St Kitts and Nevis: Is the Country Worth a Visit?

The Federation of St Kitts and Nevis is an independent country in the Caribbean Sea that consists of two islands in the Lesser Antilles: Saint Christopher (usually referred to as St Kitts) and Nevis. St Kitts is the larger of the two islands. The capital city of Basseterre is located on St Kitts and its population exceeds 10 thousand people. The area of the country is 261 km² and the population is about 50 thousand people. The length of the coastline is 135 km. The official language is English and the local currency is the East Caribbean dollar. It is pegged to the US dollar at the rate of 2.7 to 1. The majority of the local population are descendants of African slaves.

Is it safe in St Kitts and Nevis?

As far as crime rates are concerned, there are no terrorist groups or organized crime in the country. However, the city of Basseterre can be a bit unsafe. In tourist areas you may face pickpocketing and petty theft – nothing very serious.

As far as the climate is concerned, the weather conditions can be harsh in St Kitts and Nevis. First, hurricanes hit the islands from time to time. The buildings are rather sturdy but the coastline may suffer from a hurricane greatly. Besides, the islands sit very close to the equator and humidity is high there. This means that there are a lot of mosquitos in St Kitts and Nevis and you do need repellents when you are on the islands. Besides, you need a sun lotion to protect your skin from the blazing sun.

Some interesting facts about St Kitts and Nevis

St Kitts and Nevis is the smallest country in the Western hemisphere both in terms of its population and in terms of its area.

The islands were discovered by Christopher Columbus (who would have thought otherwise). When sailing by Nevis, Columbus named the island “Nuestra Senora de Las Nieves” (Our Lady in snow) because he mistakenly took the clouds on the mountains for snow.

The country administers a citizenship-by-investment (CBI) program that is aimed at attracting foreign capital. That means that you can become a citizen of St Kitts and Nevis for money.

Below we provide general information about the program and if you would like to learn specific details, please follow the link.

There are two basic ways of acquiring citizenship of the country for money: by making a non-returnable donation (a contribution to the state fund) or a returnable investment into real estate. The donation amount starts at US$ 250,000 and the investment amount starts at US$ 400,000. If you keep the property in your possession for 7 years, you can resell it (if you find a buyer) and keep your second passport.

Please note that you cannot buy any property on the islands that appeals to you: it has to be approved by the Government. At the same time, if you are buying a detached house for US$ 800,000 or more, you can buy any house that you like.

Please also note that the local CIU (Citizenship by Investment Unit) does not deal directly with applicants for citizenship of the country. You have to hire a licensed immigration agent who will file an application for citizenship on your behalf. Family applications are welcome.

If you choose to make a contribution to the state fund, you should realize that the money generated by the fund is used to finance various social projects. Therefore, you can help build a new school or a hospital in St Kitts and Nevis.

Main advantages of St Kitts and Nevis citizenship

Before we go on to list the advantages of the CBI program in St Kitts and Nevis, we would like to stress that some of the advantages may not be universal. For instance, the passport of St Kitts and Nevis gives visa-free access to more than 150 foreign countries. This isn’t bad but if you hold a stronger passport, this advantage is going to be irrelevant for you.

Membership in the Commonwealth of Nations makes St Kitts and Nevis politically advantageous. In legal terms, it puts the tiny country on a par with Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. The British King is head of state in all these countries. It follows that you can become a citizen of the Commonwealth of Nations when ‘buying’ citizenship of St Kitts and Nevis.

St Kitts and Nevis is also a member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). CARICOM unites most Caribbean states including those located on the continent. It is a powerful trade association.

The country is a member of the Organization of East Caribbean States that use the East

Caribbean dollar as a common currency.

You can obtain lifetime citizenship of St Kitts and Nevis and pass it on to your children.

If you choose to invest into real property when applying for citizenship of St Kitts and Nevis, you can let it on a lease thus acquiring a source of a stable passive income. The stability of the income cannot be guaranteed but the country is highly popular with tourists (especially from the United States) so you can hope to have a passive income anyway.

You do not have to live in St Kitts and Nevis to retain citizenship of the country. You do have to have a personal interview with a Government official when applying for citizenship, but the interview can be held at the embassy or consulate of St Kitts and Nevis in your home country.

St Kitts and Nevis has nothing against its citizens holding several national passports. This means that you don’t have to renounce your present citizenship when obtaining a passport of St Kitts and Nevis. Problems may arise, however, if your home country does not allow dual citizenship.

You can enter 156 foreign countries without visas if you have a passport of St Kitts and Nevis. The document also entitles you to live and work in any of the CARICOM countries.

You can use your second passport to open bank accounts and participate in investment projects all over the world if your home country’s passport does not let you do it.

Some irrelevant (?) facts about St Kitts and Nevis

You may think that the two stars on the banner of St Kitts and Nevis symbolize the two islands. If you do, you are wrong. They actually symbolize hope and freedom. Who could ever have guessed?

Admiral Nelson’s wife was born on Nevis. The wedding ceremony was also held on the island and the King was among the guests.

Princess Diana took William and Harry to Nevis to get over her divorce with Charles.

Tourist season in St Kitts and Nevis

The country has a tropical climate and the temperatures is pretty much the same all around the year: about 26 °C. However, it can be as ‘cold’ as 18 °C or as hot as 32 °C. There is no rainy season in St Kitts and Nevis and precipitation is distributed rather evenly throughout the year. A relatively dry season lasts from December to April. The best time to visit the country is the ‘low’ summer season between June and August. It is dry enough but not too hot.

Things to do in St Kitts and Nevis

The country is similar to many other Caribbean countries and there you can engage in activities typical for tourists visiting the region. These include sunbathing, splashing in the sea, snorkeling, boating, and going on hiking tours around the islands.

Some people will say there is nothing special about St Kitts and Nevis while others will fall in love with the country, ‘buy’ its citizenship, and move there for good. You should certainly visit St Kitts and Nevis to find out which of the categories you belong to.