Is St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Right for Me?

St Kitts Citizen and Nevis Golden Visa

St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment

St Kitts & Nevis is one of the top Golden Visa Programs for former US Citizen and Long-Term Resident Expatriates of the United States seeking to avoid the clutches of the IRS.  The St Kitts and Nevis program is one of the original golden visa programs.  The goal of the program is to provide a financial path to citizenship through investments. Unlike other programs such as the Portugal CBI (which is a great Program in its own right), the program can provide immediate citizenship (not just residency) and therefore a passport – in under 90 days. St. Kitts and Nevis has a lower over tax rate  than many jurisdictions, and Expatriates are not required to show proficiency in any foreign languages. 

How the St Kitts Citizenship by Investment Citizenship Visa Works

Let’s review the basics of the St Kitts and Nevis Golden Visa (Citizenship By Investment aka CBI) works:

Due Diligence Fee

Applicants to the program are required to submit a main application ($7,500), along with $4,000 for family members over 16*.

*There is an expedited fee application ($25,000) and then an additional $500 for dependents over 16.

Investment Requirements

As with any CBI Program, the St Kitts and Nevis requires the Applicant to make an initial investment (in addition to the applicant fee).

Option 1: SGF

Sustainable Growth Fund: The main applicant pays $150,000. Applicant and Spouse is $175,000. Family of four (4) is $195,000 – with an additional $10,000 for other dependents. [

Option 2: Real Estate Real Estate 

Real Estate Investment: The initial investment is $200000/$400,000 (depending on how long the investment is held for) with a 5-7 year holding requirement.  There are also additional Government Fees required as part of the submission process.

Option 3: SIDF Sugar Industry Diversification Foundation

This alternative was introduced after the Hurricane Relief option was closed.

Government Fees for the St Kitts Citizen and Nevis Golden Visa

There are additional fees that are required at the time of applying, and the actual submission can be made by a registered firm in St Kitts.

Is Residence in St Kitts and Nevis Required?

There is no residency requirement to obtain the Golden Visa.

Travel

When it comes to travel, the St Kitts and Nevis passport is one of the best (especially for CBI – Citizenship by Investment) with access to over 150 countries.

Schengen Zone Travel

While not a member of the Schengen Zone, there is limited travel permitted in which a visa is not required for entrance into Schengen (and other) countries.

Visa Arrival vs Visa Required

The St Kiits passport allows travel to many countries as “Visa Arrival.” This means that the traveler can obtain the passport on site  as opposed to having to obtain it prior.

St Kitts and Nevis Currency 

The local currency is St Kitts and Nevis is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar. In 2020, the average exchange rate was 1 USD:2.7 ECD

FATCA Agreement

Despite being one of the top CBI, St Kitts and Nevis does have a FATCA (Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act Agreement in place since 2016). For former US Citizens, it is crucial to ensure that the FFIs (and even US banks where the Expatriate still conducts banking or investment) is up-to-date as to the Expatriate’s status.

St Kitts and Nevis Cost-Effective & Versatile CBI

In conclusion the St Kitts and Nevis CBI Golden Visa is a very versatile and cost-effective option. While some countries require upwards of a few million dollars as part of the initial investment, the St Kitts and Nevis option is more manageable — and has a solid reputation.

Interested in Expatriation from the U.S.?

Our firm specializes exclusively in international tax.

Contact our firm today for assistance with getting compliant.