Saint Kitts and Nevis: become a citizen of the earthly paradise

Programs for granting residence permits and citizenship in exchange for investments are now offered in many countries, and in this regard, Europe is usually most often remembered. But there are no less interesting options in exotic countries, where after purchasing real estate there is an opportunity to obtain citizenship, rental income, and a high-quality house or apartment, where it will be pleasant to come on vacation with your family. One of these countries is the picturesque islands of Saint Kitts and Nevis.

The Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis is a state in the eastern part of the Caribbean Sea, consisting of two islands — Saint Kitts and Nevis, belonging to the Lesser Antilles.

There is a truly charming atmosphere here, and there really is something to enjoy — from tropical forests to golden sandy beaches, turquoise sea and bright coral reefs, a real paradise for divers, scuba divers and swimmers. The cultural traditions of the island have been preserved to this day, and their charm allows you to feel at home from the very first minute. Here you can find a variety of activities both on land (hiking, horseback riding, diving, snorkeling) and on the water (yachting and much more). Golf enthusiasts will appreciate the three professional courses. For those who just want to relax, there are a series of beach bars with dancing until the morning and an excellent selection of restaurants, both with local and fine cuisine.

The perfect tropical climate all year round makes this country a place you don't want to leave. And there is indeed an opportunity to stay here for a long time.

Buyers investing in real estate in Saint Kitts and Nevis in the amount of 400 thousand US dollars or more have the opportunity to apply for citizenship of the Federation. This is the oldest program among its kind, and it has proven its effectiveness in practice more than once. In 2009, the Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis signed an agreement with the European Union, according to which citizens can travel to all 27 countries of the Schengen area without restrictions, as well as to most member countries of the British Commonwealth of Nations.

Citizenship of Saint Kitts and Nevis is lifelong and automatically entitles to a large number of benefits not only to the buyer himself, but also to his family members. For example, such as the absence of the need for permanent residence in the country, full resident status and the right to work on the island of Saint Kitts. The country has a favorable tax regime, there are no taxes on luxury, gift, inheritance or capital income tax. There is also no personal income tax and no restrictions on the movement of income and imported capital.

The Federation provides excellent higher education opportunities for young people at several universities accredited in the United States. These are mainly medical educational institutions — Windsor Medical School and Ross University, the School of Veterinary Medicine. Students from the USA and Canada study here mainly, and a high level of education is guaranteed.

Robert Llewelyn Bradshaw International Airport operates on the island of Saint Kitts, receiving direct scheduled flights from London, New York, Miami. Planes from other international destinations arrive at the nearby island of Antigua, which is a 15-minute flight from St. Kitts. By the way, numerous local flights allow you to travel to the Caribbean from here.

The islands are actively developing. A new top-class tourist infrastructure is being built, hotels, championship golf courses, and a marina for super yachts. All this will allow Saint Kitts and Nevis to take its rightful place among the best resorts in the Caribbean and around the world in the next few years.

Real estate in this country has good potential for both rental and capital value growth. St. Kitts is adjacent to the most popular areas of the Caribbean region — in particular, St. Barthelemy (St. Barts) in the north and Antigua in the south. These islands are known for their special brilliance and unobtrusive luxury. This reputation has been created for decades and has influenced both the development of the market and the long-term profit from real estate investments.

Until recently, the main source of income on the island of Saint Kitts was the cultivation of sugar cane, in this regard, it lagged behind its neighbors in popularity. So this beautiful corner of the Caribbean remains untouched, and real estate prices here are relatively low. In the last ten years, the Government of the country has begun — with all possible precautions — the transition to an economy, the main component of which is tourism, which allows you to use the natural beauty of the island for financial gain.

Now Saint Kitts and Nevis can rightfully take its place among the most popular areas of the region. The real estate sector here has remained viable even during the global economic downturn. First of all, several factors contributed to this:

— significant investments in the development of tourist infrastructure on the island, which create real prospects for increasing the number of tourists and increasing profits from real estate investments;

— the program of economic citizenship, which consists in the fact that any person who invests money in pre-approved real estate becomes a citizen of the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis;

— no taxes on personal income, on income from capital gains and on inheritance.

Even today, investors are often offered guaranteed rental yield programs at the level of 4% per annum. At the same time, developers assume all costs associated with property management, insurance, and annual taxes. Buyers who choose such an investment scheme receive a net income of 4% per annum for five years.

Benefits of the Citizenship by Investment in Real Estate program in Saint Kitts and Nevis
1. No need to stay in St. Kitts.

2. There is no need to visit the island for registration or renewal of citizenship.

3. Visa-free travel to more than 100 countries, including all countries of the Schengen area, the United Kingdom and many others.

4. Full resident status of Saint Kitts and Nevis.

5. The right to work in Saint Kitts and Nevis, to open companies, bank accounts.

6. There is no tax on income abroad, personal income tax, capital income tax, gift and inheritance tax, luxury tax.

7. There is no need to renounce your existing citizenship or passport.

8. The process of obtaining passports takes from three to six months.

9. Real estate is acquired by ownership, can be rented out or used for oneself.

10. The purchased property can be sold in five years, while the citizenship remains.

It is worth noting, however, that programs for obtaining citizenship and residence permits when buying real estate always have their own limitations and nuances in each country. No such program solves all the problems that an investor may have. So, with a Saint Kitts passport, you can freely move around the Schengen area and live there for 90 days a half-year, but with this passport you cannot, for example, permanently live or work in Europe. And in countries such as the USA and Canada, a visa is required — however, citizens of St. Kitts are issued it according to a simplified scheme. Therefore, when deciding where to invest, you need to take into account absolutely all personal and business factors: where you plan to live permanently, where you plan to do business, whether rental income is important to you, etc.