Saint Kitts and Nevis passport

Saint Kitts and Nevis passport
Front cover of a Saint Kitts and Nevis passport.
TypePassport
Issued by Saint Kitts and Nevis
First issued11 November 2010[1] (current version)
PurposeIdentification
EligibilityCitizenship of Saint Kitts and Nevis
Expiration10 years

The Saint Kitts and Nevis passport is issued to citizens of Saint Kitts and Nevis for international travel. Prior to 1983, Saint Kitts and Nevis, together with Anguilla, was an associated state of the United Kingdom. The passport is a Caricom passport as Saint Kitts and Nevis is a member of the Caribbean Community. As of 29 July 2023, citizens of Saint Kitts and Nevis had visa-free or visa on arrival access (including eTAs) to 154 countries and territories.[2]

Citizenship by investment program

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In 1984, Saint Kitts and Nevis introduced an immigrant investor program, and as of March 2015, the country is the most popular place to acquire citizenship through investment, which includes the right to a passport.[3] The minimum cost for a single applicant to acquire citizenship is US$250,000, with additional costs being levied for each eligible family member the applicant wishes to include.[4][5] Applicants must complete a background and due diligence check process, as well as various other legal requirements.[4] Once successfully vetted and granted citizenship, they can apply for a passport.[3][2] There is no requirement to live in the country, although an interview is required as well as an eventual visit to the country (or embassy).[4] Additionally, there is no tax on citizens' individual income (including capital gains).[6][7]

In May 2014, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network issued a warning that St. Kitts and Nevis had granted passports to foreign individuals who had abused the Citizenship-by-Investment program sponsored "for the purpose of engaging in illicit financial activity."[8] In November 2014, Canada announced it was requiring St. Kitts and Nevis citizens to obtain a visa from 22 November 2014, due to concerns about “identity management practices within its Citizenship by Investment program.”[9] Following the announcement, the government of St. Kitts and Nevis initiated a recall on all biometric passports issued between January 2012 and July 2014, and replaced them with new passports which showed the holder's place of birth as well as any previous name changes. [10] Canada subsequently reinstated visa-free (eTA) travel by air for any St. Kitts and Nevis citizens who have either held a Canadian visa within 10 years prior to their arrival, or who currently hold a valid United States non-immigrant visa.[11]

The St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship-by-Investment program is one of the longest-standing programs of its kind in the world. The country opened its doors to foreign investors in 1984. Since then, they have continued to offer their citizenship to those that are qualified and who have donated a significant amount of capital into the economy. St. Kitts and Nevis also offers a fast-track service to clients, including the issuance of passports which previously had been subject to lengthy delays.[12]

Visa requirements

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Main article: Visa requirements for Saint Kitts and Nevis citizens

As of 29 July 2023, citizens of Saint Kitts and Nevis had visa-free or visa on arrival access (including eTAs) to 154 countries and territories, ranking the Saint Kitts and Nevis passport 24th in the world in terms of travel freedom according to the Henley Passport Index.[2]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Home".
  2. ^ a b c "The Henley Passport Index 2023 July 29".
  3. ^ a b "St. Kitts Citizenship by Investment | Henley & Partners". 2024-11-17. Archived from the original on 2024-11-17. Retrieved 2023-12-21.
  4. ^ a b c St. Kitts And Nevis Government Press Release. (2023, July 27). St Kitts and Nevis announces further monumental changes to its Citizenship by Investment Programme. St. Kitts And Nevis Government. Retrieved July 28, 2023, from https://ciu.gov.kn/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/SKN-Press-Release-SKN-CBI-July_2023_Final.pdf.
    https://web.archive.org/web/20230728095706/https://ciu.gov.kn/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/SKN-Press-Release-SKN-CBI-July_2023_Final.pdf
  5. ^ St. Kitts and Nevis Government. (2023, July 27). Sustainable Island State Contribution (SISC). Ciu.Gov.Kn. Retrieved July 28, 2023, from https://ciu.gov.kn/investment-options/sustainable-island-state-contribution-sisc/.
    https://web.archive.org/web/20230728101553/https://ciu.gov.kn/investment-options/sustainable-island-state-contribution-sisc/
  6. ^ "Passports for a Price". Bloomberg Business. Bloomberg L.P. 2015-03-11. Retrieved 2015-03-15.
  7. ^ "Corporate Income Tax | Inland Revenue Department". 2023-08-06. Archived from the original on 2023-08-06. Retrieved 2023-12-21.
  8. ^ "Abuse of the Citizenship-by-Investment Program Sponsored by the Federation of St Kitts and Nevis". Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. 2014-05-20. Archived from the original on 2015-03-21. Retrieved 2015-03-15.
  9. ^ "Notice – St Kitts and Nevis citizens now need a visa to travel to Canada". Government of Canada. 2014-11-22. Retrieved 2015-03-15.
  10. ^ "St Kitts and Nevis recalls passports over security concerns from Canada and US". South China Morning Post. 2014-12-08. Retrieved 2016-03-15.
  11. ^ "Eligible travellers from 13 more countries now qualify for visa-free travel to Canada". Canada.ca. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. 6 June 2023. Archived from the original on 9 June 2023. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
  12. ^ "St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship Investment Unit Announces an Accelerated Application Process at CBI in Dubai". St Kitts and Nevis Realty. 2016-10-18. Retrieved 2016-10-18.
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