2017 was the year St Kitts and Nevis solidified its role as the leader in the citizenship by investment and furthered its reputation as the ‘PlatinumStandard’ of the industry.
In 2015 and 2016 St Kitts and Nevis broke records by becoming the first citizenship by investment nation to launch a citizen application management system (CAMS) and by establishing an Accelerated Application Process (AAP).
This year, St Kitts and Nevis was quick to react to the hurricane season by establishing a ‘Hurricane Relief Fund’ – a short-term fund devised not just to recover losses, but to prepare for the unpredictability of future weather events.
The Fund, which will remain open until 30 March 2018, is an additional pathway to citizenship, requiring a US$150,000 contribution for a family of up to four (including the main applicant and three dependants), and an additional US$25,000 contribution for any dependant after the third dependant.
The Most Innovative Investment Immigration Programme
Given St Kitts and Nevis’ history of accomplishment and forward-thinking initiatives, the programme was awarded the ‘World’s Most Innovative Investment Immigration Programme.’ at the Russian Global Citizen Awards Ceremony.
The awards ceremony is an annual event, recognising the best governments, companies and individuals who have excelled in investment, freedom of movement, and residence services. The Programme also received accolades in the CBI Index with a score of 100% for mandatory travel or residence, ease of processing, citizenship timeline, and due diligence.
The meticulous observer will also have spotted the following changes in the St Kitts and Nevis Programme for 2017: applications from North Korea were suspended in June, as a result of difficulties in obtaining accurate information from the jurisdiction, and agents were asked to submit their internal due diligence report together with each application for citizenship.
Furthermore, more family members were included in the definition of ‘dependant,’ including any child aged below 30 and in a qualifying dependant relationship with the main applicant, as well as any parent or grandparent aged 55 or over.
2017 Fee Summary
| Hurricane Relief Fund | Sugar Industry Diversification Foundation | Real Estate Investment Plus Government Fees |
| Family of up to four (main applicant plus up to three dependants): US$150,000 Any additional dependant after the third dependant: US$25,000 |
Single applicant: US$250,000 Family of up to four (main applicant plus up to three dependants): US$300,000 Any additional dependant after the third dependant: US$25,000 |
Minimum real estate investment: US$400,000 Government Fees: Single applicant: US$50,000 Spouse: US$25,000 Any adult dependant other than the spouse: US$50,000 Any child dependant (aged 0-17): US$25,000 |