The Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, Dr the Hon. Timothy Harris joined Gulf News on September 29th to discuss changing investor needs in 2020. He was also accompanied in the webinar by Les Khan, the CEO of the Caribbean nation’s Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Programme.
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The Prime Minister reflected on the country’s legacy within the history of investment immigration as the oldest ongoing CBI Programme. “We are very proud that some 37 years ago, […] our leaders had the vision to determine that there was a need for an alternative pathway if the smallest sovereign state in the world was going to be able to fend for itself and advance,” he said.
PM Harris also discussed the impact of COVID-19 on families looking for second citizenship. After stating the dual island’s commitment to law and order and its thriving regional economy, he said that “[Investors] think not just about citizenship, [they] think of a vibrant country, one such as St Kitts and Nevis, in which you know your returns will go tremendously.”
Khan also used the second half of the webinar to emphasise the family-friendly limited-time offer St Kitts and Nevis is currently presenting. Now, a family of up to four can be eligible for second citizenship in St Kitts and Nevis after contributing $150,000 to the islands. Previously, a family of four would typically contribute about $195,000. However, with the LTO, there is a discount of $45,000.
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“We give families the opportunity to get citizenship so that they can travel more freely and can be with their loved ones,” Khan said.
The CEO also explained why the offer most appeals to Middle Eastern families:
“In addition to the parents of the main applicant, the spouse […] and the grandparents can also apply… They’ll have to be over the age of 55 years. This was an adjustment that we made to accommodate and recognise that in the Middle East specifically, there are a lot of families where the parents take early retirement and now become dependent on the children at a very early age. So, this adjustment was made, and it just reinforces the government’s thoughtfulness in considering such a family.”
Once successful, economic citizens earn the right to live, work, and study in St Kitts and Nevis. They can also travel visa-free or visa-on-arrival to almost 160 countries and territories and enjoy all the economic and social benefits as native citizens.
