Program Snapshot
Top Caribbean Program
Starting point
From $250,000
Typical timeline
3-6 months
Region
Caribbean
Program type
Citizenship by Investment
Program Page
St. Kitts & Nevis Citizenship by Investment Legal Services
Jennifer Harding-Marlin is a licensed local agent for St Kitts & Nevis Citizenship by Investment. Jennifer and her team help throughout the entire process dealing directly with the citizenship by investment unit. Jennifer and her team regularly meet with clients who come to visit and can help from file screening through completion and post-approval support.
Program details overview
Program Overview
St. Kitts & Nevis Citizenship by Investment
The Saint Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Program offers applicants a path to citizenship through a non-refundable contribution or a real estate investment in a government-approved project. Successful applicants and their entire family gain enhanced global mobility and enjoy the benefits of dual citizenship, including access to a country with no personal income tax or inheritance tax. The program is known for its rigorous due diligence process, ensuring only qualified individuals are granted citizenship.
Program Highlights
- 100% remote process
- Platinum Standard
- Dual citizenship allowed without renouncing original citizenship
Authorised Agent vs local counsel: what is the difference?
Every St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship Programme application must be submitted through an Authorised Agent. A St. Kitts and Nevis attorney serves a different role: advising on legal questions and responsibilities under the laws of St. Kitts and Nevis. Some matters need only the standard application process; others also raise legal issues that should be reviewed by a lawyer.
What an Authorised Agent does
An Authorised Agent is approved to act as the formal channel between an applicant and the Citizenship Unit. The role includes preparing and submitting the application, managing communication with the Unit, and coordinating the required documents, payments, and procedural steps. Applicants cannot submit a Citizenship Programme application directly to the Unit.
Verify the current list of Authorised Agents on the Citizenship Unit website.What a local St. Kitts attorney does
A local St. Kitts attorney provides legal advice where a file involves questions of St. Kitts and Nevis law. Depending on the matter, that may include reviewing legal documents or ownership structures, identifying local-law issues, and explaining the legal responsibilities attached to a proposed transaction. A lawyer's role is not a substitute for the required Authorised Agent submission channel, and not every Authorised Agent is an attorney-at-law.
Jennifer Harding-Marlin's two roles
Jennifer Harding-Marlin is admitted to practise law in the Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis, has served as an Authorised Agent since 2017, and is currently named on the Citizenship Unit's official list of Authorised Agents. These are separate professional capacities. She typically handles a Citizenship Programme application in her capacity as an Authorised Agent, not as an attorney. When a matter requires advice on St. Kitts and Nevis law, that legal work is engaged separately through JH Marlin Attorneys at Law.
Being qualified in both capacities gives clients a clearly identified application channel and access to local legal advice when their circumstances require it, while keeping the roles separate. It does not change the Citizenship Unit's independent review, processing time, or decision on an application.
Program FAQ
Do I need both an Authorised Agent and a lawyer for a St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship Programme application?
You must use an Authorised Agent because applicants cannot submit directly to the Citizenship Unit. Whether you also need advice from a St. Kitts and Nevis lawyer depends on the facts of your matter. If your Authorised Agent is also an attorney-at-law, the application role and any separate legal-advice engagement can be coordinated, but each role should remain clear.
Legal support across a St. Kitts and Nevis CBI file
Legal support is shaped by the facts of the application. The work can begin before submission, continue if the Citizenship Unit asks for more information, and extend to local legal matters connected to the approved investment or the client's affairs in St. Kitts and Nevis.
Due diligence and source-of-funds readiness
Before filing, the team can review whether identity, civil-status, financial, and supporting records tell a consistent story. Where a source-of-funds or source-of-wealth explanation needs more support, local counsel can identify the legal documents or clarifications that may be relevant to the file. The Citizenship Unit independently conducts due diligence and may request further information.
Submission and follow-up
The Authorised Agent remains the formal channel for preparing and submitting the application and communicating with the Citizenship Unit. If a file query raises a question of St. Kitts and Nevis law, JH Marlin Attorneys at Law can be engaged separately to advise on that issue. Neither role changes the Unit's independent review, timing, or decision.
Investment-related and post-approval legal work
Some applications involve local real estate, companies, contracts, or other legal arrangements. Those matters may require separate review, documentation, or completion work under St. Kitts and Nevis law. The scope depends on the selected route and the client's circumstances.
Fee Breakdown
Current investment routes and associated due diligence or post-approval fees.
Sustainable Island State Contribution (SISC)
$250,000
Minimum Contributions
Main Applicant or Family (up to four members): US$250,000
Additional Dependants under 18: US$25,000 each
Additional Dependants aged 18 or over: US$50,000 each
Due Diligence Fees
Main Applicant: US$10,000
Each Dependant (16 or over): US$7,500
Additional agent fees are applicable
Real Estate
$325,000 - $600,000
Developer’s Real Estate Option
Minimum real estate investment in an Approved Development is US$325,000 (resaleable after seven years)
OR
Designated single-family residences approved under the Private Real Estate option are available with a qualifying minimum investment of US$600,000.
For both options
Due diligence fees (for both options)
Main applicant: US$10,000
Dependants aged 16 or over: US$7,500
Where an application submitted under the approved real estate option receives approval-in-principle, the following government processing fees become payable after approval (for both options)
Main applicant: US$25,000
Spouse of the main applicant: US$15,000
Any qualified dependant under 18: US$10,000
Any qualified dependant aged 18 or over: US$15,000
Additional agent fees are applicable
Public Benefit Option
$250,000
Contribution requirements
Main Applicant: US$250,000 in a unit of an Approved Public Benefit Project to be paid to the Unit.
Due diligence fees
Main Applicant: US$10,000
Each Dependant (16 or over): US$7,500
Post-approval application fees
Spouse of the main applicant: US$15,000
Each Qualified Dependant under 18: US$10,000
Each Qualified Dependant 18 or over: US$15,000
Additional agent fees are applicable
Prepare Your File
Legal guides for each stage of a St. Kitts and Nevis CBI application.
Review the documents, source-of-funds evidence, costs, and possible follow-up questions before submission.
Source-of-funds legal checklist
Prepare the records used to explain the origin, ownership, and movement of investment funds.
Read the guideHow to respond to a CIU file query
Understand the review process when the Citizenship by Investment Unit requests more information.
Read the guideCBI costs and fees explained
Review government, due diligence, legal, and real estate costs that may apply to a file.
Read the guidePre-filing document checklist
Check identity, civil-status, financial, and supporting documents before submission.
Read the guideProgram FAQs
Questions clients ask before filing.
The cost of obtaining a Saint Kitts and Nevis passport through citizenship by investment programs varies based on the chosen investment option. For a single applicant or a family of four, the minimum investment includes a $250,000 economic contribution or a real estate investment starting at $325,000. Additional costs include due diligence fees, processing fees, and government fees. Families, including children, will incur higher costs based on the number of applicants included in an application.
The St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment (CBI) application process typically takes 3 to 6 months. Applicants must meet all requirements, including a minimum investment, due diligence checks, and payment of government fees for granted citizenship status. Our team at JH Marlin ensures a smooth process, guiding you from initial form submission to securing your Nevis citizenship and passport.
To be eligible for Saint Kitts & Nevis Citizenship, the main applicant must:
- Be over 18 years of age
- Have no criminal record (please consult us)
- Have a good reputation
- Demonstrate source of funds
- Make a qualifying investment (minimum contribution)
With a minimum investment of $250,000, a single applicant can secure citizenship status through the Sustainable Island State Contribution (SISC) option. Real estate options start at $325,000 for government-approved projects or $600,000 for private real estate options.
A spouse, children under 30, and parents aged 55 and over can be included in an application. You can also add dependents after citizenship has been granted to the main applicant.
Next Step
Ready to assess your St. Kitts file?
We review eligibility, map the correct investment route, and structure submissions around due diligence expectations.