Green volcanic slopes descending to a turquoise bay in St. Kitts

Citizenship · Caribbean

St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment

Q: Is there a minimum stay requirement for St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment?

No minimum stay required. Reported (secondary source, IMI Daily, Sep 2026): the Citizenship by Investment Unit has described a mandatory genuine-link requirement including structured physical presence and residency, while its FAQ still says there are no mandatory residency requirements to keep citizenship.

Accepting applicationsFrom USD 250,000

Discuss this programme Estimate Family Costs

One of the longest-established Caribbean programs, administered by a dedicated government unit.

Investment from: USD 250,000
Processing: 4–6 months
Family: Spouse, Children, Parents
Stay required: To confirm

Decision summary

What do you obtain?: Citizenship, granted directly by the government after approval.
What does your family invest?: USD 250,000 (contribution, main applicant plus up to three dependants)
What is additional?: Post-approval fees apply on the Public Benefit and real estate routes; those for the contribution route are not itemised officially. Due diligence USD 10,000 for the main applicant and USD 7,500 per dependant aged 16+.
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Government feesPost-approval application fees on the Public Benefit and real estate routes: main applicant USD 25,000 (real estate routes); spouse USD 15,000; each dependant under 18 USD 10,000; each dependant aged 18+ USD 15,000. Processing fees for the Sustainable Island State Contribution route are not itemised.Due diligence feesUSD 10,000 main applicant; USD 7,500 each dependant aged 16+.Full details below
How long does it take?: About 4–6 months (120–180 days) from the Unit's acknowledgment, plus preparation. Interview for the main applicant; dependants aged 16+ may be interviewed.
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About 4–6 months (120–180 days) from the Citizenship Unit's acknowledgment of the application, plus document preparation. A mandatory interview applies to the main applicant; dependants aged 16+ may also be interviewed.Full details below
Must you travel or live there?: No minimum stay on the official FAQ, but a reported genuine-link requirement with physical presence is being described by the Unit: to be confirmed.
Full wordingHide full wording
No minimum stay required. Reported: the Citizenship by Investment Unit has described a mandatory genuine-link requirement including structured physical presence and residency, while its FAQ still says there are no mandatory residency requirements to keep citizenship.Full details below
What is the main drawback?: Each main applicant attends an interview (dependants aged 16+ if required); approved real estate must be held for seven years before resale.
Family inclusion: Spouse, Children, Parents · conditions apply
Program status: Operational

Overview

St. Kitts and Nevis operates a citizenship by investment program in which qualifying applicants may be granted citizenship following government approval and due diligence.

The figures below are researched and dated. Confirm them with your advisor before any decision.

Passport strength

157destinations without arranging a visa in advance

Visa-free: 122
Visa on arrival: 27
eTA (online authorisation): 8
Visa required (applied for online): 35
Visa required: 34

Key destinations

Schengen areaVisa-free
United KingdomeTA
United StatesVisa required
CanadaConditional eTA
United Arab EmiratesVisa required (applied for online)
ChinaVisa required
JapanVisa required

A conditional eTA replaces a visa only for air travel, and only if you held a Canadian visa in the last 10 years or hold a valid US non-immigrant visa.

Travel access data as of 22 Oct 2026. Entry rules change often; confirm before you travel. Compare every programme's passport

Who this program may not suit

Taken from the facts recorded on this page. It may not suit you if:

Your budget is below USD 250,000, the minimum recorded investment, before fees and costs.
You may need the money back before the holding period ends: Real estate in an approved development may be resold after seven years; a private property may not be resold for at least seven years.
Your current country does not allow dual citizenship, or takes yours away when you gain another. Check this before you apply.
Your nationality is excluded by the program's rules. Check your nationality

Investment pathways

Investment pathway: Non-refundable Sustainable Island State Contribution; contribution to an approved Public Benefit Project; or approved real estate. Real estate: from USD 325,000 (approved development/condominium) or USD 600,000 (private home), subject to holding periods.
Minimum investment: USD 250,000 (contribution, main applicant plus up to three dependants)

Checked against official programme sources

Family inclusion

Spouse
Named in the rule
Children
Named in the rule
Parents
Named in the rule
Siblings
Not named in the rule

Ages, dependency and other conditions are in the rule below; confirm them for each family member.

Eligible dependents: Spouse; children under 18; children aged 18–30 in recognised full-time education and fully supported by the main applicant; children aged 18+ with a physical or mental disability; parents of the applicant or spouse aged 55+ who live with and are fully supported by the main applicant. There is no limit on the number of dependants.

Checked against official programme sources

Application process

1Choose a government-licensed Authorised Agent from the official list; the Citizenship Investment Unit does not accept applications submitted directly by applicants.
2The agent prepares and files the forms and supporting documents in English, including police certificates for those 16 and over; non-refundable due diligence fees are paid on submission.
3Biometric enrolment is mandatory for all new applications submitted from 14 April 2026.
4The Unit carries out due diligence, and the main applicant must attend a mandatory interview, virtually or in person; dependants aged 16 or over may also be interviewed.
5The Unit advises approval in principle, denial or delay for cause, usually within 120 to 180 days of acknowledging receipt of the application.
6After approval in principle, the applicant makes the qualifying investment and pays the remaining fees; citizenship is then granted, a certificate issued, and the new citizen can apply for a passport.

Steps and timings can change; your advisor confirms the current process before you apply.

Indicative timelines

Indicative processing timeframe: About 4–6 months (120–180 days) from the Citizenship Unit's acknowledgment of the application, plus document preparation. A mandatory interview applies to the main applicant; dependants aged 16+ may also be interviewed.

Checked against official programme sources

Investment and fees

Qualifying investment amounts and government fees are always shown separately. We do not publish single "total price" figures, as the total depends on family composition and circumstances.

Estimate for your family

Spouse

Children0

Parents0

Investment for your family: USD 250,000; Sustainable Island State Contribution
Known total so far: USD 260,000; 3 cost items not yet included

Children are counted as 10 and parents as 60 unless you enter ages in the calculator. Full breakdown and ages

Qualifying investment

Sustainable Island State Contribution: USD 250,000
Public Benefit Option: USD 250,000
Approved real estate (from): USD 325,000
Private home: USD 600,000

Additional expenses

Each additional dependant 18+: USD 50,000
Each additional dependant under 18: USD 25,000

Government fees: Post-approval application fees on the Public Benefit and real estate routes: main applicant USD 25,000 (real estate routes); spouse USD 15,000; each dependant under 18 USD 10,000; each dependant aged 18+ USD 15,000. Processing fees for the Sustainable Island State Contribution route are not itemised.
Due diligence fees: USD 10,000 main applicant; USD 7,500 each dependant aged 16+.
Estimated additional costs: Additional dependants beyond a family of four: USD 25,000 each under 18, USD 50,000 each aged 18+. Due diligence fees apply separately.
Investment holding period: Real estate in an approved development may be resold after seven years; a private property may not be resold for at least seven years.

Checked against official programme sources

Residence requirements

Investment holding period

At least 7 years, as recorded: Real estate in an approved development may be resold after seven years; a private property may not be resold for at least seven years.

Residence requirements: No minimum stay required. Reported: the Citizenship by Investment Unit has described a mandatory genuine-link requirement including structured physical presence and residency, while its FAQ still says there are no mandatory residency requirements to keep citizenship.
Renewal requirements: Not applicable — citizenship.
Potential route to citizenship: Not applicable — citizenship is granted directly.

Checked against official programme sources

Due diligence and documentation

Applicants and included dependants undergo background and source-of-funds checks by the relevant authority. Documentation requirements are confirmed during preparation — no documents are needed for an initial consultation.

Recent changes

23 Sept 2026
St Kitts and Nevis describes a genuine-link requirement
The Citizenship by Investment Unit has described a mandatory genuine-link requirement including structured physical presence and residency, while its FAQ still says no residence is needed to keep citizenship.
14 Apr 2026
St Kitts and Nevis requires biometric enrolment
From 14 April 2026, all citizens by investment of St Kitts and Nevis must complete biometric enrolment by 31 July 2027.

All programme changes

Considerations, limitations and risks

Important restrictions

Each main applicant attends an interview (dependants aged 16+ if required); approved real estate must be held for seven years before resale.

Applications are decided by the relevant government authority; approval is never automatic.
Enhanced due diligence on the applicant, dependants and source of funds applies.
Program terms, thresholds and fees are subject to change by legislation.
Second citizenship may have tax, reporting or dual-nationality implications in your home country.

Status and authority

Operational status: Operational
Official government authority: Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU), St. Kitts and Nevis
Nationality restrictions: Applications are not accepted from nationals of Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran, Iraq, North Korea and Russia, without exception.
To be confirmed: Legal basis

Programme rules change; your advisor confirms every figure before you commit.

Frequently asked questions

Is the St. Kitts and Nevis program currently open?

Program availability is confirmed during verification. Please speak with an advisor for the current status.

What is the minimum investment for St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment?

USD 250,000 (contribution, main applicant plus up to three dependants)

Can my family be included?

Spouse; children under 18; children aged 18–30 in recognised full-time education and fully supported by the main applicant; children aged 18+ with a physical or mental disability; parents of the applicant or spouse aged 55+ who live with and are fully supported by the main applicant. There is no limit on the number of dependants.

Is there a minimum stay requirement for St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment?

No minimum stay required. Reported: the Citizenship by Investment Unit has described a mandatory genuine-link requirement including structured physical presence and residency, while its FAQ still says there are no mandatory residency requirements to keep citizenship.

How long does the process take?

About 4–6 months (120–180 days) from the Citizenship Unit's acknowledgment of the application, plus document preparation. A mandatory interview applies to the main applicant; dependants aged 16+ may also be interviewed.