Programme · St. Kitts & Nevis

Programme St. Kitts & Nevis

Established 1984, with a minimum investment of $250,000 and visa-free access to 150+ jurisdictions. One of four Caribbean CBI programmes we advise on.

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Jurisdiction Overview

The St. Kitts & Nevis

St. Kitts & Nevis Coat of Arms

Commonwealth of St. Kitts & Nevis, a sovereign nation offering one of the Caribbean's most established citizenship-by-investment programmes.

The oldest and most prestigious CBI programme in the world. The benchmark by which all others are measured.

St. Kitts & Nevis operates the oldest citizenship-by-investment programme in the world, established in 1984. It is the most internationally recognised Caribbean CBI passport, with a visa-free footprint that exceeds every other programme in the region.

The programme's reputation rests on three foundations: the longest operating history of any CBI programme globally, consistently the strongest due diligence standards in the Caribbean, and a passport that is routinely ranked among the most respected in the region by private banking, travel, and immigration authorities.

St. Kitts & Nevis is a twin-island federation in the Leeward Islands. Its CBI programme is administered by the Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU), which operates to the strictest published due diligence standards in the market. Applications undergo multi-tier screening including background investigations by multiple independent international firms.

Investment Routes

Two Pathways

Applicants choose between two qualifying investment routes. Each has distinct cash-flow, capital-preservation, and asset-diversification implications.

Route 01, Non-Refundable Donation
Government Fund
$250,000

A non-refundable contribution to the Sustainable Island State Contribution (SISC). Funds are deployed across sustainable development, climate resilience, and social programmes. The minimum reflects the programme's positioning at the top of the Caribbean market.

  • Single lump-sum payment
  • Fastest processing pathway
  • No real-estate management obligations
  • Non-refundable, capital is a contribution, not an investment
Route 02, Real Estate
Approved Property
$400,000

Investment in a government-approved real estate project. Two tiers: mid-tier developments from $400,000 with a 7-year holding, and premium developments from $800,000 with a 5-year holding. Includes resort developments, private villa estates, and bespoke residences.

  • Asset-backed investment
  • Government-approved developments only
  • Mandatory holding period (typically 5 years)
  • Potential rental income during holding period
Programme Advantages

Why St. Kitts & Nevis

The considerations that typically bring families to the St. Kitts & Nevis programme, and the features that distinguish it within the Caribbean CBI market.

Global Mobility

Visa-Free Access

A St. Kitts & Nevis passport provides visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 150+ jurisdictions worldwide. Key regions below; exact visa requirements are updated periodically by receiving governments.

Europe (Schengen + UK)
United Kingdom (6 months), all 27 Schengen Area states, Ireland, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and the remaining EFTA states.
Asia & Pacific
Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, Malaysia, Japan (visa on arrival), Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, and most of ASEAN.
Americas & Caribbean
CARICOM, Central America, Colombia, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Brazil (visa on arrival), and the Caribbean Community.
Middle East & Africa
UAE, Israel, Egypt (visa on arrival), Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Mauritius, Seychelles, South Africa (90 days).
Oceania
Fiji, Vanuatu, Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Kiribati, Micronesia, Palau, Solomon Islands.
Other
Russian Federation, Serbia, Turkey (e-visa), and the broadest South American access of any Caribbean CBI.