Citizenship & passport
The intended outcome is St. Kitts and Nevis citizenship and a passport. After the citizenship registration certificate is issued, passport application and issuance follow the official process.
THE PROGRAMME
Citizenship by Investment
Applicants pursue citizenship through PBO or SISC, completing eligibility review, due diligence and applicable interviews before approval-in-principle, contribution payment and the remaining formalities. The routes differ principally in the purpose of the contribution, project documentation and applicable fees.
Eligible family members
A spouse, eligible dependent children and qualifying parents may be included, with individual documentation and review.
A defined contribution
PBO supports approved public benefit projects; SISC supports national sustainable development. Contribution amounts and application costs should be considered separately.
CIU · Public Benefit OptionCIU · Sustainable Island State Contribution
TWO CONTRIBUTION ROUTES
PBO & SISC compared
One citizenship objective, two contribution routes. Compare their requirements on the same terms.
01 / PBO
Public Benefit Option
Minimum250,000USD
Contribute to an approved public benefit project.
- Purpose
- Support approved projects in public infrastructure, housing, education and other development areas.
- Family amount
- USD 250,000 for a single main applicant or a family of up to four people including the main applicant.
- Additional family
- Beyond four people: USD 25,000 per dependant under 18; USD 50,000 per dependant aged 18 or over.
- Route formalities
- Select an approved project, confirm an available public benefit unit, execute the agreement and follow CIU payment and documentation requirements.
Project documents & additional fees
PBO requires verification of the project and public benefit unit documents. The CIU route page still lists post-approval family fees: USD 15,000 for a spouse, USD 10,000 per dependant under 18, and USD 15,000 per dependant aged 18 or over. Confirm applicable charges or exemptions against current written CIU instructions before determining the total cost.
CIU · Public Benefit Option2024 年第 20 号法规 · 第 12、16、21、23–26 条
A public benefit contribution should not be understood as residential property ownership or an investment return.
02 / SISC
Sustainable Island State Contribution
Minimum250,000USD
Support national sustainable development through a government contribution.
- Purpose
- Support food production, green energy, economic diversification, sustainable industries and social protection.
- Family amount
- USD 250,000 for a single main applicant or a family of up to four people including the main applicant.
- Additional family
- Beyond four people: USD 25,000 per dependant under 18; USD 50,000 per dependant aged 18 or over.
- Route formalities
- Pay into the government account under official instructions, with receipt verified by the CIU. No public benefit project unit is selected.
Contribution & payment deadline
SISC is a non-refundable government contribution. Regulation 21(6) of the 2024 Regulations provides for payment no later than 90 days after notification of approval-in-principle. The CIU verifies deposit into the Federal Consolidated Fund before citizenship can be granted. Follow official written payment instructions.
CIU · Sustainable Island State Contribution2024 年第 20 号法规 · 第 12、16、21、23–26 条
The contribution does not create a redeemable deposit, security or real estate asset.
These are contribution amounts. Due diligence, processing, biometrics, document issuance and other applicable charges are separate. All amounts are in US dollars.
ELIGIBILITY & FAMILY
Applicants & accompanying family
Age, financial dependency, source of funds and personal background are assessed alongside family relationships.
Main applicant
At least 18 years old, meeting the contribution requirement and passing source-of-funds and background review.
Spouse & children
A spouse and children under 18 may be included. Children aged 18–30 must attend a recognised secondary or tertiary institution full-time and be fully supported by the main applicant. Children aged 18 or over with physical or mental disabilities are subject to the applicable eligibility review.
Parents
Parents of the main applicant or spouse must be aged 55 or over, living with and fully supported by the main applicant.
Background & restrictions
Disclose citizenship or visa refusals, criminal records or investigations, and bankruptcy within the preceding ten years. Check nationality restrictions against the current CIU list.
APPLICATION & SUPPORT
Application process & professional support
Complete the review before paying under approval-in-principle. PBO project documents and SISC government contribution formalities follow their respective requirements.
- 01
Consultation & route selection
Conatus Mobility reviews your family’s objectives, background and source of funds, compares PBO and SISC, and confirms the scope and fees in writing. For PBO, the approved project is checked at the same stage.
- 02
Documents & formal submission
Conatus Mobility coordinates document preparation and progress updates. Applications are submitted to the CIU through the prescribed channels, with document checks, due diligence and interviews completed as required.
- 03
Approval-in-principle & contribution
Follow the statutory deadline and official payment instructions. Complete PBO unit documents where applicable and book biometric enrolment under the current procedure.
- 04
Citizenship & passport
Complete final review and registration-certificate formalities, biometric enrolment and the passport application. Documents are issued by the competent authorities.
Conatus Mobility provides planning, advisory and coordination services. Formal submissions follow local requirements; application decisions and document issuance remain with the competent authorities.
CIU · Application Process2024 年第 20 号法规 · 第 12、16、21、23–26 条CIU · Biometrics
COSTS & CONTRIBUTIONS
Costs & payment stages
List contributions, government charges and professional fees separately and confirm them in writing before signing or paying.
Contribution
The base contribution is USD 250,000 for either route, with increases for additional eligible dependants. It is not the complete application cost.
Due diligence & processing
USD 10,000 due diligence for the main applicant; USD 7,500 for each spouse or dependant aged 16 or over. The Regulations also specify a USD 250 processing fee per applicant.
Professional service fees
Confirm professional scope and fees in writing for your family’s plan. List applicable post-approval, biometric, translation, certification and bank charges separately.
When is the contribution paid?
The PBO or SISC contribution becomes due after the application has been reviewed and approval in principle has been issued. Follow the formal payment notice and applicable regulations for the receiving account and deadline. PBO also requires the relevant public benefit unit documents. Processing and due diligence fees are payable separately at the submission stage.
How are fees treated after refusal?
A refusal before approval-in-principle occurs before the contribution payment stage under the official process. Regulations 24(4) and 25 make due diligence and processing fees non-refundable. SISC contributions are also non-refundable. Treatment of PBO sums already paid depends on payment stage, applicable law and the project agreement. Professional service fees follow their respective written agreements.
What does biometric enrolment cost?
Published CIU standard fees are USD 2,500 for the main applicant aged 16 or over, USD 2,000 for the second adult applicant and USD 1,300 for children under 16, covering enrolment and the passport upgrade. Confirm other family-member charges, applicable reductions and the precise service scope on the official booking platform. The CIU also publishes a 10% government biometric-fee reduction for eligible citizens making new bookings and completing enrolment between 20 July and 31 December 2026. It is not retrospective; eligibility is confirmed on the official platform.
Eligibility, authentic documents and lawful source of funds undergo independent review. Approval-in-principle requires payment and remaining legal formalities; timing and final decisions rest with the authorities. Verify recipients, bank details and official receipts, and record service scope, charges and termination terms in writing.
QUESTIONS & CLARITY
Frequently asked questions
Routes & costs · Family & eligibility · Process & documents
What is the principal difference between PBO and SISC?
PBO relates to an approved public benefit project and its unit documentation. SISC is a government contribution supporting sustainable national development. Compare purpose, agreements, payment documents and applicable total costs.
CIU · Public Benefit OptionCIU · Sustainable Island State Contribution
Is PBO a property purchase?
No. A PBO may involve housing or construction, but it remains a public benefit contribution route. Review the public benefit unit and contractual rights rather than treating it as a home purchase or resale property.
How does Conatus Mobility support my application?
Conatus Mobility helps define your family’s objectives, compare routes, prepare documents and coordinate progress. Formal applications follow the prescribed submission channels; review and final decisions remain with the competent authorities.
What are the interview requirements?
The main applicant must be interviewed, remotely or in person as directed by the CIU. Dependants aged 16 or over may also be interviewed if the CIU considers it necessary. Interviews and biometric enrolment are separate procedures.
CIU · Sustainable Island State ContributionCIU · Public Benefit Option
Must I travel to or reside in St. Kitts and Nevis?
The CIU route information does not impose mandatory residence. However, current biometric procedures require personal attendance at an officially designated location. Overseas centres and appointments follow the government platform; no residence requirement does not mean the entire process can be completed without attending in person.
When is an application update expected?
The official framework provides for notification within 120–180 days of CIU acknowledgement: approval-in-principle, refusal, or a reasoned delay with processing continuing. This is an application-status timeframe, not a guaranteed passport-delivery date.
How is the passport obtained?
After the citizenship registration certificate, apply for the passport through the competent authority’s procedure. New applications submitted from 14 April 2026 require biometric enrolment, bookable at approval-in-principle. Issuance follows the official process in force.
What should be confirmed before signing?
Confirm in writing the contracting entity, accompanying family members, chosen route, itemised fees and payment account, interview and attendance arrangements, and treatment of fees if the application is refused or the engagement ends early. For PBO, also confirm the project’s approval status, available units and project agreement.
2024 年第 20 号法规 · 第 12、16、21、23–26 条CIU · Public Benefit Option
Official sources
Policy information is drawn from CIU publications and government regulations, read together with subsequent amendments, applicable notices and case-specific written requirements.
This page provides general information. Eligibility, fees and obligations are subject to applicable regulations, official requirements and written agreements. Illustrations are artistic depictions of local landmarks, not representations of approved investment projects or government endorsement.