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The world’s oldest citizenship-by-investment programme (since 1984)

St Kitts & Nevis
citizenship by investment

The passport is granted immediately, with no years-long naturalisation — but due diligence here is among the strictest in the index, and it is a real, separate cost.

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Contribution from
$250,000
Time to status
6–9 mo.
Stay requirement
not required
Visa-free countries
156

One reliable route — the SISC contribution

The Sustainable Island State Contribution replaced the former Sustainable Growth Fund. This is not a return-on-capital investment but a non-refundable contribution — the money is never returned, under any circumstances.

ROUTE
AMOUNT
WHAT TO KNOW
SISC, single applicant or family of up to 4
AMOUNT$250,000
Covers the applicant and up to 3 dependants in one amount. Non-refundable.
Additional child under 18
AMOUNT+$25,000
Per person beyond the four already covered by the base amount.
Additional dependant 18+
AMOUNT+$50,000
Per adult beyond the base amount.

What the full cost consists of

Due diligence is not a formality — it is a separate, significant cost independent of the contribution amount. It is not refunded on refusal, even when the applicant is not at fault.

COST ITEM
RATE
APPLIES TO
Due diligence check, main applicant
RATE$10,000
main applicant
Due diligence check, dependant 16+
RATE$7,500
per dependant aged 16 and over
SISC contribution
RATEfrom $250,000
per family of up to 4, see the table above
Legal representation
RATEmarket rate, not fixed
per family, depends on the firm

How the process runs

01
Preparing documents
The due diligence package is assembled in advance — several years of bank statements, criminal record certificates, source-of-funds documentation.
02
Filing the application
Through a licensed agent, a mandatory intermediary — there is no route for direct applicant filing.
03
Due diligence interview
A mandatory interview for the main applicant; dependants aged 16 and over may also be required to attend. Conducted remotely.
04
CIU decision
120 to 180 days from acknowledgement of a complete application — the regulator’s (Citizenship by Investment Unit) official SLA.
05
Paying the contribution and receiving the passport
The SISC contribution is paid after approval, and the passport follows shortly after — a realistic total from first contact with an agent to passport in hand is 6–9 months.

A good fit if

You want a second passport quickly, with no years-long naturalisation — citizenship is granted immediately on approval.
Mobility is the priority: 156 visa-free countries, including the Schengen area and the UK.
You accept a non-refundable contribution: the money never comes back, unlike fund- or property-based programmes.
Your source of funds is easy to document — due diligence here is among the most thorough in the index.

A poor fit if

You want your money back eventually — SISC is non-refundable by design, and the real estate alternative has not reliably worked the same way since 2023.
Your source of funds is hard to document — this is the single most common reason due diligence rejects an application.
You need status that lets you live and work in the EU — a Caribbean passport does not grant that, only visa-free entry.
Your budget caps out below $270,000 once family due diligence is included.

Who runs this programme

Your request goes to two or three firms from this list. You see exactly which ones before it is sent, and you can exclude any of them.

Henley & Partners
Лондон, Великобритания · since 1997
The largest advisory firm in the industry — over 70 offices worldwide; also advises governments on designing migration programmes.
NTL Trust
Карибский регион (офисы в Латинской Америке, Европе, на Ближнем Востоке и в Азии) · since 1994
30+ years in citizenship and residence by investment, officially accredited by several Caribbean governments; also trust and corporate services.
Arton Capital
Монреаль, Канада · since 2006
Global financial advisory firm specialising in residence and citizenship by investment.
Astons
Дубай, ОАЭ (основана в Лондоне) · since 1989
One of the oldest firms in the market, over 9,000 clients from 100+ countries; Golden Visa, citizenship and RBI worldwide.
CS Global Partners
Лондон (Мэйфэр), Великобритания · since 2012
Holds an official government mandate to promote the citizenship-by-investment programmes of St Kitts & Nevis, Dominica, and Saint Lucia.
Savory & Partners
Дубай, ОАЭ · since 2009
Over 70 specialists across 8 offices on three continents, 20+ jurisdictions, over 11,000 clients.

This is an independent list of firms in the market, not our partners — we do not forward requests to them or receive payment for referrals. Contact them directly via the link.

Frequent questions

How many years until naturalisation?

None — this is a citizenship-BY-investment programme; the status is granted right after approval, not after years of residence. That is the key difference from European residence programmes like Portugal or Cyprus.

Can you get the contribution back?

No, the SISC contribution is fully non-refundable in every outcome, including an approved application. It is a contribution, not a return-bearing investment.

What if you fail due diligence?

The due diligence fee ($10,000 + $7,500 per dependant) is not refunded regardless of outcome — it compensates for the check itself, not a deposit on success.

Does this passport allow living in the EU or US?

No. It grants visa-free entry to 156 countries, including Schengen and the UK, and a simplified US visa regime (a 10-year tourist visa), but not the right to live or work there.

Who can be included in the application?

A spouse, children under 18, and dependent parents aged 55 and over — the base $250,000 covers up to 4 people; each additional person adds $25,000 (child) or $50,000 (adult).

How strict is the check?

One of the most thorough in the index: a mandatory interview, multi-year bank statements, source-of-funds verification. That strictness is exactly why the passport keeps a good reputation with third-country visa authorities.

Sources

Citizenship by Investment Unit — official programme portal, SISC structure and the timeline SLA↗Global Citizen Solutions — detailed breakdown of due diligence fees and check stages↗

Figures are for reference only. Verified against official sources on 26 August 2026. A precise quote is issued by the appointed firm after document review. This material is not legal advice, a public offer or investment advice.