Future citizens can live, work and study in the country, with access to visa-free or visa-on-arrival travel to over 150 destinations.
On July 3, the Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU) of St Kitts and Nevis reduced the minimum contribution families must make to become economic citizens. Now, families of up to four can contribute $150,000, instead of $195,000, to the Sustainable Growth Fund under the country's CBI Programme. This applies only to the fund option, which remains the fastest route to second citizenship. The government has made the temporary offer valid until January 15, 2021.
"St Kitts and Nevis is the safest, most beautiful and prosperous country in the Caribbean to offer economic citizenship and we remain so during these difficult times," noted Prime Minister Timothy Harris.
"We are now delighted to offer - for a limited period while the world grapples with the pressures of the Covid-19 pandemic - all of the benefits of full economic citizenship at an even more competitive rate for families, and with a new paper-free application process," commented Les Khan, CEO of the CIU.
St Kitts and Nevis' CBI Programme is also the only one offering an Accelerated Application Process which ensures that successful applicants acquire citizenship within 60 days from which they can attain a passport. First, though, applicants and their families must pass a series of due diligence checks by both the government and independent specialist risk analysis firms to ensure that they do not present any security or reputational risk to the country and its partners.
Having a strong system of due diligence is essential to the dual-islands' national security and it also plays an important role in shaping its relationship with its international partners. The fact that other countries trust St Kitts and Nevis to thoroughly vet applicants is reflected in the growing number of countries to which citizens of St Kitts and Nevis can travel to. While future citizens of St Kitts and Nevis can live, work and study in the country, they can also enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arrival travel to over 150 destinations.
"St Kitts and Nevis is the cradle of citizenship by investment," says Paul Singh, Director of government advisory and official marketing promotor CS Global Partners. "Established in 1984, the CBI Programme continues to attract some of the finest and most knowledgeable investors who want the best for their families. Many applicants will be pleased to learn of this time-limited offer, also knowing that, in the process, they are assisting struggling families to get back on their feet."
St Kitts and Nevis
The first country that deserves special attention is St Kitts and Nevis. This country runs the oldest citizenship by investment programme in the world. It offers its citizenship to investors within just 60 days from when the application is submitted. At the moment there are two categories for investment.
A donation of $150,000 into a Sustainable Growth Fund for an individual or even for a family of up to four, or Buy a property for $200,000 for seven years, or buy a $400,000 property for five years, which will give an applicant and any family members full citizenship following the payment of processing fees.
The St Kitts and Nevis passport is internationally well-respected and gives its bearer visa-free access to 156 countries around the world including the European Union, the UK, Russia and practically all of South America.