One reason for St Kitts and Nevis’ roaring success is efficient application processing. In the 2020 edition of the CBI Index, St Kitts and Nevis was the only country to receive a perfect score for citizenship timeline. The CBI Index is a Financial Times publication. It compares the world’s active citizenship by investment programmes. Citizenship timeline means the time taken to receive citizenship under the Programme.
The quickest route is a one-time contribution to the Government’s Sustainable Growth Fund (SGF). That is commonly known as the ‘fund option’.
Applications under the fund option are prioritised by the Government. SGF funds improve all aspects of life on St Kitts and Nevis. That includes mitigating climate change effects. It also supports education, tourism, and entrepreneurship. Fund contributions go directly to a Government-held bank account. There is no need for intermediaries. There are no onerous contracts and agreements.
Under the fund option, applicants frequently receive approvals in three months after submission. Busy investors may want an even faster timeline. St Kitts and Nevis offers the industry’s only guaranteed fast-track route to citizenship. For an additional cost, the Accelerated Application Process (AAP) allows citizenship in as little as 60 days from application submission. Importantly, the AAP is only available under the fund option.
Despite this speedy turnaround, St Kitts and Nevis retains high-level due diligence on all applicants. AAP applications face the same scrutiny as the normal route.
St Kitts and Nevis’ stringent vetting was also recognised in the 2020 CBI Index. It has obtained a perfect due diligence score every year since 2017. Due diligence follows a multi-tiered structure. It involves:
External due diligence firms are selected for presence in key jurisdictions. Examples include the United Kingdom and the United States. They perform on-the-ground checks. They build an in-depth profile of each applicant. Flagged applications will be rejected. That protects St Kitts and Nevis and its partner nations.
On top of speed and security, the Programme features an attractive minimum investment threshold. Under the fund option, a single applicant may obtain citizenship for a US$150,000 contribution.
The fund option is particularly affordable for large families. It is currently subject to a Limited Time Offer valid until 15 January 2021. Under the offer, families of up to four can obtain citizenship for US$150,000. That is temporarily reduced from the previous minimum of US$195,000 for a typical family of four.
If 2020 has taught us anything, it is that there is no time like the present. Economic citizens of St Kitts and Nevis have access to many benefits. These include:
With a contribution to the Programme’s fund option, citizenship of St Kitts and Nevis could be yours in just 60 days.
