval in principle.
Existing citizens who obtained citizenship through the Programme, including dependants and children, have an official enrolment deadline of 31 July 2027.
Passports issued through the Programme before 14 April 2026 remain usable during the transition period. However, the Citizenship Unit states that after 31 July 2027, only biometric-enabled passports will be accepted for travel for the affected Citizenship Programme citizens.
Current Citizenship Unit application guidance says there are no mandatory residency requirements to maintain citizenship once granted.
Separate official reform communications, however, state that a mandatory genuine-link framework involving physical presence, residency and other forms of connection to the Federation is being introduced or incorporated into a redesigned framework.
A citizen applying for a new St Kitts and Nevis passport or completing passport renewal should use the current government ePassport procedure. The required documents depend on whether the case is a first application, renewal, replacement of a lost or damaged passport, or a legal name change.
Applicants looking for an application form or renewal form should use the current form issued through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the relevant St. Kitts and Nevis diplomatic mission. Citizens living abroad can normally work through the embassy, high commission or consular mission serving their location.
Fees and submission arrangements may vary by mission, so a passport holder should verify the current local procedure before sending documents or payment.
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