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January 11, 2019

LONDON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Jan 11, 2019–2019 is looking up for St Kitts and Nevis, following a stellar economic performance last year. In March, 2018, it introduced the Sustainable Growth Fund (SGF) as the quicker and safer route to its citizenship. According to the government website, the new channel asks main applicants for a minimum US$150,000 contribution to the SGF, in their bid to become St Kitts and Nevis’ economic citizens.

The money is transferred directly to the government, thus there are no escrow or real estate agents to intermediate the transaction. This means that it is easier and faster for the government to acknowledge the payment without further paperwork. It also makes the country’s due diligence process more transparent and more in line with international standards. Overall, the twin-islands’ Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Programme is becoming more streamlined, catering to investors’ need for efficient, high-quality services.

Before the year drew to a close, Prime Minister Timothy Harris delivered his annual Budget Address, where he announced that nearly half of the recurrent revenues came largely from the country’s CBI Programme. Harris revealed that, in 2018, CBI contributed to bringing approximately US$159.5 million to the dual-island nation, a 20% increase from 2017. According to PM Harris, “the prospect for growth in Foreign Direct Investment remains very optimistic for 2019 and beyond as investor confidence in our Citizenship by Investment Programme remains high.”

St Kitts and Nevis is the first country ever to have a CBI programme in place. Since 1984, it has managed to attract the more exclusive end of the investors’ spectrum. This is partly why this small but visionary Caribbean country is known to offer the “Platinum Standard” of CBI. Global families – who can register jointly as part of one application – often opt for St Kitts and Nevis because it is the most established citizenship programme. It also allows them to travel with a visa on arrival or visa-free to over 150 countries and territories and access better healthcare and education.