St Kitts and Nevis, the smallest country in the Western Hemisphere, is the pioneer of the citizenship by investment programme.
It was founded in 1984 and is currently considered the “platinum standard” of CBI worldwide. The revenue generated by the acclaimed CBI Programme serves the country’s 53,192 inhabitants both directly and indirectly.
St Kitts and Nevis, dubbed as “Paradise of the Caribbean,” has also established itself as a top destination for cruise ship passengers. It’s small enough to see in a day yet large enough to spend a lifetime exploring. It’s even more appealing because of the stunning white sand beaches and the clear blue ocean.
In the 80s, St Kitts and Nevis derived their primary income from the “Sugar Industry”; however, slowly and gradually, it closed in 2005.
Following the closure, the country began to operate the citizenship by investment programme to support the twin-island country’s social-economic activities.
In 2018, the government established its Sustainable Growth Fund (SGF), also called Fund Option, which assists the government in running social programmes, providing income support to people and more.
The option allows the investors to contribute to the social prosperity and the economy of the twin-island Federation.
How Sustainable Growth Fund is assisting St Kitts and Nevis
• Enhancing the quality of education
• Ensure the health and well-being of a growing population
• Develop climate resilience, protecting the twin-island against the future effects of climate change
• Construct solid and resilience infrastructure that will stand the test of time
• Promote St Kitts and Nevis’ thriving tourism industry
• Publicize the different cultural savour of the people
• Asset the indigenous entrepreneurship
“As the first country to offer economic citizenship globally, St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Programme is a feat of longevity and constant creation. It has moved the nation, and certainly people around the world, in a positive way. As the Programme joins a new era, the nation offers you a promising future and refined plan for continuous prosperity,” said Prime Minister Timothy Harris during the launch of the Sustainable Growth Fund (SGF) in 2018.
The CBI Programme of the Federation of St Kitts and Nevis has been ranked as the world’s fastest, most secure in CBI Index, published by Financial Times’ Professional Wealth Management magazine.
The country has topped the Citizenship Timeline pillar by virtue of the Accelerated Application Process. The country has bagged the perfect score in the Ease of Processing and Due Diligence pillars. Furthermore, the Sustainable Growth Fund gathered praise for the family pillar facility.
The CBI of St Kitts and Nevis has gained popularity because of the rigorous and stringent due diligence checks conducted to make sure that the alternative citizenship has been granted to the reputed and honest applicant.
The individuals who are keen to attain the alternative citizenship of the twin-island Federation may acquire one by financially donating to the “Sustainable Growth Fund” option. An investor can contribute a minimum of USD 150,000 to be part of the citizenship by investment programme under the Sustainable Growth Fund option.
Another major highlight of the Citizenship by Investment Programme is the Accelerated Application Process (AAP). It is a unique feature which in which, after paying a certain amount of fee, the applicant can accelerate the processing of his/her application. In some cases, AAP processes applications in 60 days or less.
St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Programme offers the citizenship to the applicant’s family members, including the dependent’s spouse, children (under the age of 30) and parents as well as grandparents (over the age of 55).
One of the best features of the programme of the twin-island Federation is “Global Mobility”. Citizenship provides access to more than 156 countries across the globe.
Some other benefits of the CPI of St Kitts and Nevis can be listed as:
• St Kitts and Nevis’s dual citizenship has been considered the most powerful in the Caribbean and 24 globally.
• The alternative citizenship helps in becoming a global citizen by providing visa-free access to over 150 countries.
• It offers stable and prosperous access to the Caribbean haven.
The second citizenship of the Federation of St Kitts and Nevis can be attained if the investor qualifies some of the eligibility criteria, which are:
• The applicant must be of outstanding character.
• The investor must not have any criminal record.
• The investment must have excellent health.
• The applicant must have a high personal net worth.
• The minimum age of the investor must be more than 18 years.
• The individual must prove their outstanding character through bank statements and employer references.
