If you’re dreaming of living by the Caribbean sea, or simply want to secure a second passport, you may have come across the St Kitts & Nevis golden passport.
As one of the longest-running citizenship by investment programmes in the world, it gives high net worth individuals full citizenship rights in exchange for an investment.
So, what is it, and how do you get one?
What Is St Kitts & Nevis’ Golden Passport?
St Kitts & Nevis’ “golden passport” is its citizenship by investment programme, that allows foreign nationals to gain full citizenship (not just residency) in exchange for an investment in the country.
It is known to be one of the world’s oldest and most established citizenship by investment platforms and is currently over 40 years old.
Unlike other similar programmes, it gives investors citizenship without needing to live in the country or speak the local language. This makes it both easy to obtain and retain.
How Does This Differ From A Golden Visa?
While a golden visa grants residency, a golden passport (or citizenship by investment programme) grants full citizenship.
That’s not to say golden visas can’t lead to citizenship too – in fact, many golden visa programmes allow investors to apply to citizenship after a certain amount of time – usually between 5 to 10 years.
However, gaining citizenship this way may come with a requirement to learn the local language, restrictions about how much time you can spend outside of the country and even giving up other passports if countries don’t allow dual citizenship.
St Kitts & Nevis’ golden passport however grants full citizenship without asking applicants to spend a certain amount of time in the country or giving up their passports. Because of this, it has become one of the most popular golden passports in the world.
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What Are The Pros and Cons Of The St Kitts & Nevis’ Golden Passport?
Before applying for the St Kitts & Nevis golden passport, it’s worth understanding its pros and cons. These include:
Pros:
- Visa-free travel to nearly 160 countries, including the UK, Schengen Area, Singapore and Hong Kong.
- No personal income, wealth, inheritance, or capital gains tax.
- No residency or language test requirements.
- Dual citizenship is allowed and passed down through generations
- Includes family members like spouse, children, parents, and even siblings under 30.
Cons:
- Investment may be higher than some golden visas.
- Real estate option has to be held for 7-years before selling.
What Investment Options Exist For The Golden Passport?
In order to be eligible for the golden passport, investors need to contribute one of the following:
1. Sustainable Island State Contribution
A $250,000 minimum non-refundable donation to support the country’s development projects.
The threshold for this goes up to $350,000 for a family of four.
This is a popular option due to its lower investment cost and ease of processing.
2. Real Estate
Investing in a government approved real estate project is another popular option.
This requires a minimum $325,000 in approved resorts or apartments or minimum $600,000 for a private home.
Property must be held for 7 years before being sold.
This is a popular option due to the fact the investor is buying an asset that will appreciate in value over time.
3. Public Benefit Project
The third option includes a $250,000 contribution to an approved national development project (e.g. infrastructure, healthcare).
This option is designed for people who want their investment to make an impact.
What Is the Application Process Like?
The application process is relatively easy, although it is recommended that investors hire an agent to help manage it.
As with most visas, due diligence checks will be taken out, and a clean police record has to be supplied. You will also need official ID and proof of funds.
When it comes to processing, getting the passport can take between 4-6 months, although there is an accelerated option of 45-60 days that comes with extra fees.
With costs, it’s ideal to put aside:
Due diligence: $7,500 – $10,000 for the main applicant.
Legal and agent fees: varies.
Passport: around $500 per person.
There is no need to be physically present in the country and no language or history test is needed.
Is The St Kitts & Nevis golden Passport Right For You?
The St Kitts & Nevis golden passport is one of the oldest and easiest to get citizenship by investment options around today.
Whether you’re looking to move abroad, take advantage of the tax laws or simply just get an extra passport for your family, this programme is certainly a good one to explore.
