Home / Citizenship / St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment
The world's oldest citizenship-by-investment programme, established in 1984. A second citizenship and one of the strongest Caribbean passports, from a US$250,000 contribution for a family of four, with no requirement to live in the country.
MCP), the same figures your AI assistant reads
What is this programme?
St Kitts and Nevis launched citizenship by investment in 1984, making it the oldest and one of the most respected programmes in the world. A qualifying investment grants full citizenship for the whole family and a passport with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 157 destinations (Mirabello-verified June 2026). Four routes qualify: a Sustainable Island State Contribution from US$250,000 for a family of up to four, the Public Benefit Option from US$250,000, approved real estate from US$325,000, or a designated private home from US$600,000.
Established 1984 (oldest CBI). Routes: Sustainable Island State Contribution (SISC) from US$250,000 for a family of up to four; approved real estate from US$325,000 (resaleable after seven years) or US$600,000 for a private home. Indicative timeline 4-6 months. No minimum stay. A mandatory biometric enrolment (launched 14 April 2026) applies to all citizens by 31 July 2027. Book a free consultation with Mirabello Consultancy.
MCP
A short residency requirement within the first five years of citizenship will be introduced; details expected by the end of 2026. There is currently no residence requirement, and Mirabello briefs clients as the rules are finalised.
Source: Government of St Kitts and Nevis announcement, Jan 2026 · monitoredMandatory biometric enrolment launched; all citizens obtained through investment must enrol by 31 July 2027 to keep their passports valid for travel. Enrolment fees: US$2,500 first adult, US$2,000 second adult, US$1,300 per child under 16.
Source: St Kitts and Nevis CIUSustainable Island State Contribution (SISC) from US$250,000 for a family of up to four; approved real estate from US$325,000.
Source: CIU scheduleThe Accelerated Application Process is not currently available; the CIU advises a status update within 120-180 days of submission.
Source: CIU · being re-verified against the CIUApplications from certain restricted nationalities are not accepted; confirm current eligibility with the CIU.
Source: CIUScored on cost, mobility, speed, path to citizenship, stability and family coverage. Methodology.
Our read: St Kitts and Nevis is the benchmark Caribbean programme, top of the Mirabello Index for the strength of its passport, its speed and its four-decade track record. The 2026 biometric enrolment is an integrity upgrade, not a barrier. For a family that wants a strong second citizenship without relocating, it is the reference choice, and our cost calculator below shows the full government-side figure, not just the headline. Strategic perspective, advisory only; figures provenance-tracked, unconfirmed items flagged for verification.
An indicative check in four answers. A specialist confirms the detail, in confidence.
Based on your answers, St Kitts and Nevis looks well-suited. Use the cost calculator below for an indicative government-side figure, and a Mirabello specialist will map the precise route and total to your family.
Book a private consultationProgramme benefits
Visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 157 destinations (Mirabello-verified June 2026), among the strongest in the Caribbean. Access is set by destination countries and can change.
Citizenship of the world's oldest CBI programme (since 1984), passed to future generations, not a temporary permit.
Spouse, children and eligible dependants are included; the SISC covers a family of up to four.
Currently no residence requirement to obtain citizenship. A short residency requirement within the first five years has been announced, with details expected by the end of 2026; we brief clients as it is finalised.
St Kitts and Nevis levies no personal income tax, no wealth tax, no gift tax and no inheritance tax. Citizenship alone does not change your tax residency; see the tax section below.
Retain your existing nationality; St Kitts and Nevis recognises dual citizenship.
Four decades of track record and a modern biometric enrolment underpin the programme's integrity and stability.
Requirements & eligibility
Applicants must be at least 18 years old, of good character, in good health, and hold no criminal record.
A Sustainable Island State Contribution from US$250,000 (family of up to four), or approved real estate from US$325,000 in a development (resaleable after seven years) or US$600,000 for a private home. Figures are verified against the CIU schedule.
Spouse, dependent children, and eligible dependants can be included. Additional dependants beyond four add a contribution (US$25,000 under 18, US$50,000 aged 18+).
All applicants pass CIU due diligence (US$10,000 main applicant, US$7,500 per dependant aged 16+). A biometric enrolment is mandatory for all citizens by 31 July 2027.
Investment options
| Route | From | Where or condition |
|---|---|---|
| Sustainable Island State Contribution (SISC) | $250,000 | Non-refundable contribution, covers a family of up to four |
| Public Benefit Option (PBO) | $250,000 | Contribution to an approved public-benefit project |
| Approved real estate (development) | $325,000 | Resaleable after seven years |
| Approved private home | $600,000 | Single-family private residence |
The routes in detail
A non-refundable contribution from US$250,000 for a main applicant and a family of up to four. Additional dependants add US$25,000 (under 18) or US$50,000 (aged 18 and over). Figures are set out in the CIU's official Sustainable Island State Contribution schedule.
No property to buy, hold or resell, the most straightforward path to the passport, favoured by families who want simplicity.
Spouse and dependants are included in a single application, with the contribution covering up to four people.
Invest in a government-approved development share, resaleable after seven years, or US$600,000 for a private home.
Unlike the contribution, the real-estate investment is an asset that can be sold after the holding period, subject to market conditions.
Government, due-diligence and transaction costs are additional; the calculator below shows the government-side figure.
A contribution to an approved public-benefit project. Unlike the SISC, government state fees apply per dependant: main applicant US$0, spouse or dependent parent US$15,000, dependent child US$10,000.
Approved projects and terms change; a specialist confirms the current options and conditions.
Cost calculator
Most advisers quote the headline contribution. Choose your route and family, and see the complete government-side figure: the investment plus every mandatory official fee, itemised line by line, so the number you budget is the number you pay.
Two official line items rarely appear in published schedules: a government application form fee of US$250 per applicant and a mandatory local-bank compliance background check of US$1,500 per application, disclosed by Mirabello based on 1,500+ immigration cases handled. Together with the published passport and citizenship-certificate fee of US$350 per applicant and mandatory biometric enrolment, they are why the true government-side total exceeds the headline contribution. We disclose everything upfront, so your budget is right the first time.
Main applicant, spouse and two children under 16. Every figure below is an official government-side fee; competitors typically show only the first line.
| Line item | Basis | Amount (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Sustainable Island State Contribution 1 | Covers a family of up to four | $250,000 |
| Due diligence, main applicant 2 | Per person | $10,000 |
| Due diligence, spouse 2 | Per person 16+ | $7,500 |
| Biometric enrolment, family of four 3 | $2,500 + $2,000 + 2 × $1,300 | $7,100 |
| Government application forms 5 | $250 × 4, disclosed by Mirabello | $1,000 |
| Local-bank compliance check 5 | Once per application, disclosed by Mirabello | $1,500 |
| Passports and citizenship certificates 4 | $350 × 4, official schedule | $1,400 |
| Certificates of Registration 2 | $50 × 4 | $200 |
| Government-side total | Illustrative, not a quote | $278,700 |
On the Public Benefit Option or a real-estate route, government state fees also apply per dependant: main applicant US$0, spouse or dependent parent US$15,000, dependent child US$10,000 (confirmed by Mirabello's government contacts, July 2026). The same family of four totals approximately US$313,700 on the PBO and US$388,700 on approved real estate at US$325,000.
About St Kitts and Nevis
St Kitts and Nevis is a twin-island federation in the northern Leeward Islands of the Caribbean, known for green volcanic peaks, calm water and a stable, English-speaking, common-law jurisdiction. It is the birthplace of citizenship by investment, launched here in 1984, and remains one of the most respected programmes in the world, with no personal income, wealth or inheritance tax.
Real estate opportunities
Timeline & process
The CIU advises a status update within 120-180 days of submission, so a well-prepared application typically completes in around 4-6 months. Mirabello manages every stage, and provides a personalised timeline for your family.
We assess eligibility, confirm your nationality is accepted, and recommend the right route (contribution or real estate).
We assemble the application, source-of-funds file and supporting documents to the CIU's standard.
Your application is filed through a licensed agent, with due-diligence fees paid on submission.
The CIU conducts comprehensive background checks; status is advised within 120-180 days.
You pay the balance of the contribution (or complete the property purchase) and government fees.
You enrol biometrics and receive your citizenship certificate and passport for the whole family.
A confidential, no-obligation conversation with a Mirabello specialist, in your language.
Contact usHow is it taxed?
St Kitts and Nevis is a genuinely low-tax jurisdiction, one of the programme's enduring attractions. Citizenship does not by itself make you tax-resident, and your overall position depends on where you actually live; take independent advice.
St Kitts and Nevis levies no personal income tax on individuals, whether from local or worldwide sources.
No wealth tax, no net-worth tax and no inheritance or estate tax.
No capital gains tax in general, with limited exceptions for certain short-term asset disposals; confirm your case.
No gift tax applies.
Holding citizenship does not automatically make you a St Kitts and Nevis tax resident; residency is a separate matter based on presence and ties.
Real-estate purchases carry transaction costs (stamp duty, legal fees); these are separate from the citizenship fees.
Your worldwide tax position depends on your country of residence and any treaties there; a specialist and independent tax adviser confirm the detail.
St Kitts and Nevis participates in international tax-transparency frameworks; financial institutions apply standard reporting.
Is dual citizenship allowed?
Yes. St Kitts and Nevis permits dual citizenship, so you keep your existing nationality while gaining a St Kitts and Nevis passport. There is no requirement to notify your home country through the programme, and the citizenship passes to future generations.
How it compares
MCP, verified per case with a specialist
| Programme | From | Timeline | Min. stay | UK access | Index rank | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Kitts and Nevis | $250,000 | 4-6 months | None | eTA (visa-free) | 1 of 49 | Passport |
| Antigua and Barbuda | $230,000 | 3-6 months | 5 days/5 yrs | eTA (visa-free) | 2 of 49 | Passport |
| Dominica | $200,000 | 4-6 months | None | Visa required | 3 of 49 | Passport |
| St Lucia | $240,000 | 4-5 months | None | Visa required | 4 of 49 | Passport |
| Grenada | $235,000 | 3-6 months | None | eTA (visa-free) | 7 of 49 | Passport |
Honest guidance: St Kitts and Nevis kept visa-free UK access under the eTA scheme while Dominica and St Lucia now require full UK visas, a meaningful mobility difference. Grenada remains the right choice for clients targeting the USA E-2 investor visa, which St Kitts does not offer. A specialist maps the trade-offs to your family's travel patterns.
The primary official sources this page is verified against. Where a figure is not in a published schedule, it is marked as disclosed by Mirabello from case experience.
Have questions? We have answers
From US$250,000 via the Sustainable Island State Contribution for a family of up to four, or via the Public Benefit Option (US$250,000 plus government state fees per dependant). Approved real estate starts at US$325,000 in a development (resaleable after seven years) or US$600,000 for a private home. Due diligence, government fees and mandatory biometric enrolment are additional; for a family of four the full government-side figure on the SISC route is approximately US$278,700. Use the cost estimator above for an itemised, family-specific figure.
The CIU advises a status update within 120-180 days of submission, so 4-6 months is a reasonable indicative range rather than a guarantee. The Accelerated Application Process is not currently available. Mirabello Consultancy's end-to-end case management keeps a file moving cleanly through each stage.
A mandatory biometric programme launched on 14 April 2026. All citizens obtained through investment must enrol by 31 July 2027, or their passports will cease to be valid for travel. Enrolment fees are US$2,500 for the first adult, US$2,000 for a second adult and US$1,300 per child under 16. It is a straightforward step, and we guide every client through it.
No. Applications from certain restricted nationalities are not accepted under current rules; Russian and Belarusian nationals are currently suspended. Eligibility should be confirmed before any application is prepared, and a confidential pre-assessment with Mirabello Consultancy establishes this first.
St Kitts and Nevis runs the oldest citizenship-by-investment programme, established in 1984, and its passport offers visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 157 destinations (Mirabello-verified June 2026), among the strongest in the Caribbean. Access is set by destination countries and can change.
The SISC covers a family of up to four, with US$25,000 per additional dependant under 18 and US$50,000 for those aged 18 and over. Due diligence is US$10,000 for the main applicant and US$7,500 per dependant aged 16 or over. Dependent children up to 30 (unmarried and financially dependent) and parents aged 55 and over can be included; siblings are not eligible.
Currently there is no residency or physical-presence requirement to obtain citizenship. The Federation has announced that a short residency requirement within the first five years of citizenship will be introduced, with details expected by the end of 2026. Mirabello tracks this and briefs clients as it is finalised.
Four routes: a non-refundable Sustainable Island State Contribution (SISC) from US$250,000 for a family of up to four; the Public Benefit Option from US$250,000 plus government state fees per dependant; approved real estate from US$325,000 in a development (resaleable after seven years); or US$600,000 for a designated private home. The estimator above prices each route for your family.
Yes. St Kitts and Nevis fully recognises dual citizenship, and there is no requirement to renounce your current nationality. You should always confirm that your country of origin also permits dual citizenship.
St Kitts and Nevis levies no personal income tax, no wealth tax, no gift tax and no inheritance tax. This is general information about the jurisdiction, not personal tax advice; obligations depend on your own residence and circumstances.