You will find everything you need to make your decision in this St Kitts vs Antigua comparison article. If you are interested in obtaining a Caribbean passport, learn how you can be granted citizenship in exchange for an investment in the country of your choice.
Both citizenship by investment programs offer investors a legitimate and straightforward way to obtain a valuable Caribbean passport and second citizenship. The basic requirements to apply for economic citizenship are: to be over 18 years old; have no criminal record; have excellent health; be able to make a qualifying investment. There is no language test or residency requirement.
Benefits of Antigua and St Kitts Citizenship by Investment Programs
Quick application process
Eligibility for the whole family
No residency requirements
Multiple investment options
Visa-free travel to over 140 countries
Antigua vs St Kitts: At a Glance
Program Characteristics | Antigua Citizenship by Investment | St Kitts Citizenship by Investment |
Application Time | Two to three months | Two to three months |
Passport Global Ranking | 63rd. Visa-free travel to EU Schengen countries, the UK, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Russia, amongst others | 55th. Visa-free travel to EU Schengen countries, the UK, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Russia, amongst others |
Qualifying Investment |
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Taxes | No income tax on worldwide income, wealth tax, gift tax, inheritance tax or capital gains tax | No income tax on worldwide income, wealth tax, gift tax, inheritance tax or capital gains tax |
Residence Rule | No stay requirements | No stay requirements |
Family Eligibility | Inclusion of spouse or future spouse, dependent children under 30, unmarried siblings, parents and grandparents aged 55 or over | Inclusion of spouse, children under 25, siblings under 25 (unmarried with no children), parents and grandparents aged 55 or over |
Application Requirements | No interview, language or residency requirements | No interview, language or residency requirements |
Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship
Antigua and Barbuda is located between the Caribbean sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Tourism represents most of Antigua’s GDP, which is not surprising for such a stunning place with 365 beaches – one for each day of the year.
The country’s citizenship by investment program was created in 2012, offering foreign investors the chance to obtain Antigua citizenship in exchange for an investment in the country. Investors can choose one of the following options:
- Donation of at least $100,000 to the Antigua National Development Fund
- Purchase of pre-approved real estate or shares of real estate worth a minimum of $200,000, to be held for five years
- Business investment of $400,000 in an enterprise worth $5 million in total, or $1.5 million as a single investor
- Donation of $150,000 or more to the University of the West Indies Fund – this option is available for families of 6 members or more and entitles one person to a one-year scholarship
Residents and citizens of Antigua enjoy relatively relaxed tax conditions. There is no capital gains tax, inheritance tax, income tax, or wealth tax on worldwide income or assets. Antigua passport holders also can enjoy visa-free access to over 140 countries, including the European Union, the UK, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Russia.
Check Our Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Guide
St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship
St Kitts and Nevis, in the East Caribbean, has the longest-running Citizenship by Investment program in the world, launched in 1984. For an investment starting at $125,000, foreign investors and their families can obtain a passport in just two months. Fast, reliable, and affordable, this immigration scheme has been a success, significantly boosting the country’s economy.
St Kitts and Nevis passport holders can travel visa-free to over 140 countries worldwide, including the European Union, the United Kingdom, and many more, and benefit from a favorable tax regime as there is no income, inheritance, or gift tax.
As an investor, you can choose one of three investment routes:
- Make a non-refundable contribution to the country’s Sustainable Growth Fund (SGF), starting at $125,000 for a single applicant (this is limited time offer from 1 January 2023 to 30 June 2023. Regular investment starts at $150,000)
- Make a minimum investment of $200,000 in pre-approved real estate projects, usually luxury condos or shares in luxury resorts, or invest a minimum of $400,000 in private sale homes, pre-approved by the government.
- Contribute with at least $175,000 to one of the Public Benefit Projects approved by the government
The citizenship process usually takes a few months to be concluded, but St Kitts offers a “fast-track” option, so for those in a hurry, that’s a significant advantage. This is the shortest guaranteed processing time among all Caribbean citizenship programs.
St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Ultimate Guide
Which program to pick?
As we can see in this article, both Caribbean countries offer solid popular citizenship programs with similar positive points, such as allowing for visa-free travel around the world, tax-friendly policies for Caribbean citizens, and flexible requirements. Eligibility requirements for family members are very similar, and the minimum property investment is also $200,000 in both cases.
So, which investment program should you choose in order to obtain Caribbean citizenship? The best economic citizenship for you and your family will depend on your specific circumstances and priorities.
Strong points of the St Kitts and Nevis program:
- Accelerated Application Process, with approval in less than 60 days
- Longest-running CBI program
Strong points of the Antigua and Barbuda program:
- Most affordable for families – $100,000 NDF donation for a family of four and $150,000 UWIF donation for families of six or more
- Most affordable for single applicants: $100,000
To find out more, check our video about the two citizenship by investment programs:
Why work with Global Citizen Solutions?
- Global approach by local experts. We are corporate members of the Investment Migration Council, with local expertise in all six Caribbean CBI programs.
- 100% approval rate. We have never had a case rejected and will offer you an initial, free-of-charge, due diligence assessment before signing any contract.
- Independent service and full transparency. We will present to you all the investment options available, and all expenses will be discussed in advance, with no hidden fees.
- An all-encompassing solution. A multidisciplinary team of immigration lawyers, investment specialists, and tax experts will take into consideration all your and your family’s mobility, tax, and lifestyle needs.
- Confidential service and secure data management. All private data is stored within a GDPR-compliant database on a secure SSL-encrypted server.
To see the full list of reasons why to work with Global Citizen Solutions for your Caribbean citizenship application, click here.
Don’t forget to check our other Caribbean comparison articles:
- Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Comparison Guide
- St Lucia vs Dominica Citizenship
- St Kitts and Nevis vs Dominica Passport
- Grenada vs St Kitts Citizenship
- Grenada vs St Lucia Citizenship
- St Kitts vs St Lucia Citizenship
- Grenada vs Dominica Citizenship
- Antigua vs St Lucia Citizenship
- Antigua vs Grenada Citizenship
FAQs:
Can I acquire Antigua citizenship?
If you are interested in obtaining citizenship from Antigua, the country’s citizenship program is the best way to receive a Caribbean passport in exchange for an investment in the country. There are four investment options: buying shares of a real estate project, making a minimum contribution of $100,000 to a National Fund, investing in a University Fund, or making a business investment.
Can I acquire St Kitts citizenship?
In order to obtain citizenship in this Caribbean country, you must make an investment, which can be a donation to a government fund, a property investment, or a contribution to a Public benefit Project pre-approved by the government. After a few months, you and your family will receive St Kitts and Nevis passport and lifetime citizenship.
Antigua or St Kitts citizenship: which one to pick?
Both investment programs offer excellent benefits: having a Caribbean passport means visa-free access to over 140 countries, favorable tax regime, ad many more advantages. Antigua and Barbuda passport program has a lower threshold for minimum investment, starting at $100,000. Saint Kitts and Nevis offer a fast-track option in which your application will be processed in less than 60 days. As you can see, the best Caribbean citizenship is the one that best fits your needs.
Which countries offer Caribbean citizenship by investment?
Five countries offer investors the opportunity to acquire Caribbean citizenship by investment: Antigua, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts, and Saint Lucia. Saint Kitts has the world’s longest-running citizenship by investment program, in operation since 1984. To apply to one of these investment programs, you must be over 18 years, have no criminal records, and make an investment in the Caribbean country of your interest, usually a non-refundable contribution to a national fund or an investment in a pre-approved real estate development. Other attractive investment opportunities are government bonds or university donations. You and your family can receive Caribbean citizenship in a few months, with tax benefits and the chance to travel to over 140 visa-free countries worldwide.
