St Kitts and Nevis Dual Citizenship: Every Path to Eligibility

As a country that recognizes multiple citizenships, there are several ways to obtain St Kitts and Nevis dual citizenship, including by birthday, descent, naturalization, marriage, and investment. This guide explains all the available options to become a St Kitts and Nevis dual citizen.

Overview of St Kitts and Nevis Dual Citizenship

The Saint Christopher and Nevis Citizenship Act under Section 93 of the St Kitts and Nevis Constitution recognizes dual and multiple citizenship and provides various routes to getting a St Kitts and Nevis second passport. These options include:

• Naturalization
• Birth
• Descent
• Marriage
• Investment

You can obtain citizenship in St Kitts and Nevis without having to give up your existing citizenship. It is important to note that while St Kitts and Nevis allows dual citizenship, not all other countries do. As such, it is important to check the dual/multiple citizenship laws of the country you already hold citizenship. For example, countries like Spain have restrictions on dual citizenship status and which citizens can hold it, whereas China does not allow dual citizenship at all.

St Kitts and Nevis Dual Citizenship Eligible Routes

There are four routes to obtain multiple citizenship in St Kitts and Nevis.

Citizenship by birth

Any child born on St Kitts and Nevis soil will automatically be granted citizenship at birth (jus soil), regardless of the nationality held by their parents.

Citizenship by descent

Persons born in St Kitts and Nevis or abroad are recognized as citizens if at least one of their parents is Kittitian and Nevisian (jus sanguinis). Qualified individuals must submit an application form to the Ministry of National Security, either in person or through a consular.

The Saint Christopher and Nevis Citizenship Act treats biological, stepchildren, and legally adopted children equally. The Act allows the government to grant citizenship to stepchildren and legally adopted children of a St Kitts and Nevis national.

The form must provide the following information of their parents:

• Names
• Dates of birth
• Places of birth
• Places of usual residence

In addition to this form, you will need to provide the following documents:

• Applicant’s birth certificate
• Parents’ birth certificates (certified by a Justice of Peace or Notary)
• Grandparents’ birth certificates, if applicable (certified by a Justice of Peace or Notary)
• Police certificate (for applicants 16 and older)
• Two passport-sized photos

You will also need to pay an application fee of $55.

Citizenship by marriage

The spouse of a St Kitts and Nevis national can apply for citizenship after three years of legal marriage. An application form must be sent to the Ministry of National Security and Information, along with the following documents:

• Marriage certificate
• Birth certificate (applicant)
• Birth certificate (spouse)
• Divorce decree or death certificate (applicable if either spouse was previously married)
• Police certificate from any place the applicant has resided in the past six months
• Two passport-sized photos

If your marriage was registered before 1983, the application fee is $185. If your marriage was registered after 1983, the application fee is $370.

It is important to note that the government can choose to reject an application for citizenship if the spouses are divorcing or no longer live together.

Citizenship by naturalization

Long-term residents of St Kitts and Nevis can apply for citizenship by naturalization. This route to citizenship is the longest, as applicants must have permanent residency and lived in St Kitts and Nevis for at least 14 consecutive years and must have resided in the Commonwealth country continuously for the 12 years prior to submitting their application.

Applicants must submit a form to the Ministry of National Security, and it must include the registered addresses of anywhere the applicant has lived in the country. If you are acquiring citizenship, you will need to pay a fee of $5,320.

Citizenship by investment

Introduced in 1984 under Part II, Section 3 (5) of the Citizenship Act, the St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Program allows foreign nationals to get second citizenship by making an economic contribution to the county. Applicants must:

• Be over 18 years old
• Have a clean criminal record
• Have good character
• Make a minimum investment

Qualifying investments include four investment options:

1. Donation to the Sustainable Island State Contribution (SISC): Requires a non-refundable contribution of $250,000 to the Sustainable Island State Contribution (federal consolidated fund).
2. Approved real estate shares investment: Require an acquisition of $325,00 worth of shares in an approved St Kitts and Nevis real estate development
3. Approved private home purchase: Requires an $600,000 purchase of an approved single-family private dwelling.
4. Approved Public Benefit Option contribution: Requires a non-refundable contribution of $250,000 to an Approved Public Benefit Project.

The St Kitts and Nevis real estate citizenship option requires investors to maintain their investment for five years for share acquisition and seven years for private home purchases.

Associated costs

The St Kitts and Nevis dual citizenship cost varies depending on the investment route. The cheapest option includes a due diligence fee, application fee, and passport fee, which amount to $11,000 for a single application and $20,000 to $40,000 for a family of four.

Family eligibility

The St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU) allows applicants to include the following family members in their citizenship application:

• Spouse
• Children of the main applicant or spouse, under 18; aged between 18 and 25, in education and financially supported by the main applicant or spouse; or aged 18 or over and physically/mentally challenged
• Parents of the main applicant or the spouse aged 65 or above, living with and fully supported by the applicant

St Kits and Nevis Citizenship Routes Compared

St Kitts and Nevis Dual Citizenship by Investment Application Process

The entire second citizenship and due diligence process in St Kitts and Nevis takes 12 months and must be initiated through an Authorized Agent licensed by the St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU):

1. Contact Authorized Agent: Contact an Authorized Agent licensed by the CIU to submit your citizenship application.
2. Initial due diligence checks: Your licensed agent will perform preliminary due diligence checks to ensure a successful application.
3. Gather documents and complete forms: Gather necessary documentation and complete all application forms.
4. Submit your application: Your dedicated Authorized Agent will submit your application on your behalf*.
5. Due diligence checks: The CIU will process your application and independent entity will carry out due diligence checks.
6. Attend citizenship interview: The main applicant and dependents over 16 must attend a virtual Caribbean citizenship interview.
7. Receive Approval in Principle: Successful applicants will receive an approval letter from the CIU within 120 days stating their application has received pre-approval.
8. Make your investment: Once you have received your government approval letter, you must make your qualifying investment, pay the government administration and due diligence fees, and send proof to the CIU.
9. Receive dual citizenship approval: You and your family will be granted citizenship by the St Kitts and Nevis Investment Unit.

Applications must be submitted through an agency with a St Kitts and Nevis CIP license.

Eight Benefits of Dual Citizenship in St Kitts and Nevis

There are several excellent benefits to obtaining citizenship in the dual island nation and becoming a St Kitts and Nevis passport holder. This section highlights some of these benefits.

Frequently Asked Questions about St Kitts and Nevis Dual Citizenship