Saint Kitts and Nevis
Sustainable Island State Contribution (SISC)
Minimum investment
USD 250,000
Processing time
120-180 days to an approval-in-principle decision
Physical presence
none required to obtain or maintain citizenship
- Investment route
- •Donation to the SISC fund (250000 USD for main applicant or family of up to 4)
- •Developer's real estate investment (325000 USD fractional ownership, or 600000 USD for full ownership, in an approved development, 7yr resale restriction)
- •Approved public benefit project
- Investment breakdown
- •SISC: main applicant or family of up to 4 members at USD 250,000
- •each additional dependant under 18 adds USD 25,000
- •each additional dependant 18 or over adds USD 50,000
- •funds five priorities: local food production, green energy transition, economic diversification, sustainable industry, and social protection. Real estate: minimum USD 325,000 per main applicant for fractional ownership in an approved development, or from USD 600,000 for full ownership
- •resaleable after 7 years
- Additional fees
- SISC route: due diligence fee of USD 10,000 for the main applicant plus USD 7,500 per dependant aged 16 or over. Real estate route: same due diligence fees, plus post-approval application fees of USD 25,000 (main applicant), USD 15,000 (spouse), USD 10,000 (dependant under 18), USD 15,000 (dependant 18+), plus compulsory insurance fund contributions and conveyance fees
- Eligibility
- •Main applicant must be 18+
- •must make or agree to make the legally prescribed investment
- •must pass due diligence checks and financial criteria
- •not eligible if previously denied citizenship of any country, denied a visa to a country St Kitts and Nevis citizens can enter visa-free (and not since obtained that visa), has a criminal record, is under criminal investigation, was declared bankrupt within the preceding 10 years, or is involved in activity likely to cause disrepute to St Kitts and Nevis
- Due diligence
- •interview is mandatory for the main applicant, conducted virtually or in person by an independent firm commissioned by the CIU or by CIU officials
- •dependants aged 16 or over may also be required to attend an interview if deemed necessary
- •applications from citizens of Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, and Russia are not accepted
- •biometric enrolment introduced 2026
- Family inclusion
- •Spouse
- •children under 18
- •children aged 18-30 in full-time secondary or tertiary education and fully supported by the main applicant
- •children 18+ who are physically or mentally challenged
- •parents of the main applicant or spouse aged 55+ living with and fully supported by the main applicant
- Naturalization
- citizenship is granted immediately on approval — no residency period, physical presence, or naturalization wait is required
- Renewal
- •citizenship is granted for life
- •no residency requirement to maintain it
- •the passport itself is renewed periodically like any other passport
- Dual citizenship
- Fully permitted — no requirement to renounce any prior nationality
- Key benefits
- •Visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 150+ destinations including the UK, Schengen Area, Hong Kong, and Singapore
- •No personal income, capital gains, wealth, or inheritance tax
- •Oldest continuously running CBI program in the world, established 1984
- Taxation
- no tax on worldwide income, capital gains, gifts, or inheritance for citizens who are not otherwise tax-resident elsewhere
Application process
- 1.Select an Authorised Agent (applications cannot be submitted directly to the CIU)
- 2.complete all forms and supply required documents through the Authorised Agent
- 3.attend an interview if required
- 4.the CIU processes the application and conducts due diligence, advising within 120-180 days whether it is approved-in-principle, denied, or delayed for cause
- 5.make the SISC contribution or complete the real estate purchase
- 6.receive the certificate of naturalisation and apply for a St Kitts and Nevis passport