St. Kitts & Nevis · Citizenship by Investment
One of the Caribbean's longest-established routes to a second citizenship — reviewed with you honestly, without promises of guaranteed approval or fixed timelines.
Minimum contribution
Family inclusion
Programme established
A private, no-obligation review of your profile against the current programme requirements.
Citizenship by Investment (CBI) allows a qualifying applicant to acquire citizenship of St. Kitts and Nevis through an approved economic contribution. Unlike a residency programme — which grants the right to live in a country — CBI leads to full citizenship and a passport.
The St. Kitts and Nevis programme was established in 1984 and is administered by the country's Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU), the government body responsible for reviewing and deciding applications.
Applications cannot be filed directly by an individual. They are submitted only through an authorised agent — the role Caribbean Paradise performs on your behalf, preparing and presenting your case to the CIU.
A second passport can broaden travel access and simplify international movement.
Eligible family members can be included within a single application.
Once granted, citizenship is held for life, subject to programme rules.
Dual citizenship may be possible, depending on the laws of your current country.
Greater flexibility for international business and personal planning.
Citizenship may be passed to future generations, subject to programme rules.
Any tax-related outcome depends on your personal circumstances. We do not provide tax advice — please consult an independent tax adviser for your situation.
There are four approved routes. Figures depend on your family profile and the current government schedule, and are confirmed for you at assessment.
Contribution
A non-refundable contribution to the government's sustainable-development fund — the most direct route.
Structure
Government contribution
Refundable
No
Applicants
Couple
Holding period
Not applicable
Minimum
Confirmed at assessment
Contribution
A contribution routed through an approved entity toward a public-benefit project.
Structure
Approved public project
Refundable
No
Applicants
Couple
Holding period
Not applicable
Minimum
Confirmed at assessment
Real estate
Investment in a government-approved development, held for a minimum period before resale.
Structure
Approved development
Refundable
On resale, conditional
Applicants
Couple
Holding period
Applies
Minimum
Confirmed at assessment
Real estate
Investment in approved private property, subject to ownership and resale conditions.
Structure
Approved private property
Refundable
On resale, conditional
Applicants
Couple
Holding period
Applies
Minimum
Confirmed at assessment
Contribution
A non-refundable contribution to the government's sustainable-development fund — the most direct route.
Structure
Government contribution
Refundable
No
Applicants
Individual
Holding period
Not applicable
Minimum
Confirmed at assessment
Contribution
A contribution routed through an approved entity toward a public-benefit project.
Structure
Approved public project
Refundable
No
Applicants
Individual
Holding period
Not applicable
Minimum
Confirmed at assessment
Real estate
Investment in a government-approved development, held for a minimum period before resale.
Structure
Approved development
Refundable
On resale, conditional
Applicants
Individual
Holding period
Applies
Minimum
Confirmed at assessment
Real estate
Investment in approved private property, subject to ownership and resale conditions.
Structure
Approved private property
Refundable
On resale, conditional
Applicants
Individual
Holding period
Applies
Minimum
Confirmed at assessment
Contribution
A non-refundable contribution to the government's sustainable-development fund — the most direct route.
Structure
Government contribution
Refundable
No
Applicants
Family of 4
Holding period
Not applicable
Minimum
Confirmed at assessment
Contribution
A contribution routed through an approved entity toward a public-benefit project.
Structure
Approved public project
Refundable
No
Applicants
Family of 4
Holding period
Not applicable
Minimum
Confirmed at assessment
Real estate
Investment in a government-approved development, held for a minimum period before resale.
Structure
Approved development
Refundable
On resale, conditional
Applicants
Family of 4
Holding period
Applies
Minimum
Confirmed at assessment
Real estate
Investment in approved private property, subject to ownership and resale conditions.
Structure
Approved private property
Refundable
On resale, conditional
Applicants
Family of 4
Holding period
Applies
Minimum
Confirmed at assessment
We keep government costs and our advisory fee separate and transparent. Exact figures are case-specific and confirmed at assessment.
Government and Due Diligence Fees
| Route | Base amount | Family treatment | Due diligence | Post-approval fees | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SISC | Confirmed at assessment | Priced by family size | Per applicant | Passport & certificate fees | Non-refundable contribution |
| Public Benefit Option | Confirmed at assessment | Priced by family size | Per applicant | Passport & certificate fees | Routed via approved entity |
| Developer Real Estate | Confirmed at assessment | Additional government fees | Per applicant | Legal, registration, holding | Minimum holding period applies |
| Private Real Estate | Confirmed at assessment | Additional government fees | Per applicant | Legal, registration, holding | Resale conditions apply |
Total Cost for Individuals and Families
| Applicant profile | Children under 18 | Dependants 18+ | Indicative total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual | — | — | Estimated at assessment |
| Couple | — | Spouse included | Estimated at assessment |
| Family of 4 | Priced per child | Priced per dependant | Estimated at assessment |
Caribbean Paradise advisory fees are quoted separately from government costs, after assessment. All amounts are subject to official change and to case-specific fees.
Main Applicant Eligibility
Eligible Family Members
Each dependant category has its own age and dependency conditions, which we confirm against the current rules for your specific family before submission. Source of Funds and background checks apply to the main applicant and, where relevant, to dependants.
Restricted Nationalities and Due Diligence
Restricted nationalities change over time
Rather than relying on a fixed list, we check the current CIU position for your nationality as part of your assessment. A mandatory interview applies to the main applicant, and to dependants aged 16 and over. Your information is kept confidential and used only for your case.
Application Process
Eligibility assessment & agent selection
We review your profile against the current requirements and confirm the authorised-agent engagement.
Documents & source-of-funds preparation
We prepare your file and the supporting evidence for your investment and source of funds.
Submission, due diligence & interview
Your application is submitted to the CIU, which conducts due diligence and the required interview.
Approval-in-principle & investment completion
On approval-in-principle, the qualifying investment is completed as instructed.
Certificate of naturalisation & passport application
The certificate of naturalisation is issued, followed by the passport application.
an indicative range, not a promise. Processing time depends on your case and the CIU's current workload; we share a realistic range for your profile at assessment, never a countdown or guaranteed date.
Your exact checklist depends on your nationality and family profile.
Two property routes exist, each with its own ownership, holding-period and resale conditions.
Investment into a government-approved development project.
Minimum investment
Confirmed at assessment
Ownership
Share in approved project
Holding period
Minimum period applies
Resale
Permitted after holding period
Status
Government-approved only
Investment into approved private property.
Minimum investment
Confirmed at assessment
Ownership
Title to approved property
Holding period
Minimum period applies
Resale
Subject to conditions
Status
Government-approved only
Property routes may involve additional costs such as legal, registration and property-related fees. These are case-specific and confirmed at assessment.
Access varies by destination and can change. We provide a current, verified list for your file and always advise checking entry rules before travel.
Schengen Area
Visa-free
Ireland
Visa-free
CARICOM states
Visa-free
Visa-free
Visa on arrival / eVisa
Singapore
Visa-free
Hong Kong SAR
Visa-free
Selected destinations
Visa on arrival / eVisa
Entry rules can change at any time and travellers must verify current requirements before travel. A full, verified destination list is provided as part of your case.
St. Kitts and Nevis permits dual citizenship. Whether you may hold it also depends on the law of your current country of citizenship — some countries restrict or do not recognise dual nationality. Please confirm your own country's position before proceeding.
Residence, physical-presence and genuine-link expectations are update-sensitive and can change through government notices. We check the current position for your case rather than relying on older statements, and we avoid presenting any absolute "no residency requirement" claim.
A neutral, high-level comparison. Exact figures for every programme are case-specific and confirmed at assessment.
| Dimension |
St. Kitts & Nevis
|
Dominica
|
Grenada
|
Antigua & Barbuda
|
Saint Lucia
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry amount | At assessment | At assessment | At assessment | At assessment | At assessment |
| Real estate route | Available | Available | Available | Available | Available |
| Family inclusion | Included | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Processing guidance | Indicative range | Indicative range | Indicative range | Indicative range | Indicative range |
| Residency / genuine link | Update-sensitive | Update-sensitive | Update-sensitive | Update-sensitive | Update-sensitive |
| Distinguishing factor | Long-established (1984) | Established programme | US treaty consideration | Family-oriented rules | Flexible routes |
Capital
Basseterre
Language
English
Currency
East Caribbean Dollar
Location
Eastern Caribbean
Programme history
Citizenship by Investment since 1984
A concise country snapshot for context. For detailed travel and lifestyle information, please refer to official national resources.
Our role goes beyond processing applications — we guide clients through one of the most important strategic decisions of their international life.
Our role, clearly. Caribbean Paradise acts as your authorised-agent adviser: we prepare and present your application. The Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU) is the government body that reviews and decides it. We never represent a decision as guaranteed.
"A second citizenship is a long-term decision. My role is to give you an honest, current picture so you can decide with confidence."
A longer, plain-language guide to how the programme works, who it suits and what to weigh before you apply.
Cost depends on your chosen route, your family size and the current government schedule. We confirm exact government costs and quote our advisory fee separately at assessment, and we do not publish figures that could quickly become out of date.
Processing time varies by case and by the CIU’s current workload. We provide a realistic indicative range for your profile at assessment, presented as guidance rather than a fixed or guaranteed date.
Eligible family members — including a spouse, dependent children, dependent parents and, where the rules allow, dependent siblings — can be included, each subject to their own age and dependency conditions, which we confirm for your specific family.
St. Kitts and Nevis permits dual citizenship. Whether you may hold it also depends on the laws of your current country of citizenship, so we recommend confirming your own country’s position.
Residence and genuine-link expectations are update-sensitive and can change through government notices. We verify the current position for your case rather than repeating older claims.
A mandatory interview applies to the main applicant, and to dependants aged 16 and over. We prepare you for what to expect as part of your case.
The decision rests with the CIU. Our due-diligence review before submission is designed to identify issues early, and we discuss your specific risk profile openly before you commit — without guaranteeing any outcome.
Real estate routes carry a minimum holding period and resale conditions that differ between developer and private property. We explain the applicable rules for your chosen route in detail.
Restricted nationalities can change over time. We check the current CIU position for your nationality as part of your assessment and, where relevant, discuss alternative programmes with you.
Speak with a Caribbean Paradise advisor for a confidential review of whether St. Kitts and Nevis citizenship fits your family's long-term plans.
Book a confidential consultation with our team to explore the right Caribbean citizenship option for your family, your lifestyle, and your long-term plans.