Foreign citizens and investors looking for a safe golden visa program can choose the oldest in the world: that of Saint Kitts and Nevis. Established in 1984 and still running, the St. Kitts and Nevis citizenship by investment scheme is one of the most appealing in the world as the applicants do not need to obtain residency first, they will be offered citizenship directly.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Nationalities accepted |
All citizens are accepted under the St. Kitts and Nevis citizenship by investment scheme. |
|
Business investment option (YES/NO) |
No |
|
Real estate investment option (YES/NO) |
Yes, the minimum value of the property is set at USD 200,000 under the St. Kitts and Nevis citizenship by investment program. |
| Other investment options (if available) | Yes, donation to the University of the Sustainable Growth Fund of at leat USD 150,000 for a single applicant |
| Living requirement in St. Kitts and Nevis (YES/NO) |
No, there is no need to live in St. Kitts to obtain a golden visa. |
| Residence or direct citizenship option |
Citizenship |
| Direct immigration with family mebers (YES/NO) |
Yes, for additional fees depending on the number of dependents. |
| Family members allowed to join the program |
– spouse, – children under the age of 30, – parents over the age of 55, – unmarried brothers/sisters of the applicant |
| Residence visa/citizenship processing time (approx.) |
Approx. 6 months |
| Additional financial requirements for family members (YES/NO) |
Yes: – minimum investment USD 195,000 for a family of 4 persons, – an additional USD 10,000 is required per each additional member
|
| Timeframe for obtaining citizenship/residency by investment |
St. Kitts and Nevis passport by investment is available immediately. |
| Dual citizenship permitted (YES/NO) |
Yes, it is permitted. |
| Reasons to choose St. Kitts and Nevis |
– low financial investment requirement, – flexibility in terms of migrating with the extended family, – possibility to acquire a passport within 6 months |
| Personal income tax rate |
No personal income tax applies. |
| Visa free travel to other countries (approx. number of countries) | Approx. 160 countries |
Below, our golden visa specialists present you the St. Kitts and Nevis passport by investment scheme and its requirements. Feel free to enquire with us about how you can obtain a golden passport here. If you want a golden passport for St. Kitts and Nevis, you can contact our lawyers who will offer legal assistance.
Table of Contents
The St. Kitts and Nevis citizenship by investment program – highlights
As one of the most popular citizenship by investment countries in the world, plenty of people looking to relocate have also heard about the 2023 golden visa in St. Kitts and Nevis.
At a first glance, here are the main highlights of Saint Kitts and Nevis golden visa:
- it is one of the most popular in the world;
- thanks to this fact, the local government has been constantly working on improving it;
- it is based on a donation or investment property, at the choice of the investor;
- citizenship by investment in St. Kitts and Nevis can be obtained in around 6 months;
- applicants do not have to live here in order acquire golden visa passports.
Should you need information on the Saint Kitts and Nevis passport price, you can always reach our golden visa specialists. For obtaining a golden passport for St. Kitts and Nevis you should follow a legal procedure that can be explained by our lawyers.
There are plenty of golden visa countries you can choose from, so if you need details, you can direct your questions to our local agents who can answer your questions. Some of them are answered in the infographic below:
Requirements under the golden visa in St. Kitts and Nevis in 2023
Foreign citizens interested in a golden visa program can choose based on the requirements of each scheme, as they have plenty of options all over the world.
Those interested in the St. Kitts and Nevis citizenship by investment program must know that the scheme has two investment options:
- the first one implies a donation;
- the second one implies real estate investment.
For guidance in applying for a Saint Kitts and Nevis golden visa, you can rely on our consultants.
We are also at your service if you want to buy a golden visa in other countries, including European destinations. We can help you buy a passport for St. Kitts and Nevis in 2023, if you observe the local rules.
Donations under the Saint Kitts and Nevis golden visa
People interested in finding out more about citizenship by investment countries offering the option of donating should know that Saint Kitts and Nevis was the first destination to offer it.
Here are the main requirements to meet under the Saint Kitts and Nevis passport price based on the donation to the Sustainable Growth Fund:
- for a single applicant, the minimum amount to be donated is 150,000 USD;
- for the spouse and other direct family members, an additional donation of 10,000 USD per dependent applies;
- for those moving here with siblings, an additional donation of 20,000 USD per person must be made.
Our consultants can offer all the necessary details on this choice under the St. Kitts and Nevis passport by investment. Buy a passport for St. Kitts and Nevis with the help of our experienced lawyers.
Real estate investment under the golden visa in St. Kitts and Nevis
Another option for those who decide to apply for St. Kitts and Nevis citizenship by investment is real estate purchase. Under this scheme, the minimum value of the property is set at 200,000 USD. However, another option is to invest 400,000 USD which enables the owner to sell the property after 5 years. In the case of the first option, the property becomes sellable after 7 years.
For those looking for this option in golden visa countries, we invite you to discuss it with our agents.
If you want to buy a golden visa, you can count on us for assistance in drafting the necessary paperwork.
Applications for this program in Saint Kitts and Nevis are to be made with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The procedure for obtaining a golden visa in St. Kitts and Nevis
Golden visa applications are processed by the St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU). Additionally, there is an expedited application procedure that can be completed in 45 to 60 days. The CIU carefully reviews each application and may ask the candidate to appear for an interview, however rarely happens.
Due diligence verifications are part of the citizenship by investment application process in St. Kitts, which is why it is important to make sure the information provided is correct.
The application procedure is usually completed within 4 to 6 months from the time the paperwork is submitted to the CIU for approval. It is also usual for most of the candidates to travel to the islands before deciding whether to buy real estate. The timeframe for the real estate option may change based on the development, which is why it is important to choose a property that falls in line with the duration of the application procedure.
The money for real estate, SGF contribution, government fees, and other costs must be in a bank account, as they will be distributed in accordance with the selected investment option upon pre-approval of the application. Following that, the certificate of registration, which grants citizenship status, will be signed by the prime minister.
If you decide on citizenship by investment in St. Kitts and Nevis in 2023, you should also know that the preparation of the documents must be done by a service provider. In this case, you can rely on our golden passport specialists who can help you get everything done on time.
Family members that can join the main applicant
The following relatives can relocate to St. Kitts and Nevis as dependents of the main applicant through the citizenship by investment program:
- the applicant’s spouse;
- children of the main applicant or the spouse;
- parents and grandparents of the main applicant who are 55 years of age or older, residing with and being supported entirely by the St. Kitts golden passport holder;
- siblings or spouses of the applicant who are under 30 years old, are not married, have no children, and rely on the applicant for financial support.
In the case of children, the must be aged under 18, or 18 to 30 and must depend on the main applicant, or aged 18 or over and physically or intellectually challenged.
If you want to explore what St. Kitts and Nevis has to offer first, our specialists can advise on the digital nomad visa in the insular state.
Tax aspect to consider in St. Kitts and Nevis
As a businessperson who owns a business, you should expect an income tax on corporations of 35% of net profits. However, the authorities here offer local companies a 15-year tax break on corporate profits. Companies and foundations are exempt from taxation in Nevis as long as no business is carried on there.
When sending money to people outside of St. Kitts and Nevis, both individuals and businesses are required to pay a withholding tax of 10%.
If you invest in real estate, you should also consider the annual property tax in St. Kitts and Nevis. This is minimal and is based on the property’s market value. In St. Kitts and Nevis, the current VAT rate is 17%.
Do not hesitate to send us your questions, if you need more information on citizenship by investment in St. Kitts and Nevis. You can also find a summary of the program in the video below:
Why choose Saint Kitts and Nevis in 2023
Apart from being the first one of its kind, the St. Kitts and Nevis citizenship by investment program comes with several other advantages. Among these, the fact that the processing time to obtain the visa ranges between 3 and 6 months which equals the time for obtaining a permanent residency or citizenship, as the applicant wants. However, there is also an expedited procedure available: for an additional fee, a 45-day process can lead to a golden passport here.
To become a citizen, investors do not need to pass a history or language test. It is not necessary to move to St. Kitts and Nevis before or after getting a passport; there are no residency requirements.
The scheme allows an investor’s spouse, kids, parents, and siblings to obtain passports. Additionally, citizenship in St. Kitts and Nevis is inherited.
St. Kitts and Nevis offers visa-free travel to nearly 160 countries, including the Schengen Area. Moreover, people who retain the passport obtained here can pass citizenship along, which means that future generations of the main applicant can also enjoy the status of St. Kitts and Nevis citizenship.
Companies that conduct business in Saint Kitts and Nevis benefit from a lower corporate income tax rate. Recently, it has taken use of the benefits of digital paperwork submission to lessen the stress of doing international trade and on companies in general.
For foreign nationals, pensioners, families, and remote employees, the island nation is regarded as a desirable place to live. Almost no air or noise pollution with both islands clean are other advantages for which some would choose to relocate here. You can spend time at home or outside enjoying nature. For those looking for freedom of movement, nice weather, and quiet life, St. Kitts and Nevis has a higher quality of life to offer.
If you want to apply for a golden visa in Saint Kitts and Nevis, contact us right away.