St. Kitts and Nevis citizenship by investment: a second passport from $250,000
You don't have to move there, and you keep your U.S. citizenship. You do pay a non-refundable contribution, sit a background check and enroll your fingerprints before the passport arrives.
The program has been running since 1984. This page covers the real price for one person and for a family, the steps and timeline, and the 2026 rule changes to know before you wire anything.
The numbers, as of September 2026
$250,000
Minimum contribution (SISC)
covers a family of up to four
$325,000
Minimum approved real estate
held at least seven years
$10,000
Due diligence, main applicant
$7,500 per dependent 16+
$2,500
Biometric enrollment, first adult
$2,000 second adult
120 to 180 days
CIU processing range
to a decision in principle
0%
Personal income tax
abolished in 1980
Is it for you?
Built for investors with cash to spare, not for stretching a pension
This route fits if your money comes from savings, a business sale or investments, and you want a backup passport and a legal right to live in the Caribbean. You can use it as a plan B and never move.
It doesn't fit if you're hoping to live on a modest pension. The $250,000 contribution is gone for good, and there's no income-based visa to fall back on.
Three rule changes to watch
Biometric enrollment became mandatory on April 14, 2026. A residency requirement has been announced, reported as 30 days within five years of taking the oath, but it had no official start date as of September 2026; applications filed before it takes effect may be processed under today's rules. And in December 2025 the European Commission named St. Kitts and Nevis among five Caribbean countries whose investment programs could cost them visa-free Schengen travel. Confirm all three with your agent the week you file.
How you pay
One donation, one project or one property
The contribution (SISC)
US$250,000 to a government fund, non-refundable, for a main applicant or a family of up to four. Each extra dependent adds $25,000 under 18 or $50,000 at 18 and over.
The Public Benefit Option
US$250,000 into an approved public project, also for up to four people.
Real estate
From US$325,000 in an approved development, or US$600,000 for a private single-family home. You must hold it seven years before you sell. The CIU adds a post-approval fee of $25,000 for the main applicant, $15,000 for a spouse and $10,000 per child under 18.
Who counts as family
A spouse, children under 18, children 18 to 30 in full-time study and fully supported by you, and parents or in-laws 55 and older who live with you and depend on you.
From first call to passport
Hire an authorized agent
The CIU doesn't accept direct applications. Pick an agent from the government's official list.
File and get vetted
Passports, proof of funds and police certificates, then due diligence and an interview for everyone 16 and older, online or in person.
Approval and biometrics
At approval in principle, each family member enrolls fingerprints, a facial image and a signature. There's a center in the Washington, D.C. area.
Invest, then get sworn in
You pay the contribution or close on the property only after approval in principle, then receive your citizenship papers and passport.
What you end up with
A second citizenship that doesn't replace your first
St. Kitts and Nevis allows dual citizenship, so you don't give up your U.S. passport. The CIU says there's no residence requirement to keep citizenship, and the islands haven't taxed personal income since 1980.
The IRS still taxes U.S. citizens on worldwide income wherever they live, so your U.S. return doesn't change. Henley & Partners counts visa-free access to more than 150 destinations.
Budget the true minimum for one person at about $262,500: the $250,000 contribution, $10,000 due diligence and $2,500 for biometrics, before agent and legal fees. A couple starts near $272,000.
People who can help with the St. Kitts and Nevis program
Holborn Assets
Portugal Golden Visa
Jason Swan, working with Holborn Assets, arranges investor residency and citizenship through partner law firms, developers and financial institutions.
Hunter Schultz
Healthcare Coach
A healthcare coach who builds a care plan for your destination, including where you'd go if you need treatment the islands can't give.
ExpatInsure
Global Health Insurance
An international health insurance broker who matches you with a private plan for time spent abroad.
MyExpatTaxes
U.S. Expat Tax Service
Tax software and support for Americans abroad, for the U.S. returns you'll still file.
Legalize That Doc
Document Preparation
A document service that gets FBI checks, birth and marriage certificates apostilled for use abroad.
St. Kitts and Nevis citizenship by investment: common questions
What is the St. Kitts and Nevis biometric requirement?
Since April 14, 2026, new applicants enroll fingerprints, a facial image and a digital signature at approval in principle. Everyone who already holds citizenship through the program must enroll by July 31, 2027, or their older passports stop being accepted for international travel. There's an enrollment center in the Washington, D.C. area.
Can Americans keep U.S. citizenship if they become citizens of St. Kitts and Nevis?
Yes. St. Kitts and Nevis allows dual citizenship, and the Citizenship by Investment Unit says approved applicants don't have to renounce their original nationality.
Will St. Kitts and Nevis citizenship lower my U.S. taxes?
No. St. Kitts and Nevis abolished personal income tax in 1980, but the IRS taxes U.S. citizens on worldwide income wherever they live. You keep filing U.S. returns as long as you're a U.S. citizen.
How long does St. Kitts and Nevis citizenship by investment take?
The Citizenship by Investment Unit quotes 120 to 180 days from submission to a decision on one page, and 160 to 180 days to approval in principle on another. Plan on four to six months, plus the time it takes to gather your documents.
How much does St. Kitts and Nevis citizenship by investment cost in 2026?
The lowest route is the Sustainable Island State Contribution: a non-refundable US$250,000 for a main applicant or a family of up to four. On top of that, due diligence costs $10,000 for the main applicant and $7,500 for each dependent 16 or older, and biometric enrollment costs $2,500 for the first adult. A single applicant should budget about $262,500 before agent and legal fees.
Can you get your investment back?
Not with the Sustainable Island State Contribution, which is a non-refundable payment to a government fund. With real estate, you can sell after holding the property for at least seven years.
Do you have to live in St. Kitts and Nevis to get or keep citizenship?
Not as of September 2026. The Citizenship by Investment Unit says there's no mandatory residence requirement to keep citizenship. A new requirement, reported as 30 days within five years of taking the oath, has been announced but had no official start date as of September 2026.
Which family members can be included in a St. Kitts and Nevis application?
A spouse, children under 18, children 18 to 30 in full-time study who you fully support, and parents or in-laws 55 or older who live with you and depend on you. Under the contribution route, a family of up to four is covered by the base US$250,000.
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