Reviewed by Jane Katkova, Founder & Licensed CICC ConsultantKey points
- The Sustainable Island State Contribution is US$250,000 for one applicant or a family of four.
- Due diligence costs US$10,000 for the principal and US$7,500 per dependant aged 16 or over.
- Extra dependants add US$25,000 if under 18 and US$50,000 if aged 18 or over.
- Approved real estate starts at US$325,000 and must be held for seven years.
Sustainable Island State Contribution and government fees
The main route is the Sustainable Island State Contribution (SISC), a non-refundable payment of US$250,000 that covers a single applicant or a family of up to four. The government charges added to it are fixed:
- Due diligence: US$10,000 for the principal applicant and US$7,500 for each dependant aged 16 or over.
- Administrative fee: US$1,000.
- Passports: US$500 each.
- Additional dependants beyond four: US$25,000 if under 18, US$50,000 if aged 18 or over.
On those figures a single applicant pays about US$261,500 in government charges, and a family of four with young children about US$270,500. Professional fees are quoted separately. A line-by-line breakdown is in our guide to St Kitts and Nevis citizenship costs by family size.
Real estate route
Approved real estate starts at US$325,000 and carries a seven-year holding period, the longest of the Caribbean programmes we advise on. The same due diligence and passport fees apply.
What the price buys, and the risk
St Kitts and Nevis has the highest headline price and due diligence fees of the five Caribbean programmes. In return, approval takes 5.1 months on average (range 3–8), and the passport reaches around 150–167 destinations including Schengen, the UK, Hong Kong and Singapore. The limitation to weigh is an EU letter asking the programme to close by 1 June 2028. The routes are compared on our St Kitts and Nevis citizenship by investment page. For a written fee estimate for your family, book a consultation with our team.
People also ask
Will the St Kitts and Nevis passport keep visa-free access to Schengen?
Schengen access is intact today. In July 2026 the European Commission asked all five Caribbean governments to phase out citizenship by investment by 1 June 2028, and the Visa Suspension Mechanism now treats operating a programme as grounds for suspension. We advise that visa-free Schengen access is current and not guaranteed after 2028.
Do you have to live in Antigua and Barbuda to keep your citizenship?
No. Antigua and Barbuda citizenship by investment does not require you to live on the islands. You must spend 30 days in the country within the first five years of citizenship under the 2026 amendment, which replaced the old five-day rule. Applications approved before the rule took effect keep the five-day requirement.
Can you travel to the US or Canada on an Antigua and Barbuda passport?
Not visa-free. The US requires a visa, and since 1 January 2026 Proclamation 10998 suspends immigrant, B-1/B-2, F, M and J visas for Antiguan nationals. Canada grants an eTA only to Antiguan nationals who held a Canadian visa in the last ten years or hold a valid US visa, and only when arriving by air.
How long does Dominica citizenship by investment take to process?
Dominica citizenship by investment takes 9.3 months on average, within a range of 4 to 18 months, according to the IMI Processing Times Tool for Q4 2025. That is the widest range of the five Caribbean programmes, so plan for a year. The 60–90 day timelines some agents still quote do not reflect current processing.
Can you enter the UK without a visa on a Dominica passport?
No. The UK withdrew visa-free entry for Dominican nationals in July 2023 and has not restored it, so a UK visa is required. Schengen, Hong Kong and Singapore are unaffected, and the passport reaches around 140–145 destinations. If the UK is a regular destination, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis or Antigua and Barbuda suit better.