St Kitts and Nevis, two tiny gems separated by a narrow band of blue Caribbean Sea, offer some of the most exclusive hideaways in the world. One of the earliest of the Caribbean islands to be populated, Nevis was known for decades as the Queen of the Caribbees, a sugar-rich jewel in the crown of the British Empire.
Together, they are the smallest nation both by land mass and population in the whole of the Americas, an exclusive retreat in the New World that has enchanted poets, painters and princesses over the centuries. Brice Marden, perhaps America's most famous abstract artist, owns a dramatically restored plantation hotel on Nevis, and it is where Princess Diana found peace in the immediate aftermath of her divorce. Alexander Hamilton, one of America's Founding Fathers, was born on Nevis, and it is the island where the Romantic poets Coleridge and Wordsworth dreamed of settling.
Today, St Kitts is the more boisterous of the two islands, with Christophe Marina providing safe harbour for super yachts, and a strip dripping in the glitz and glamour of luxury stores and nightclubs.
Just a few minutes away by speedboat across The Narrows lies Nevis, the single peak of its volcano gently shrouded in the cloud that gave the island her name. Here, the sunsets, mango season and white-sand beaches dictate the rhythms of life.
Offering the world's oldest Citizenship by Investment programme, the islands' scheme is commonly referred to as the Platinum Standard and has won multiple awards. It remains one of the world's most accessible and successful CBI schemes; countries outside the Caribbean have developed awkward, convoluted or incredibly expensive programmes that are largely unappealing alternatives.
Established in 1984, citizenship is granted either through a donation or by an investment of at least $200,000 in share ownership of real estate. Currently a close second place in the CBI Index, Dominica – an island that has been savaged by hurricanes in recent years – is the only country ahead of St Kitts and Nevis.
Notably, benefits of the St Kitts and Nevis CBI programme include visa-free travel to more worldwide destinations than any other similar programme in the Caribbean. It should be noted that citizens are allowed to hold multiple nationalities.
Why would anyone want to become the citizen of a stunning island nation? In addition to the obvious benefits – it is never possible to spend too long contemplating a palm tree or a sunset – the programs also entitles members to:
- automatic residency status
- a low tax regime
- estate planning
- ease of travel (the most generous of any CBI scheme in the Caribbean)
Nationals of St Kitts and Nevis enjoy visa-free travel to over 100 nations, including European countries and the UK.
- Single Applicant: a non-refundable contribution of $150,000
- Main Applicant with up to three dependents: a non-refundable contribution of $150,000 ( limited time offer as this is usually $195,000)
- Additional dependents, regardless of age: $10,000
- Unmarried;
- Childless;
- 30 years of age or younger;
- Dependent on the applicant for financial support.
However, if you’re considering becoming a permanent resident of St Kitts and Nevis, the Real Estate Investment Option would be a better choice.
Real estate needs to be purchased in a pre-approved project or approve via the Private Home Scheme, with everything from condos to villas and hotel shares being included.
The minimum investment required for the main applicant is $200,000. This investment would typically be a hotel share, and it is resalable only after 7 years.
The minimum investment for villas or condos is $400,000, resalable only after 5 years.
The due diligence fee for the main applicant is $7500, and each dependent over the age of 16 years incurs an additional $4000 fee.
- Main Applicant: $35,000
- Spouse of Main Applicant: $20,050
- Any Other Qualified Dependent of Main Applicant Regardless of Age: $10,050
- Where a person executes a binding Purchase and Sale Agreement with the owner of an approved real esate, an application may be submitted on his or her behalf through an authorized person.
- The full purchase price of the real estate shall be in keeping with the Minimum Investment amount and Government fees.
- Within three (3) months of the submission of an application for Citizenship by Investment through the purchase of real estate, the Unit shall notify the authorized person on behalf of the main applicant, that the application has been;
- Approved in principle;
- Denied; or
- Delayed for cause and still being processed.
- No later than six (6) months after the date of a notification of approval in principle pursuant to the sub-regulation 3), the main applicant shall be required to show that
- Full and unencumbered title to the relevant property has been transferred to him or her, directly or indirectly through a local company, foundation or other approved entity; and
- That all prescribed government fees have been paid before the grant of Citizenship by Investment can occur.
- Beneficial ownership through a company, shall be permissible only if such company,
- Has issued all of its authorized shares to the main applicant;
- Is established and maintained under the laws of St. Kitts and Nevis;
- Is not exempt of offshore entity;
- Submits through the main applicant irrefutable evidence as to its beneficial ownership, which evidence shall be certified by the Registrar of Companies.
- Real estate that has been purchased that qualifies an applicant for citizenship under the Citizenship by Investment program at the minimum amount of $200,000 shall not be resold for a period of at least seven (7) years after the granting of citizenship and at the amount of $400,000+ shall not be resold for a period of at least five (5) years after the granting of citizenship.
- Subject to sub-regulation 6., where real estate has already been the subject of a Citizenship by investment application, that real estate shall not be eligible for use in a subsequent Citizenship by Investment application before January 2017; and
- An application for Citizenship by Investment shall be considered only after;
- An Approved Project in respect of construction of real estate has commenced; and
- All monies have been placed in an irrevocable escrow account with an authorized person, a registered trust company or with any entity whose business is the provision of trust or custodial services, provided that the holders of such escrow accounts shall comply with guidelines published by the Unit.
The above is for information only and does not form part of a contract or guarantee. All applications must be processed by an approved agent in St Kitts or Nevis and we are able to provide a list of those firms able to provide this service. The list of approved projects in the Citizenship by Investment program offers many different types of properties including villas, condominiums, luxury Resort communities, beach front apartments and land for construction.
Contact us for further details:
Office: +1 869 469 1120
Wayne Tyson: +1 869 662 1120