Recently, the St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment and Immigration Unit (CIU) made a number of changes to its Citizenship by Investment (CBI) program, including lowering the investment threshold and relaxing the age of dependent applicants.
This is certainly extremely favorable news for investors interested in obtaining a passport from the country!
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St. Kitts and Nevis
Lowering the Threshold for Citizenship by Investment
In order to further enhance the attractiveness of the Citizenship by Investment Program and to stimulate local economic growth, the St. Kitts and Nevis Board of Immigration and Investor Affairs (BIA) recently formally promulgated the St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment (Amendment) Regulations through Statutory Rule and Order No. 43 of 2024.
The main adjustments are as follows:
? Real estate investment minimums are lowered:
For condominium units or local government approved real estate projects, the investment threshold is lowered from $400,000 to $325,000 USD. For independent private residences, the investment threshold is lowered from $800,000 to $600,000 USD.
? Age requirements for dependent applicants relaxed:
For dependent parents, the minimum age requirement was lowered from 65 to 55.
? Attachment Fee Reduction:
Citizens who have already received a passport through the program and are applying for dependent status for a newborn under the age of 3 years old will see a significant reduction in the fee from $30,000 to $7,500.
In addition, individuals who previously had a history of bankruptcy are not eligible to apply. The new policy allows applicants who have not been through a bankruptcy proceeding in the past 10 years to participate in the Citizenship by Investment Program.
According to the St. Kitts and Nevis Board of Immigration and Investor Affairs, these adjustments are intended to strengthen the program's global competitiveness and stimulate demand in the real estate market, while reinforcing St. Kitts and Nevis' position as a premier investment destination.
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St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Program
What are the advantages?
St. Kitts and Nevis was the first country to launch a Citizenship by Investment program, allowing investors to obtain a passport by investing in real estate or making donations.
The updated application thresholds for the St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Program are as follows:
Investment Method (choose one of the two)
① Invest at least US$325,000 in a government-approved real estate project or US$600,000 in a single-family residence and hold for 7 years;
② Donation of at least US$250,000 to the St. Kitts and Nevis Sustainable Island State Contribution Program (SISC).
St. Kitts and Nevis status has long been favored by investors and is considered an ideal choice for a second status overseas.
In terms of immigration policy, the St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Program (CNIP) has relaxed application requirements, with no academic, language or business background requirements, and applicants do not need to land in person, and passports are usually issued within three to six months, which is highly efficient.
As a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, a St. Kitts and Nevis passport entitles the holder to Commonwealth citizenship. At the same time, the passport can be visa-free/visa-on-arrival to 162 countries, including the United Kingdom, the European Union and Singapore.
In addition, the tax environment in St. Kitts and Nevis is also extremely favorable, known as the “Tax Paradise”, does not tax citizens outside the local income, interest, gifts, property and inheritance, etc., even if they reside in the territory of St. Kitts and Nevis is not directly taxed.
Therefore, for investors who wish to optimize their asset allocation, enjoy the convenience of global access, and pursue immigration without residency, St. Kitts and Nevis is undoubtedly the ideal choice for overseas identity planning.
If you are interested in applying for a St. Kitts and Nevis passport, please contact Nebula Sea International and we will provide you with a customized solution.