As the demand for dual citizenship continues to grow, St. Kitts and Nevis remains the benchmark for investors seeking a reputable and long-term alternative citizenship solution, St. Kitts and Nevis positions itself as an unbeatable and undisputed CBI leader in 2025.
St. Kitts and Nevis has been a pioneer in the Citizenship by Investment sector for over four decades. Despite the rise of other citizenship programmes, St. Kitts and Nevis continues to be regarded as the original and most reputable choice for investors, due to programme’s ability to withstand economic shifts and remains the first choice for those seeking second citizenship.
CBI investment options include donations to government-owned funds from USD 250,000 and direct investment in government-approved projects from USD 325,000, typically in tourism real estate managed by an external developer (the latter investment is often organized through an escrow account, and the investor’s share in the project, typically a new hotel development, is subject to a minimum holding period).
Exclusive Perks
• Citizenship for life and pass citizenship down to future generations.
• Dual citizenship allowed: Retain your original nationality.
• Access to global opportunities - Open doors to international business, education, and lifestyle benefits.
• Family inclusion: Include spouses, children, and parents in your application.
• Favourable tax regime: No income, inheritance, or wealth taxes.
Birth Place
Saint Kitts and Nevis played a pioneering role as the birthplace of the Citizenship by Investment (CBI) industry more than 40 years ago, The country evolved as a global leader that continues to redefine standards of integrity, transparency, and innovation.
“What began here, on these very shores, has since been adopted, adapted, and emulated across the globe. Yet even as others have followed, Saint Kitts and Nevis has remained at the forefront.”
-Prime Minister Dr. Drew
Role of CIU
The St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU) oversees the world’s longest-standing and most respected Citizenship by Investment Programme. Committed to integrity, efficiency, and transparency, the CIU ensures a seamless process for investors while safeguarding the nation’s reputation. The efforts of the CIU – Board of Governors, the Executive Team, Task Force or the Office of the Chairman – have been pivotal in ensuring the CIU operates with the highest standards of governance and compliance have bolstered the country’s international standing. The CIU inaugurated with new headquarter office and unveiled a new digital platform for processing applications towards elevating the vetting processing of applicants. all queries will now be handled through a fully digital system, replacing the previous manual processes with an upgraded, intuitive query management platform. These measures were instrumental in preserving the trust of international stakeholders and regulatory authorities.
The Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU) of St. Kitts and Nevis received two major awards at the 7th annual Caribbean Investment Summit (CIS) 2025, held in Antigua and Barbuda from 22 to 26 April 2025. The CIU was recognised with the Efficiency in Processing Time Award and the Heritage Excellence Award, affirming the Unit’s historic role as an industry pioneer and its continued leadership in setting standards for the global investment migration sector.
The recent years has witnessed the global landscape of Citizenship by Investment and the investment migration industry changing fast, become more competitive as regulations and laws across the world have changed along with the political and financial climate in many countries.
Our progress in digital transformation, customer service, and stringent due diligence speaks volumes
-CIU Chariman
Six Principles
Towards modernising the program, SKN has enacted several key steps taken to strengthen governance and compliance at the CIU, noting that these measures were instrumental in preserving the trust of international stakeholders and regulatory authorities.
The SKN CBI program is guided by six principles for effective governance and leadership:
1. Transparency: Decision-making processes and actions are clear and open, fostering trust among our citizens and stakeholders.
2. Communication: Clear and consistent communication is critical to promote understanding and engagement, allowing for informed participation in governance.
3. Good Governance: The CIU upholds accountability and fairness, ensuring that the public interest continues to be served effectively and justly.
4. Transformation: The CIU embraces change and innovation to adapt to emerging challenges and opportunities in the market and across the globe.
5. Global Leadership: The CIU leads by example in addressing global issues, while reaffirming its well-earned reputation for industry excellence.
6. Sustainability: Economic growth is balanced with social responsibility, ensuring that investment initiatives benefit both investors and the local community. Sustainable growth will foster long-term prosperity.
The Prime Minister also praised the transformative work of the Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU) under its current leadership, noting that recent reforms, technological advancements, and strengthened regulatory oversight have elevated Saint Kitts and Nevis as a model for responsible investment migration.
St. Kitts and Nevis didn’t just pioneer the concept of Citizenship by Investment— they have perfected it.
IMF’s assessment has praised significant reforms in improving transparency and managing inflows to St. Kitts and Nevis’ CBI Programme, especially diversify sources of revenue and ensure that CBI proceeds are used responsibly to support national development priorities. One of the most significant steps in this direction is the establishment of a Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF). This fund will absorb any excess CBI revenue, reducing the impact of volatile inflows and creating fiscal buffers to withstand external shocks such as natural disasters. IMF has recommended comprehensive annual reports following external audits be published regularly, with detailed statistics on applications and financial accounts, to further strengthen trust in the Programme’s integrity.
St. Kitts and Nevis has consistently set the standard for other nations to follow, maintaining a leadership role through its commitment to innovation, integrity, and setting best practices that have shaped the evolution of the global investment migration landscape.
CBI programs appear to have become an increasingly important source of FDI and foreign exchange in the ECCU.
-IMF
The Government’s commitment to making the CBI Programme more sustainable, transparent, and effective ensures that it will continue to contribute significantly to the Federation’s economy.
“The Citizenship by Investment Programme of St Kitts and Nevis stands as a benchmark for excellence, integrity in the investment migration industry”
The Federation continues to work with CARICOM member states, played an important role in establishing regional regulator and common CBI framework to address pressing regional issues, gearing towards successful reforms to the CBI Programme in OECS countries
The St. Kitts and Nevis CBI programme is set to achieve even greater success in 2025 and beyond. Its continued growth will support the nation’s vision of becoming a sustainable island state, enhancing its global standing while contributing significantly to local economic and social development.
With a legacy spanning over 40 years, the St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Programme stands as the oldest and most respected of its kind. Upholding such a legacy is not a day’s task—it requires unwavering diligence, strategic foresight, and a firm commitment to excellence, said the Government.