St Kitts Nevis

It’s very common these days for people to decide to move around the world. Where once, it was a big deal to drive four hours away from your home, more people than ever before are opting to move thousands of miles away. 

If you’re going to make a big move like that, you might as well pick a country that offers the lifestyle you want. If that lifestyle is sun, sand, and sea on a tropical island, then you might be very interested in St. Kitts and Nevis. The good news is that there is a St Kitts Nevis Citizenship by Investment Program, so you can skip to the head of the line and get  your new passport quicker. Here’s what you need to know. 

St Kitts Nevis Citizenship by Investment Program

Like many countries, St. Kitts Nevis have what is known as a “golden visa” program. This means that in return for a significant investment in the country, high net worth people can skip the long and often frustrating parts of the immigration process and go straight to submitting their application. 

Unlike many countries however, the St. Kitts Nevis citizenship by investment program doesn’t require you to have short term residency first. If you apply and qualify, you can go straight to having citizenship in the country. 

St Kitts Nevis Real Estate Investment

Many people who choose golden visa programs opt to purchase property, because it’s a tangible investment that they can recoup at a later stage,  and St. Kitts Nevis is no different. 

If you want to use this option to apply for citizenship in St. Kitts and Nevis, you will need to invest at least $200,000 in an approved real estate development. That does not include closing costs, citizenship fees and other legal costs. 

When you choose this option, you can sell your investment property after five to seven years, and the next person who purchases the property can also apply for citizenship by investment if they want to – so there is a high demand for these kinds of properties. 

If you do plan to invest in property, you should know that the $200,000 applies to investment in hotels. If you want to invest in a freestanding property, you will need to purchase a property for $400,000 or more. 

Donation to Government Fund

If you don’t want to invest in property in St. Kitts Nevis, there’s another option in the form of the SGF or Strategic Growth Fund.

This is a non-refundable donation to the government of St. Kitts and Nevis. The investment amount is at least $150,000 for individuals and $195,000 for families. So, it’s not a small amount of money, but it’s still less than you will spend on a standalone property if you choose the property investment option. 

The government of St. Kitts and Nevis uses the money they get from this program for things like sustainable energy projects, infrastructure upgrades, healthcare, and education. So, if you are going to be living in St. Kitts and Nevis, you will see the benefit of your donation every day. 

Key Citizenship benefit

There are many benefits to being a citizen of St. Kitts and Nevis. Top of the list for many is the fact that you get to live on a tropical island in the Caribbean. 

St. Kitts and Nevis also has a fairly strong passport that allows you visa free travel to many countries – including the Schengen region and the UK. You can also travel visa free throughout the Caribbean region. 

St. Kitts and Nevis also has a very favourable tax system where you will pay no income tax, inheritance, or wealth tax. Which might mean that you can recoup the cost of citizenship by investment very quickly. 

Fees and Costs

You can expect to pay a fairly hefty fee over and above your investment when you choose St. Kitts Nevis citizenship by investment. Those costs include:

• Due diligence fees of $7,500 for the main applicant and $4,000 per dependent – this is to allow the government to review your eligibility based on criminality, security, and health status
• A passport fee of $350 per person

Fees may vary depending on how you choose to apply and remember that these do not include any fees for lawyers or consultants to help with your application, or the costs associated with getting paperwork and other requirements. 

Processing Time

The St. Kitts Nevis citizenship by investment program is one of the quickest ways to get citizenship in any country. If you submit a complete application, it can be processed and approved within as little as 3 months. 

Dual Citizenship

St. Kitts and Nevis is completely okay with dual citizenship – so you can keep your primary citizenship when you decide to become a citizen on the island. 

It’s important to note that not all countries allow dual citizenship. So, your primary country of citizenship may not allow you to do this. In that case, you would need to renounce your primary citizenship when you take up citizenship in St. Kitts and Nevis. 

It’s also worth noting that you should consider your tax situation when deciding to be a dual citizen. While you won’t pay tax in St. Kitts and Nevis, some countries (like the U.S.) still require you to pay tax on global earnings as long as you are a citizen. So that might be another reason to reconsider keeping your primary citizenship. 

Covid Discount

The government of St. Kitts and Nevis has decided to offer families that relocate to the country through the SGF donation route a discount of $45,000 on their application, which brings their processing fees down to $150,000. This does not apply to any other programs. 

St Kitts Nevis Citizenship by Investment Program Requirements

In order to become a citizen of St. Kitts and Nevis through the golden visa program, you need to meet the required investment or donation amounts, but that’s not the only thing you need to do to qualify. Other requirements are:

• Provide all the documents requested in the application package
• Provide proof that you can afford to support yourself and your family
• Have a clear criminal record
• Not be a security risk to the people of St. Kitts and Nevis

Aside from the fact that the citizenship by immigration program saves applicants time and fast tracks their application, you still have to meet the immigration requirements for the country. Like every country, St. Kitts and Nevis wants to ensure that their people are safe, and the best way to do that is to do careful due diligence on anyone who wants to move to their country. 

Life on the Island

St. Kitts and Nevis are actually two islands in the Leeward Islands of the Lesser Antilles. 

It has been colonized and settled by various people and countries over the years and was in fact spotted by Christopher Columbus when he crossed the ocean in search of a shorter route to India. 

Later, the islands were settled by the British. There are many historic places and monuments on the island if you’re interested in exploring this long and interesting history. 

Like most island nations, crime is low on St. Kitts and Nevis, and it’s generally a quiet and peaceful place to live. 

In fact, there are only a little over 52,000 people that call the country home, so you definitely won’t find this place too crowded! Although the capital city of Basseterre can get quite busy, especially during tourist season. 

Both St. Kitts and Nevis are volcanic islands, and while the volcanos that created them are long dormant, there are still peaks on both islands that many locals and visitors enjoy hiking on. The slopes of these mountains are covered with unspoiled tropical rainforests – again, great for exploring! 

Culture in St Kitts Nevis

As you would imagine, live on St. Kitts and Nevis is laid back and relaxed. There are several annual music festivals that last several days at a time and bring local and international musicians and artists. 

When it comes to sports, St. Kitts and Nevis really stick close to their British Colonial  roots. The national sport is cricket, and rugby and netball are also popular choices to play or watch. 

Since St. Kitts and Nevis are also a major tourist destination, you can expect to find boutiques and shops, restaurants, and bars and lots of activities on offer. The beaches are beautiful, and there are plenty of water sports and other activities you can try when the mood strikes. 

If you love to explore historic sites, you will love Brimstone Hill Fortress, which was built in the 1600s, and was manned by the British till the mid-1800s. It’s a UNESCO world heritage site, and a great place for a historic day trip. 

The St. Kitts Railway is the last “sugar train” in the west indies. It takes you on a slow, winding, scenic route around the island, and is another great relaxing day trip option. 

The Botanical Gardens of Nevis are a tamer version of the tropical flora that cover the island, and a great spot to spend a quiet day, and of course, one of the main attractions for visitors and locals alike are the dolphins, and there are several options that will let you swim with these amazing creatures. 

St. Kitts and Nevis is everything you would expect a post-colonial island paradise to be, and more. Living here makes every day a vacation, so if you can afford to make the move, it’s one of the best things you can do. 

People of St Kitts Nevis

The people of St. Kitts and Nevis are mostly Afro-Caribbean, with a growing proportion of European and other races, as the island becomes more popular as a destination for expats. 

The official language in St. Kitts and Nevis is English, so you don’t have to worry about learning a new language, although some people do still speak St. Kitts Creole. 

As you can imagine from a people who live a tropical island lifestyle, most of the people of St. Kitts and Nevis are friendly and laid back, and as a tourist hotspot, they’re very welcoming to foreigners – whether they are visitors or making a new start on the islands.  

Weather in St Kitts Nevis

The climate in St. Kitts and Nevis is officially a tropical savannah. Which means you can expect a lot of sunshine and a lot of heat. In fact, it very rarely gets below about 23 degrees Celsius. 

There’s no real “winter” in St. Kitts and Nevis, but there are some months where there is more rain – usually from May to December. However, since much of the islands are tropical rain forest, you can expect rain occasionally most of the year. This is not the cold rain you know from your home though. In fact, it very rarely slows life down on the island much at all, and unless it’s raining hard, you’ll still see people going around their business. 

FAQ

How many people live in Basseterre?

Basseterre may be the capital city of St. Kitts and Nevis, but it’s definitely not crowded! In fact, there are only about 12,000 people that call the city home all year round. 

Is homosexuality legal in St. Kitts and Nevis?

No. While the government doesn’t go out of their way to pursue homosexual people, male homosexuality is still technically illegal on the island, and there are no plans to decriminalize this. So, if this is a concern, you might want to consider other options. 

How do you get to St. Kitts and Nevis?

There are two international airports on St. Kitts and Nevis. Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport is the larger of the two and is located on Saint Kitts. It has regular flights to other islands, Europe, and North America. 

Vance W. Amory International Airport is on the island of Nevis and is more focused on local flights to other islands in the Caribbean. 

What is the education system like in St. Kitts and Nevis?

The education system in St. Kitts and Nevis is quite good, with several government and private options. Education is compulsory between the ages of five and sixteen. 

What is the medical system like in St. Kitts and Nevis?

The medical system in St. Kitts and Nevis is adequate for day to day and less complex health conditions, but if you need complex medical care, you might have to go elsewhere to get it. So, if you have complex medical needs, it’s a good idea to factor this into your planning. 

There are 11 health centres on St. Kitts and 6 on Nevis though, so there’s no shortage of primary care options. 

What is the cost of living like in St. Kitts and Nevis?

The cost of living in St. Kitts and Nevis is not as low as some other small countries, largely because so much of what you buy has to be imported to the islands. 

The price to purchase or rent property is also higher than it might be in some other parts of the world, simply because there is limited stock. So, if you are not planning to apply for citizenship by investing in property, you might want to investigate these costs before you commit to a move. 

Smart Citizenship

Smart Citizenship has been helping people to make their new home in countries around the world for many years. 

We specialize in citizenship by investment programs like the one offered by St. Kitts and Nevis and are happy to help with advice and application assistance if you need it.

Whether you just want more information or you need specific details about the process, contact us! Our friendly, knowledgeable team is always happy to talk about your needs and answer questions.