The prestigious Citizenship by Investment Programme (also known as the Economic Citizenship Program) in St Kitts and Nevis is the longest running economic citizenship program in the world having been established in 1984.

Through its legitimacy and strong regulation, the citizenship by investment program, enjoys international recognition, approval and acceptance. The program is governed in accordance with the Citizenship Act and its attendant regulations.

The Economic Citizenship Program is unique and provides a wide range of benefits to the successful applicant seeking a second passport. These benefits include:

• Citizenship for life plus there is no need for the applicant/newly registered citizen to reside in St Kitts or Nevis
• Dual Citizenship – dual citizenship is permitted in St kitts and Nevis and there is no requirement to abandon ones existing citizenship
• Excellent Real Estate Investment
• Full Residency Status granted upon the successful applicant’s registration as a citizen
• Tax Breaks – citizens of St Kitts and Nevis enjoy tax free status on all income, capital gains, gifts, wealth and inheritance
• Valid passports/second passports issued to successful applicants
• Visa-free travel to approximately 130 countries including: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Britain, Canada, all CARICOM Caribbean countries, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Iceland, Italy, Greece, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and most British Commonwealth countries
• Wonderful Climate – All year round St Kitts and Nevis enjoys a pleasant climate, particularly during the cool months of December to March and lots of sunshine for the remainder of the year. Humidity is relatively low and the Northeast trade winds keep the islands cool

Diplomatic Relations

St. Kitts and Nevis enjoys stable diplomatic relations with many countries including Canada, France, Germany, Monaco, Nigeria, Singapore, Russian Federation etc. It also has membership in the United Nations and its various organizations, the Organization of the Americas (OAS), the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and the Eastern Caribbean Economic Union.

Legal and Political System

St. Kitts and Nevis enjoys a stable democracy based on Constitutional rule and free and fair elections and a Parliament based on, the Westminster Model. Its judicial system is called the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court and is shared with the rest of the Eastern Caribbean States and islands. Final appeals go to the Privy Council in England.

Requirements

In obtaining a second passport (the St Kitts & Nevis passport) by virtue of the Economic Citizenship Programme, the applicant (or main applicant in the case of a family applying together) must make an investment in the Federation. According to the regulations for the programme, such an investment means (a) the purchase of real estate in an approved project (b) contributions to the Sugar Industry Diversification Foundation; (c) any resource donated or expended which in the opinion of Cabinet, brings substantial benefits to the Federation. For our purposes the focus will be on options (a) and (b) above.

1. Sugar Investment Diversification Foundation (SIDF)

The SIDF is a charitable contribution/investment designated as a special approved project for the purposes of the Economic Citizenship Programme which aims at assisting the social and economic problems arising from the closure of the sugar industry in the federation.

The prescribed minimum investment amounts in relation to the SIDF are as follows:

• Single applicant - US$250,000.00
• Applicant with up to three dependants - US$300,000.00
• Applicant with up to five dependants - US$350,000.00
• Applicant with up to seven dependants US$450,000.00
• Additional contribution for each dependant above seven dependents US$50,000.00

* N.B.

• The required investment amount prescribed above includes all government fees payable for the main applicant and his or her dependents except for due diligence background checks and processing fees (listed below “COSTS”)
• With the exception of the spouse of the main applicant, where a dependent is over 18 years of age and forms part of the application, the minimum investment shall be an additional fee of US$50,000.00 per dependent

**Additionally, these fees are regulated by the Government and are subject to change at any time.

2. Real Estate

If an applicant chooses to invest in an approved real estate project, the minimum investment amour is US$400,000.00

It is useful to involve the assistance of a realtor to assist in finding a property that is suitable to you. As such, we can make the necessary introductions to a qualified and knowledgeable realtor who can assist

Procedure

1. Complete (original) application forms and gather all supporting documents noted on the application form

2. Submit application - Each applicant is required to complete the main application forms which constitutes:

• 1 original Registration as a Citizen of St. Kitts and Nevis application form C1, - this application requires the applicant to provide personal information, educational background, employment history and family history
• 1 original Photograph and Signature Certificate form C2
• 1 original Medical Certificate form C3 - this must be completed by a medical practitioner

Form C2 must be completed by a Notary Public who must affix his/her signature and seal of office at the end of said form as that of the certifier thereto. Also, copies of the applicant's Passport and Identity/National Cards must be certified as true and correct copies of the original documents by said Notary Public.

Form C3 must be completed by a Medical Practitioner who must affix his/her signature and seal of office as that of the examiner thereto.

All supporting documents must be in English or translated in English and any photocopies of documents must be notarized and properly certified.

* N.B.

1. Should applicant/s choose the SIDF option, an Investment Confirmation/Escrow Agreement (Form C4) which is provided with the main application form must be completed
   
   
2. In the case of the real estate investment option you must identify the property for purchase (i.e. a property that is within the pre-approved Government project as identified above) and at least fully execute a Purchase and Sales Agreement or the relevant Transfer documents (if the land transaction is completed at the time of the application) must be submitted along with the application

3. The Government will then undertake due diligence (background checks on you and all members of the family over the age of 16 years seeking citizenship).Following the completion of all due diligence checks the Citizenship by Investment Unit will provide notification as to whether the application has been:

• Approved in principle
• Denied or
• Delayed for cause and is still being processed

If approval has been granted in principle, (i) in the case of the SIDF option, the main applicant must within 90 days after the notification of approval in principle show that full contribution to the SIDF has been deposited into a designated escrow account before the grant of Citizenship by Investment occurs (ii) in the case of the real estate option the applicant must provide proof of investment in the real estate by means of a fully executed Memorandum of Transfer and or Certificate of Title.

**Please note that if your application has been denied, the due diligence background check and processing fees will not be returned to you.

4. Provided that everything is in order, approval is granted and you then take steps to be registered as a citizen.

Timing

After applications are submitted to the Citizenship by Investment Unit, the processing time for approval takes approximately 3 -6 months.

N.B - This program does not provide for any fast track/express application.

Fees/Costs

The current associated fees are as follows:

• Application Form fee - US$250.00 for each applicant
• Due Diligence background checks and processing fee is non-refundable and paid to Government to cover its costs for conducting external background checks on each applicant who is over 16 years of age as follows:
  1. US$7,500.00 for the main applicant and
  2. US$4,000.00 for each dependent who is over the age of 16 years
• *Registration fee (payable only if application is successful)
  1. US$50,000.00 for head of household (male or female)
  2. US$25,000.00 for spouse
  3. US$15,000.00 for each child of the main applicant under 18 years of age and
  4. US$50,000.00 for each qualified dependent of the main applicant above 18 years of age, other than his or her spouse

Additionally, each citizenship certificate of registration attracts a fee of USD$47.00 and the processing fee for each passport is US$250.00.

*N.B. - This fee is not applicable to the persons investing in the SIDF as the fee is included in the investment sums.

• *Legal Fees - the economic citizenship

• Single applicant - US$10,000.00

• Main applicant plus one dependent (spouse or child) - US$16,000.00

• Main applicant plus 2 or 3 dependents (spouse and child or children) - US$24,000.00 - US$ 30,000.00

• Main applicant plus 4 or more dependents - $10,000.00 for main applicant plus US$ 6.000.00 per dependent *

- These fees are subject to negotiations with relevant lawyer.

5. *Estimated Legal/ Transaction fees - the land purchase (based on the St Kitts & Nevis’ Bar Association minimum Scale of Fees), is as follows:

• Purchase and Sale Agreement (Vetting & or amending) - 1 % of Purchase Price

• Memorandum of Transfer: - Approximately 1% of Purchase Price

• Surveyor's Fees: - Approximately, US$1,000.00 per acre

• Government Fee: - Registration fee of US$2.70

• Assurance Fund - Purchase price or value of land divided by 500

*Applicants may also be required to apply for an Alien Land Holding Licence which attracts a government stamp duty (where necessary); additional legal fees and processing fees.

N.B. – All prescribed government fees (including investment amounts, due diligence and registration fees) are regulated by the Government of St Kitts & Nevis and are subject to change at any time.

MORTON ROBINSON, L.P. is able and equipped to assist you with your citizenship needs, so please do not hesitate to contact us.

N.B.- THIS IS FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND SHOULD NOT BE RELIED UPON AS LEGAL ADVICE. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT US.