The importance of citizenship planning cannot be understated, it provides a vital role in access to education, infrastructural development, the right to vote, health care and public services more generally. It also plays an important part in cultivating responsibility to abide by the laws of the state. With that said, globalization means that people are now closer to becoming global citizens, alongside their more traditional role as a resident of a single country. Businesses need to both understand and take advantage of this fact, in order to survive and thrive in this new environment. Therefore, a strong global presence needs to be a pillar of any modern business. For this reason, interest in acquiring a second citizenship has been steadily rising to facilitate this move into a more globally focused strategy. The advantages of this can include everything from perception, to more practical examples like property ownership, for greater career opportunities, and more generally, for the protection, as well as the greater creation, of wealth.
But how do you become the holder of secondary citizenship? We’re happy to say that it is probably more straightforward than you think, and that it can even be a profitable process. For these reasons, gaining a second citizenship by investment has been gathering momentum in terms of interest, just like the concept of second citizenship has more generally, and both have the advantage of offering people a large variety of benefits well worth considering. Far and above one of the most sought after citizenship programs is the St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment, thanks to strong economics, stable political standings, and the standards of life more generally. Each of these requires a great deal more depth to fully understand, so we’ll be breaking them down into several different areas for you to explore, uncover and understand.
Reasons To Apply For A Second Citizenship By Investment
Globalization is now so thoroughly embedded that there is no market that does not have some kind of international foothold. When it comes to key markets, an international appeal is as vital as any other aspect of business. Travelling is therefore very important to many professional lives, not to mention its importance for both academic and recreational reasons. Some countries objectively offer better opportunities in both the professional and academic realms, and you can often track where that greater opportunity lies based on movement trends and shifting basis.
There are also people who are forced to migrate, for political, economic and even environmental reasons. On the other side, the more affluent often move simply to pursue a more luxurious lifestyle, often in quieter areas. Regardless of reasons and preferred destinations, the common obstacle of a country’s entry policy remains a barrier throughout, although different policies mean that the difficulty of that barrier does vary significantly.
Other reasons people apply for secondary citizenship include business updates, the creation of greater global connectivity, strategic alliances with other similarly minded international companies, and even those who are escaping persecution. All except the latter generally appeal to those with a high net worth and brings together entrepreneurs.
Regardless of reason, finding an inclusive way of acquiring citizenship is paramount, and amongst the most popular of these is the citizenship by investment program. It’s not just from the perspective of the potential citizen where it is gaining popularity, as more and more countries sign up to the scheme allowing people from all around the world to gain citizenship to a country for a set amount of investment. Everyone from diplomats to businessmen and retired professionals are increasingly seeing the attraction of this straightforward and advantageous scheme.
These schemes are beneficial for the country’s involved too, which stand to make substantial economic gains alongside enhancing their cultural scope through a greater diversity of people, ideas and backgrounds. It’s the ultimate example of a mutually beneficial scheme, meaning its success should come as little surprise, nor should the rapid number of countries and individuals getting involved. Applicants are able to choose between a wide variety of countries, meaning while one country may not necessarily offer more than another, it may be better suited than another. For many people, thanks to its many advantages, including the passport index of the country allowing for a wide range of travel, the St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship has emerged as an obvious frontrunner.
Citizenship by Investment For St. Kitts & Nevis
From a practical point of view, the stunning Caribbean island of St. Kitts & Nevis offers one of the oldest and most well established versions of this type of citizenship program anywhere in the world. This means that the St. Kitts and Nevis citizenship application process can guarantee results via a smooth and tested process.
The requirements are simple: applicants must invest at least $200,000 or $400,000 in a real estate development approved by the government. Do keep in mind, this does not include taxes and other fees. An alternative option is to instead contribute to the Sugar Industry Diversification foundation alongside the Sustainable Growth fund. The deposit to the latter is non-refundable.
The key St. Kitts and Nevis citizenship benefits not only include lifelong and permanent citizenship to the applicant, surrounded by beautiful waters and sprawling mountains, but also to their family members. This includes a passport which provides visa free or visa on arrival travel to 137 destinations, with entry to the entirety of the EU readily available.
The Quality of Life in St. Kitts & Nevis
While much of the reasons behind this scheme are practical, we shouldn’t neglect the beauty of St. Kitts & Nevis as one of the greatest reasons to participate in this scheme. Enjoy citizenship by investment Caribbean island style, complete with stunning weather all year round and breathtaking natural beauty, from sweeping mountains to tranquil, picturesque waters.
It’s not all style and no substance either, as its golden sands and otherworldly coral reefs don’t just line the coasts. They also provide a huge range of activities suitable for both family get togethers and romantic days out, from kayaking and paragliding, to swimming and sunbathing. The beaches at St. Kitts and Nevis are the stuff of legend, and they more than live up to the hype. And if you’re a nature lover, there’s even greater depth here, as beyond the beaches lies mountains, tropical forest, crafting a kaleidoscope of natural wonders. The centre of all of this is the dormant volcano of Mount Liamuiga, a fitting jewel in the crown of mother nature at St. Kitts and Nevis.
Depth is also found in a political and historical sense. St. Kitts and Nevis may remain part of the commonwealth and thus have the Queen as its official head of state, but make no mistake, this is a country with its own distinct culture and history. It is somewhere with a love of food and music, and a tradition of carnival and community.
If you are someone who is worried about not being able to make a connection when moving to somewhere new, we can assure you that there is more than a lifetime’s worth of exploration to enjoy here. This sense of identity is forged through history. As one of the most important powers to resist the colonial invasion of the West Indies, that sense of individuality remains intoxicating to this day. They also remain influential, as a member of not only the British Commonwealth, but also the United Nations and CARICOM, hence why it is ranked so high in the global passport index. Its ties with the United Kingdom also allow it full membership to the EU, opening up the rest of the world to its citizens.
It is also one of the strongest economies in the Caribbean, in part thanks to its ideal location between the U.S. and Europe, and also because of its reputation as a manufacturing powerhouse, which has made it an ideal investment for many. This scheme also plays its part in contributing to further economic advancements, for which it offers plenty of advantages in return.
Requirements to be Eligible for the St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Program
Now we’ve talked about the many benefits of the scheme, it’s time to discuss the actual application process. As we’ve said before, this program is one that has been well established and has been carefully adapted to make it as straightforward and simple as it could possibly be. In fact, you can acquire citizenship within 3 to 6 months with a minimum investment of $200,000. Nonetheless, rigorous background checks remain necessary to ensure that only legitimate applicants are accepted.
There are two categories to eligibility, which include financial and non-financial. The latter includes requirements that a candidate is a minimum of 18 years of age and can provide evidence of a clear criminal record. The former is more complicated as it involves investment into the development of the country as well as the purchase of property. Here’s a breakdown of the eligibility requirements from a financial perspective:
- A minimum and non-refundable investment of $150,000 into the St. Kitts and Nevis Sustainable Growth Fund or $250,000 to the Sugar Industry Diversification Foundation. You may see these shortened to the acronyms SGF and the SIDF.
- Another investment on real estate property with a minimum amount of £200,000 is necessary. This must be from an approved developer and cannot be sold for at least a period of seven years.
- A purchase of a real estate asset worth a minimum of $400,000. This must also be from an approved developer and cannot be sold for five years.
To put it simply, acquiring citizenship requires you to donate to either the SIDF or the SGF as well as invest via the other options outlined above. Keep in mind that the investments do come with their own benefits beyond citizenship eligibility, and can see you benefiting from returns for many years to follow.
Also, the charities that receive your donation to do an incredible amount of good within the community. The Sugar Industry Diversification Foundation, for instance, both supports former sugar workers and facilitates research into industries to replace the sugar industry and provide a more sustainable future for the national economy. This is a scheme which is approved by the government for the purposes of the St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Program, and all accounts are public and annually audited by an international firm. The St. Kitts and Nevis Sustainable Growth Fund more generally aims to support economic growth and provides investment into the economic infrastructure of the country across all sectors.
Investment Requirements for Dependents of Candidates
Naturally, alongside eligibility for the main citizenship applicant, there’s also the question of the eligibility of their dependants as well. The application process for dependents is thankfully kept very simple and straightforward, meaning there’s no unnecessary stress via this part of the process either. Here is a breakdown of the investment needed.
The main applicant needs to have made a contribution of a minimum of $250,000 to the SIDF. A maximum of three dependents requires a contribution of $300,000. A further $25,000 is needed for each additional family member: this is a stable amount across all ages.
There is also the SGF option, where you can donate $150,00, with an additional $25,000 for a spouse and $10,00 for each additional dependent. Across both the SIDF and the SGF schemes, the total amount does include government fees. However, it does not include due diligence fees. To be clear, the dependents can include those aged between 18 and 30 years of age if they are a full time student and are supported financially by the main applicant, alongside grandparents and parents aged over 55 if they are entirely supported by the main applicant.
For those who are looking for a speedier option, there is also the Accelerated Application Process alongside the St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Program, which may be shortened to AAP. This is available within 45 to 60 days, but may include some extra costs not outlined here.
Benefits Of a St. Kitts And Nevis citizenship
We’ve already discussed plenty of the benefits of this scheme and citizenship more generally, but we are going to break it down here so you can get a clear picture of what is on offer. The St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship offers both personal fulfilment, as well as an investment opportunity. It’s a beautiful, peaceful place to live and even retire in, offering a quality of life few others can offer, with a rich culture, history, and some of the most amazing natural wonders the world has to offer.
On a more practical level is the benefit of visa free travel to all EU Schengen countries, meaning it’s not just the magic of St. Kitts and Nevis that’s on offer: it a;sp opens doors all across the world. There’s 152 destinations, from Hong Kong to England, and plenty inbetween. On top of that, members can also enjoy the benefits of being members of the commonwealth.
In fact, speaking of geographics, no residency or visit is even required and dual citizenship is available. It comes completely tax free and citizenship is life long. This can be extended to dependents, and of course, the money paid in on investments is something that can reap rewards for years to come. It should be no surprise, considering all this, that the program appeals to high net worth individuals from all across the world.
Ultimately, the benefits are both versatile and expansive, providing the possibility for a stunning second home alongside stable investment thanks to a booming economy, not to mention all the perks in terms of travel. Finally, thanks to its tenure as the longest running scheme of its type, the St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment program reamins one of the most hassle free and reliable options avalable.
St. Kitts and Nevis Passport by Investment
The improving fortunes and increasing value of the St. Kitts and Nevis passport is clearly showcased on the global passport index. Right now, it is ranked 20th worldwide and has a score of 137, with visa free travel to 103 countries. On top of that, passport holders also get to enjoy visa on arrival in 34 nations, meaning that you shouldn’t think of this passport as just for one country, but across countries from all throughout the world. There’s no more significant example of this than the unrestricted travel to any EU Nation, including the likes of Switzerland and Ireland, meaning the benefits can be extremely lucrative.
We also mentioned that a key benefit to getting St. Kitts and Nevis citizenship is how streamlined and straightforward the St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Scheme is compared to other, newer examples of these programs. This includes the ability for a single application to also include family members and the ability to pass citizenship onto descendants. On top of that, this scheme allows for dual citizenship meaning the applicant has no need to forfeit their original passport.
Taking all of these benefits into account, the investment that is asked for appears very reasonable, worthwhile, and benficial. Considering this, and the fact that the process is made to be as easy as possible, there are many people for which applying will seem like an obviously right choice.