St Kitts and Nevis will fundamentally restructure its citizenship-by-investment program (CIP) in 2026, introducing mandatory “genuine-link requirements” that phase out passive financial contributions in favour of residency and active participation pathways.
The planned reforms, outlined in a recent statement from the CIU Executive Chairman Calvin St Juste, represent what he characterizes as the “most ambitious transformation” in the program’s history.
Under the framework set for implementation this year, citizenship will require a “substantive connection” to St. Kitts through structured physical presence, meaningful economic activity including business establishment and job creation, productive investment aligned with national priorities, and long-term engagement in social, cultural, or philanthropic endeavours.
The program will also introduce an Innovation Pathway for applicants, aiming to establish active partnerships through innovation-driven business, research, technology, or skills-transfer projects, thereby contributing to economic diversification.
Planned CBI Reform
The program will commence its transition away from contribution-based pathways in 2026, St Juste confirmed.
The shift will reflect what officials term “international best practice,” mirroring standards in leading permanent residency and naturalisation frameworks across the European Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
St Kitts also plans to launch “Priority One,” a concierge and civic integration service to support investors beyond CBI approval.
Officials characterize the service as recognition that citizenship “marks the beginning of a relationship” rather than the conclusion of a transaction, aiming to guide new citizens in meeting genuine-link requirements through ongoing legal, fiscal, and civic compliance.
Enhanced post-naturalisation obligations will “reinforce accountability and integration,” according to the statement.
Market Response Signals Cautious Adaptation
Nicholas Stevens, CEO of NTL Trust, suggested the planned reforms align with emerging client preferences.
He noted that many CBI clients are successful innovators and experienced entrepreneurs who, given the opportunity to run a business in the Federation as an alternative to a donation, “will be keen to do so.”
Stevens acknowledged that the anticipated shift requires capital investment in businesses and real substance, explaining that the islands can offer attractive tax exemptions to attract international and family office headquarters.
He says migration professionals will need to persuade clients to spend time on the ground. “It does require a shift in mindset, but it’s the new normal,” he adds.
Regarding whether such measures will satisfy the EU and US, Stevens expressed scepticism.
“The industry should stop looking to outside powers for leadership,” he said, arguing that professionals need to “champion the sovereignty of Caribbean nations” instead, while creating a welcoming, business-friendly environment in CARICOM that can stand independently.
He noted that real visa-free access is “dying anyway,” citing electronic travel authorizations that may effectively function as entry visas, and border reinstatements “even within Schengen countries.”
Daisy Joseph-Andall, Partner at Joseph Rowe Law, acknowledged that the planned reforms could make “high-volume citizenship applications less viable,” albeit suggesting that this may be precisely the intention.
She says that while the move can be seen as a “significant change” in CIP operations, it “aligns well” with the overall framework already agreed to by all five Caribbean CBI governments.
Joseph-Andall framed the anticipated changes as preferable to the “disaster of losing valuable visa-free access,” suggesting both born and naturalised citizens are likely to agree.
She observed that the approach is “more expected” than it might appear, noting that many of her clients are now “consciously seeking genuine connection” in their immigration plans rather than a single transaction.
IMI Pros Who Can Help with Saint Kitts and Nevis Citizenship
