St. Kitts and Nevis

Saint Kitts and Nevis’ Citizenship by Investment application process consists of seven steps:

Step 1: Application and pre-approval by Lexen Law. We will look through your application to check everything is in order and confirm it meets the requisite conditions, giving it the best possible chance of being accepted.

Step 2: Submission of citizenship application. After approving the application, we will then send it to St. Kitts and Nevis’ Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU) on your behalf.

Step 3: Government processing and due diligence checks. The Government of S.t Kitts and Nevis will process your application and perform due diligence checks, which includes checking for criminal records and assessing your ability to provide funds.

All main applicants are required to attend a mandatory interview. Dependants aged 16 years of age may at the discretion of the CIU be required to attend an interview.

Step 4: Approval in principle. Once your application is approved in principle, you’ll receive a letter confirming that the CIU has officially granted your request for citizenship.

Step 5: Make the investment of your choice. Now is the point you make your qualifying investments.

Step 6: Citizenship certificate issued. After you’ve completed the above steps, you’ll receive a citizenship certificate, officially making you a St. Kitts and Nevis citizen.

Step 7: Passport application. You’re now able to apply for a St. Kitts and Nevis passport and reap all the global mobility benefits involved.

How long does it take to process an application?

From submission of the application to receiving the approval in principle, applicants can generally expect to wait around four to six months. You are not required to pass tests, or travel to or reside in St. Kitts and Nevis, which helps speed up the process.

Once an individual’s application for Citizenship by Investment is approved, an economic citizen can apply for a passport at the Passport Office.

What are the benefits of a St. Kitts and Nevis passport?

St. Kitts and Nevis passports are CARICOM passports that are issued to citizens of St. Kitts and Nevis for international travel. They are biometric documents, ensuring a greater level of safety and facilitating cross-border procedures. 

How long are St. Kitts and Nevis passports valid for?

Ordinary St. Kitts and Nevis passports are valid for 10 years if issued to a person aged 16 or over and are valid for five years for children under the age of 16.

They can be renewed at the Passport Office at the Government Headquarters in Basseterre (St. Kitts and Nevis’ capital city) or at a St. Kitts and Nevis High Commission, Embassy, or Consulate. 

What is the St. Kitts and Nevis passport application process?

The passport application process is separate from the Citizenship by Investment process and requires the applicant to present several documents, including, but not limited to, a certified copy of the applicant’s Certificate of Registration. This is the document that is issued to an economic citizen at the end of the Citizenship by Investment process.

Every time St. Kitts and Nevis passport holders re-apply for a passport (for example, because their old one has expired), they must present their old St. Kitts and Nevis passport. This will be cancelled upon issuance of the new document.

What are the investment options under the St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Programme?

1. By making a contribution to the Sustainable Island State Contribution (SISC)
2. By purchasing a real estate unit of an Approved Development
3. By purchasing Approved Private Real Estate
4. By purchasing a public benefit unit in an Approved Public Benefit Project

Who is eligible to apply under the Programme?

Applicants for citizenship should be at least 18 years of age, of good character, without a criminal record, and be able and willing to make the required contribution or investment.

Which family members can I include in my application for economic citizenship?

The following family members may be included in an application for Citizenship by Investment:

• The spouse of the main applicant;
• A child of the main applicant or spouse under 18;
• A child of the main applicant or spouse who is aged 18 to 25, in full time attendance at a recognised secondary or tertiary level institution of learning and fully supported by the main applicant;
• A parent of the main applicant or the spouse of the main applicant aged 65 or over, who is living with and fully supported by the main applicant;
• A child of the main applicant or spouse aged 18 or over who is physically or mentally challenged.

What does the due diligence process in St. Kitts and Nevis entail?

You will be vetted by multiple entities, including:

• Local Authorised Agents perform KYC (know-your-client) checks.
• The Citizenship by Investment Unit carries out internal checks including AML (anti-money laundering) and CTF (counter-terrorism financing) vetting.
• Mandated international due diligence firms perform online and on-the-ground checks.
• Regional and international law enforcement agencies check that you aren’t on any wanted or sanctions lists.

Every main applicant will be required to attend a mandatory interview. A dependant aged sixteen years of age or over may if deemed necessary be required to attend a mandatory interview. During this time, a third-party due diligence agency will perform stringent background checks on the information you have provided.

Are citizens of certain countries not allowed to apply for St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment?

Nationals of Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, North Korea, Russia and Belarus regardless of where they live, are excluded from applying (this includes dependants).

Is This Programme for Me?

St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment is good value for money for both individual applicants and families looking to apply for alternative citizenship, including:

Families who would also like to include their parents as dependants.

1. Single professionals who want to boost their career opportunities.
2. Entrepreneurs looking to expand their businesses on a global level.
3. Remote workers who want greater global mobility and the choice to work wherever they want to.

Where Will Your Investment Go?

The SISC allows future citizens of St. Kitts and Nevis to be part of the country’s success story, as this investment channel enables both applicants and the nation to thrive.

It channels resources to priority areas like education, health, climate change and resilience, infrastructure, tourism and culture, and the promotion of indigenous entrepreneurship to benefit all citizens.

Investments in real estate provide wider benefits for the economy of St. Kitts and Nevis through direct and indirect job creation.

Who leads the St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Unit?

Michael Martin, Kittitian born, is the Chief Executive Officer of the St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Unit. His task is to drive St. Kitts and Nevis’ newly evolved Citizenship by Investment Programme which includes a refocus that will cement the twin-island Federations standing as a leading player in the investment migration industry.

Martin has a wealth of experience in the financial services industry including banking, trusts, insurance, and other lines of work in which compliance plays a critical role.

He is the former executive of the National Caribbean Insurance Company, National Bank Trust Company, and Sagicor Life Inc.

He has also held appointments as a Director of the Insurance Association of the Caribbean, as Honorary Secretary of the Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park Society Council of Management, and as a Director of First Federal Cooperative Credit Union.

Michael Martin has a graduate diploma from the International Compliance Association and Manchester Business School, a certificate in International Trust Management from the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, and a certificate in Managing Financial Services from the University of the West Indies.

How can Lexen Law Partners help?

Lexen Law assists clients who wish to obtain St. Kitts and Nevis citizenship, providing them with the guidance and commitment they need to see their application processed seamlessly. Our team then ensures that clients who obtain their citizenship also apply for and receive St. Kitts and Nevis passports should they wish to.