St Kitts and Nevis Passport

The Federation of St Kitts and Nevis is made up of two islands in the Caribbean. These are St Christopher (commonly known as St Kitts) and Nevis. The two islands cover a total area of 260 sq km and have a population of 60,000.

The capital is Basseterre, which is located in St Kitts. The main town in Nevis is Charlestown. English is the official language and the local currency is the East Caribbean dollar. The legal system is based on English Common Law.

St Kitts and Nevis is a popular tourist destination, boasting beautiful beaches and world-class resorts. The local culture is a blend of Caribbean, British and French.

St KITTS AND NEVIS ECONOMIC CITIZENSHIP

THE ECONOMIC CITIZENSHIP PROGRAM

The St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Program was introduced in 1984. Over the years, it has become one of the most respected and successful programs in the world.

MAJOR BENEFITS

The St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Program offers these key benefits:

Ability to travel to over 150 countries, including the European Schengen Area, Hong Kong, Singapore and the UK, without the need for a visa or with a visa issued on arrival
The application may include the applicant’s spouse, any children up to the age of 25 and parents aged 65 and over
There is no requirement for a minimum stay in the jurisdiction
Citizenship can be passed to future generations
Dual citizenship is permitted
As St Kitts and Nevis is a member of the British Commonwealth, its citizens can benefit from certain privileges in the UK and other Commonwealth countries

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

The main applicant must be over the age of 18 and must have a clean criminal record.

There are three investment options available, as described below.

OPTION 1 - SISC CONTRIBUTION

Under this option, the applicant makes a non-refundable contribution to the Sustainable Island State Contribution. The amount of the contribution depends on the number and ages of the individuals included in the application:

US$250,000 for a single applicant
US$300,000 for the main applicant plus spouse or one dependant
US$350,000 for the main applicant plus spouse and up to two dependants
US$50,000 for each additional dependant under the age of 18
US$75,000 for each additional dependant over the age of 18

OPTION 2 - APPROVED PUBLIC BENEFIT PROJECT

This option allows the applicant to apply for citizenship upon making a minimum contribution of US$250,000 to a public benefit unit within an Approved Public Benefit Project.

OPTION 3 - REAL ESTATE PURCHASE

It is also possible to apply for St Kitts and Nevis citizenship by investing in real estate through an approved real estate development. The minimum value of the investment is US$400,000 for a condominium and US$800,000 for a single-family home. It is a condition of this investment option that the property be held for a minimum of 7 years.

APPLICATION PROCESS

The first step is for Mercury to conduct an initial due diligence and compliance review, after which we will prepare the application and submit it to the St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU). The CIU will carefully examine the application and will appoint an independent professional firm to carry out a detailed due diligence review and background checks on all applicants. The independent firm will also conduct interviews of the main applicant and possibly any additional applicants over the age of 16.

The CIU will then request the relevant investment or contribution to be made and once all conditions have been met, will issue a Certificate of Registration. This will need to be personally collected by the main applicant, either in St Kitts and Nevis or at an embassy or consulate specified by the CIU.

The entire process is typically completed within 4 months and there is no requirement for the applicant to visit St Kitts and Nevis. In practice, applicants usually like to visit the jurisdiction in the case where an investment in real estate is the preferred application route.