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ST KITTS AND NEVIS LEADS IN DUE DILIGENCE, NEW CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT INDEX FINDS

St Kitts and Nevis’ Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Programme has been
acknowledged as an industry leader in the world’s first comprehensive guide
to countries that offer citizenship in exchange for investment: the CBI
Index. The CBI Index was launched today by Professional Wealth Management
(PWM) – a publication from the Financial Times. 

The St Kitts and Nevis Programme was pitted against the 11 other countries
that populate the CBI industry, and finished on top in four out of the seven
components tested, including due diligence, speed and ease of processing
applications, and mandatory travel or residence requirements.

The seven components (referred to as ‘pillars’ in the report) were used to
rank countries based on variables such as freedom of movement, standard of
living, and whether an applicant must adhere to a mandatory period of
residence in his or her country of choice.

Known within the industry as the ‘Platinum Standard’ Programme, St Kitts and
Nevis is the only CBI programme with the ability to fast-track applicants
and deliver their new passport within a definite timeframe. Titled the
Accelerated Application Process (AAP), this feature ensures a 60-day
turnaround.

St Kitts and Nevis rated the highest in due diligence owing to its strict
parameters around vetting a potential applicant, which includes
collaborating with international partners and non-governmental organisations
to perform thorough on-the-ground and online checks of the applicant.

CEO of the Citizenship by Investment Unit for St Kitts and Nevis, Les Khan,
stressed the need to have strict processes in a global environment where
illicit actors continue to seek out opportunities to fund terrorist acts or
launder money:

“The key is to have robust regulations and proper due diligence and vetting
procedures so as to not allow individuals of ill repute to get through.”

Mr Khan also points to St Kitts and Nevis’ growing tourism sector and real
estate market as avenues of opportunity for potential investors:

“[Potential] clients need to know they are getting a citizenship that is of
value in a stable economic and political environment.”

St Kitts and Nevis also received a perfect score in the Mandatory Travel or
Residence Pillar because applicants are not required to travel to or reside
in the country at any given point. According to the CBI Index, this is
considered an appealing aspect of CBI programmes due to the high calibre of
CBI applicants – typically high net worth international businesspeople with
limited capacity to travel outside their work commitments.

St Kitts and Nevis was also ranked top in Ease of Processing for its
streamlined and clear approach to processing applications – a system refined
by St Kitts and Nevis as the world’s longest serving programme in economic
citizenship history.

It is no surprise that that St Kitts and Nevis scored so highly as St Kitts
and Nevis remains a leader in the CBI industry, continuing to attract the
discerning applicant.

END **

 

For more information contact:

Les Khan

CEO, Citizenship by Investment Unit

Government of St. Kitts & Nevis

Phone: 1-869-467-1474

Fax: 1-869-465-9926