St Kitts and Nevis: citizenship and Nevis companies
St Kitts and NevisCaribbean- Minimum contribution (SISC)
- USD 250,000 for a main applicant or a family of up to four
- As of 2026-10-02 · [2]
- Developer's real estate minimum
- USD 325,000 in an approved development, resaleable after 7 years
- As of 2026-09-25 · [3]
- Regional minimum investment (Eastern Caribbean agreement)
- USD 200,000 from 2024-07-01
- As of 2026-10-25 · [8]
Overview
The federation's programme appeals to families who want a long-established Commonwealth citizenship, short-stay travel to the Schengen area without a visa and a passport that can be passed to children born later. Most applicants keep living where they are; the citizenship is a long-term option rather than a move.
Since 1 July 2024 the five Eastern Caribbean programmes have applied a common minimum of USD 200,000, and St Kitts and Nevis prices its routes above that floor. In September 2025 the five governments signed the agreement creating a regional regulator, ECCIRA, which St Kitts and Nevis enacted as Act No. 24 of 2025. Once that regulator is working, the agreement requires new citizens to spend 30 days in the country during their first five years.
The CIU's December 2025 update went further: it announced a genuine-link framework with structured physical presence, post-naturalisation obligations and a gradual move away from contribution-only routes from 2026. In autumn 2026 the CIU's own option pages still listed the contribution route without a residency condition, so the rules on the day you file are what count.
External pressure is real. The EU's revised visa suspension mechanism, in force since 30 December 2025, lets Brussels suspend visa-free travel for countries that sell citizenship without a genuine link, and in June 2026 the Commission asked all five programmes to phase out by 1 June 2028. St Kitts and Nevis is not among the countries restricted by the December 2025 US proclamation.
Applications are filed only through authorised agents licensed by the CIU, and independent lawyers give the legal and tax advice; Redomiciled helps you decide whether this route fits your wider plans.
Separately from citizenship, the island of Nevis is a long-standing company jurisdiction. Its LLCs and business corporations are used for holding assets and for asset protection, and do not need the owner to hold St Kitts and Nevis citizenship.
- EU phase-out request
- Programme phase-out by 2028-06-01 requested by the European CommissionLetters of 25 June 2026 to all five Eastern Caribbean programmes; no visa suspension adoptedAs of 2026-07-07 · [12]
- Nevis company tax on foreign-source income
- 0% where the company has no local tax residence or permanent establishmentAs of 2026-10-27 · [17]
St Kitts and Nevis citizenship by investment
Citizenship by investment in St Kitts and Nevis is a discretionary grant of citizenship to applicants who pass due diligence and an interview and then make a qualifying investment. In 2026 the main routes are a USD 250,000 Sustainable Island State Contribution, the Public Benefit Option and approved real estate from USD 325,000.
The order of events matters. The CIU first vets the file and decides; only after approval in principle does the applicant pay the contribution or complete the property purchase. Within 120–180 days of acknowledging a complete application, the CIU says it will report whether the file is approved in principle, denied or delayed for cause.
The Sustainable Island State Contribution is a non-refundable payment into a government account that covers a main applicant or a family of up to four; larger families add USD 25,000 for each further dependant under 18 and USD 50,000 for each one aged 18 or over. The Public Benefit Option directs at least USD 250,000 into approved public projects. Real estate means a unit in an approved development from USD 325,000, resaleable after seven years, or a private home from USD 600,000.
Every main applicant attends an interview, in person or by video, run by the CIU or an independent firm it commissions; dependants aged 16 or over can be called as well. The CIU now accepts cryptocurrency as a partial source of wealth if separate proof of wealth is supplied.
Residency is changing. The December 2025 chairman's update announced structured physical presence and post-naturalisation obligations, and the regional agreement sets a 30-day presence requirement over the first five years once the regulator operates. Ask your agent which version applies before you submit.
St Kitts and Nevis allows dual citizenship, but your current country may not: some states revoke their own nationality when a citizen voluntarily acquires another, so confirm the position at home first. Authorised agents prepare and file the application, and licensed lawyers advise on the legal and tax consequences.
Who it suits
Families planning ahead
You want a recognised Commonwealth citizenship for spouse, children and parents without moving now.
Frequent travellers to Europe
Short Schengen stays without a visa matter to you, and you accept that the EU is reviewing that access.
Investors who prefer an asset
You would rather hold an approved property you can resell after the holding period than make a pure contribution.
Applicants ready for a genuine link
You can meet visits, residency or other post-approval obligations as the 2026 framework takes shape.
Requirements
- Required
Age 18 or over
Only adults can apply as main applicant.
- Required
Clean record
No criminal record or open criminal investigation, no bankruptcy within ten years, and no unresolved visa refusal by a country St Kitts and Nevis citizens can visit without a visa.
- Required
Accepted nationality
The CIU does not accept applications from citizens of Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran, Iraq, North Korea or Russia.
- Required
Due diligence and interview
Background checks on everyone aged 16 or over and an interview for the main applicant.
- Required
Lawful, documented funds
The investment must come from funds whose origin you can evidence.
- Depends on your case
Dependants
Spouse, eligible children, adult children with disabilities and supported parents can join the application.
Documents
- Passports and identity documentsCopies of every passport and national ID you hold, certified as the CIU requires.
- Civil recordsBirth certificates and, where relevant, marriage or divorce certificates.
- Police certificatesFrom your country of citizenship and residence.
- Bank reference and statementsA bank reference letter and recent statements supporting the funds.
- Source-of-wealth fileEmployment, business or sale documents explaining how the money was earned.
- Investment documentsThe contribution agreement or the sale and purchase agreement for an approved unit.
- SISC, main applicant or family of up to four
- USD 250,000As of 2026-10-02 · [2]
- SISC, each additional dependant
- USD 25,000 under 18; USD 50,000 aged 18 or overAs of 2026-10-02 · [2]
- Public Benefit Option
- From USD 250,000As of 2026-09-17 · [1]
- Developer's real estate
- USD 325,000 per main applicant, resaleable after 7 yearsAs of 2026-09-25 · [3]
- Private real estate
- From USD 600,000As of 2026-09-17 · [1]
- Decision timeline
- 120–180 days after acknowledgmentAs of 2026-10-02 · [2]
- Children who can be included
- Under 18; 18–30 if in full-time education and fully supportedAs of 2026-09-25 · [4]
- Parents who can be included
- Aged 55+ and fully supported, of the applicant or spouseAs of 2026-09-25 · [4]
- Regional presence rule (pending)
- 30 days within the first 5 years after citizenshipApplies once the regional regulator is operatingAs of 2026-10-25 · [9]
- UK visits
- Electronic Travel Authorisation required since 2025-01-08As of 2026-10-25 · [14]
- Schengen short stays
- Visa-free, up to 90 days in any 180-day periodAs of 2026-10-25 · [13]
Timeline
- 1Choose an authorised agentPick an agent from the CIU's official list; direct applications are not accepted.
- 2Prepare the fileComplete the forms and gather certified documents and source-of-wealth evidence.
- 3Due diligence and interviewThe CIU runs background checks and interviews the main applicant.
- 4DecisionApproved in principle, denied or delayed for cause, within 120–180 days of acknowledgment.
- 5InvestmentPay the contribution or complete the purchase.
- 6Certificate and passportReceive the certificate of registration and apply for the passport through official channels.
Tax notes
- St Kitts and Nevis does not levy personal income tax, but holding its citizenship does not make you tax resident there; tax residence depends on where you actually live.
- Your current country keeps taxing you under its own residence rules, and US citizens remain taxable in the United States wherever they live.
- Exit taxes, controlled-company rules and reporting duties at home are not switched off by a new passport. Take tax advice before relying on any change.
General information, not tax advice. Your position depends on your circumstances.
Banking fit
- Banks treat the passport as identity, not as proof of tax residence; under CRS self-certification you declare every jurisdiction where you are tax resident.
- Keep the source-of-wealth file you built for the CIU: banks often ask for the same evidence when you open accounts later.
Questions
What is the minimum investment for St Kitts and Nevis citizenship in 2026?
USD 250,000 through the Sustainable Island State Contribution or the Public Benefit Option, covering a main applicant or a family of up to four. Approved real estate starts at USD 325,000.
How long does the St Kitts and Nevis application take?
The CIU says it will report a decision within 120–180 days of acknowledging a complete application. Document collection beforehand and the passport afterwards add time, and complex files can be delayed for cause.
Can my family be included?
Yes. A spouse, children under 18, children aged 18 to 30 in full-time education and fully supported, adult children with disabilities, and supported parents aged 55 or over can join. Families of more than four pay an extra contribution per dependant.
Do I have to live in St Kitts and Nevis?
Not before applying. The CIU announced structured physical presence and post-approval obligations in December 2025, and the regional agreement adds 30 days over five years once its regulator operates. Confirm the conditions in force when you file.
Will St Kitts and Nevis passports keep visa-free access to Europe?
For now, yes. The EU can suspend visa-free travel for countries running investor citizenship schemes and has asked the Eastern Caribbean programmes to phase out by June 2028. No suspension has been adopted, but the risk belongs in your decision.
Nevis LLCs and business corporations
A Nevis limited liability company is formed under the Nevis Limited Liability Company Ordinance and can be wholly foreign-owned, with no local office or staff. The federation taxes on a territorial basis: a Nevis company that is not tax resident and has no permanent establishment in St Kitts and Nevis pays no local tax on income earned abroad.
Nevis is best known for asset protection. Its LLC law limits a creditor to a charging order over distributions, judgments from other countries have to be re-litigated in Nevis, and a creditor must post a bond before suing. Members are not shown on a public register.
The tax-free status depends on keeping the company outside local tax residence and permanent establishment. St Kitts and Nevis chose to meet international pressure by amending its Income Tax Act rather than passing a stand-alone substance law, so the main ongoing obligation is the annual filing and keeping management outside the federation.
Nevis privacy does not reach banks or tax authorities. Banks will ask for the beneficial owner, the company is reported under CRS and FATCA, and the owner's home country taxes the profits under its own rules. US persons in particular remain taxable on worldwide income and carry extra reporting.
Redomiciled coordinates formation through a licensed Nevis registered agent and plans the bank account the company will need, which in practice is opened outside Nevis.
Who it suits
Asset-holding and protection structures
Investment portfolios, IP or shares in operating companies held under strong creditor protection.
International holding layers
A neutral top company above operating companies elsewhere.
Owners whose home country does not tax foreign companies' profits
Check controlled-company rules first.
Requirements
- Required
Nevis registered agent and office
Formation is filed only through a licensed agent.
- Required
At least one manager or member
Individual or corporate, any nationality.
- Required
Beneficial ownership records
Held by the registered agent and available to authorities.
- Required
Annual renewal and filing
Including the annual income tax filing where required.
- Depends on your case
Management outside the federation
To stay outside local tax residence.
- Governing law
- Nevis Limited Liability Company Ordinance (as amended)As of 2026-10-27 · [18]
- Local tax on foreign-source income
- 0% without local tax residence or permanent establishmentAs of 2026-10-27 · [17]
- Minimum members or managers
- 1, any nationality, individual or corporateAs of 2026-10-27 · [18]
- Public member register
- NoAs of 2026-10-27 · [18]
- Typical formation time
- About 10 business daysAs of 2026-10-27 · [18]
- Banking
- Usually outside Nevis; banks require full beneficial ownershipAs of 2026-10-27
Questions
Does a Nevis LLC pay tax?
Not in Nevis on foreign-source income, as long as it has no local tax residence or permanent establishment. The owner's country of residence may still tax its profits.
Do I need St Kitts and Nevis citizenship to own a Nevis company?
No. Company formation and citizenship by investment are separate.
Can a Nevis LLC open a bank account?
Yes, usually with banks outside Nevis. Expect the bank to ask for the beneficial owner, source of funds and the purpose of the company.
Are the members of a Nevis LLC public?
No. Members are not shown on a public register. The beneficial ownership records are held by the registered agent and are available to authorities, and banks will ask for the beneficial owner.
Banking in our network
We do not publish institution names: the right partner depends on your profile, and each institution keeps its own view on who it will serve.
0
No partner institution in our network is based here; companies and residents here are introduced to partners in other jurisdictions.
- Redomiciled has no partner institutions in St Kitts and Nevis itself; for most clients the passport matters for banking elsewhere.
- Banks and payment providers ask for every citizenship and tax residence you hold. A St Kitts and Nevis passport does not replace evidence of where you live and pay tax, and some institutions add questions for investor citizens.
- If an account is the real goal, start with the banking assessment before you commit to a citizenship route.
Questions
Is St Kitts and Nevis citizenship for life?
Yes. Citizenship granted under the programme is permanent and can be passed to children, although it can be revoked for false statements in the application. New post-approval obligations are being introduced, so check which conditions apply on the date your file is submitted.
Why does St Kitts and Nevis cost more than its neighbours?
Its minimum contribution sits above the USD 200,000 floor the five Eastern Caribbean programmes agreed in 2024. The government positions the programme on its record since 1984 and the travel access of its passport; whether that premium is worth paying depends on your goals.
Can I apply directly to the Citizenship by Investment Unit?
No. The CIU accepts applications only through authorised agents on its official list. The agent files the forms, arranges payment into government accounts and receives the decision on your behalf.
Sources
- 1.St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Unit: Citizenship options, retrieved 2026-10-25
- 2.CIU: Sustainable Island State Contribution (SISC), retrieved 2026-10-25
- 3.CIU: Developer's real estate investment, retrieved 2026-10-25
- 4.CIU: Eligibility criteria, retrieved 2026-10-25
- 5.CIU: Application process and fees, retrieved 2026-10-25
- 6.CIU: Chairman's update to partners, December 2025, retrieved 2026-10-25
- 7.SKNIS: Prime Minister announces residency and biometric requirements (23 June 2025), retrieved 2026-10-25
- 8.OECS: Implementation of the CBI Memorandum of Agreement (USD 200,000 minimum from 1 July 2024), retrieved 2026-10-25
- 9.ECCIRA: Agreement establishing the Eastern Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Regulatory Authority, retrieved 2026-10-25
- 10.Saint Christopher and Nevis: ECCIRA Agreement Act, No. 24 of 2025, retrieved 2026-10-25
- 11.EUR-Lex: Regulation (EU) 2025/2441 revising the visa suspension mechanism, retrieved 2026-10-25
- 12.Government of Antigua and Barbuda: response to the European Commission letter of 25 June 2026, retrieved 2026-10-25
- 13.EUR-Lex: Regulation (EU) 2018/1806, visa-exempt third countries (Annex II), retrieved 2026-10-25
- 14.GOV.UK: Immigration Rules Appendix ETA National List, retrieved 2026-10-25
- 15.Federal Register: Proclamation 10998 restricting entry (16 December 2025), retrieved 2026-10-25
- 16.Expanship: economic substance in St Kitts and Nevis, retrieved 2026-10-27
- 17.Expanship: St Kitts and Nevis tax position, retrieved 2026-10-27
- 18.Liberty Mundo: incorporating in Nevis, retrieved 2026-10-27
Reviewed by the Redomiciled team on .
Plan your next step in St Kitts and Nevis.
Answer a few questions and we come back with a recommendation for your situation, without obligation.