As one of the first countries to deliver a digitalised solution for its citizenship by investment programme applications, Saint Kitts & Nevis is set to implement a digital transformation throughout 2020-2022 aimed at boosting the economy and making the Caribbean island nation a world leader in digital delivery for its citizens, residents and investors.
The Federation of St Kitts and Nevis’ Minister of Information and Communications Technology spoke at the 5th Caribbean Economic Forum on ‘How to Digitise an Economy’ last week. In addition to presenting an update on the Federation’s digital footprint, the Hon Akilah Byron-Nisbett shared the government’s strategy to implement a digital transformation through the period of 2020-2022.
The Minister said the transformation would boost the economy and make St Kitts and Nevis a world leader in digital delivery for its citizens, residents and investors.
To reflect the commitment, the country projected the mission into one of its main revenue generators, its Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Programme, when earlier this year, Prime Minister Dr Hon. Timothy Harris announced the implementation of an online process for the submission of applications to its Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU).
“St Kitts and Nevis was [one of] the first [CBI] Programmes to implement a digitalised solution for its applications,” Les Khan, head of St Kitts and Nevis’ CBI Unit told Paul Singh, director of CS Global Partners, a legal advisory agency for CBI programmes. “In implementing a 24/7 system, agents and local service providers can file applications quicker, and the [CBI] Unit can track and monitor files, thereby increasing efficiency in the process.”
He added: “Having all records on file electronically also makes it easier to review files. Files [can] be sent for due diligence much faster, thereby ensuring that they are processed in the speediest manner.”
Moreover, St Kitts and Nevis is one of the world’s top countries to abide by the rule of law, according to the World Justice Project. Les Khan agrees that in the current insecure climate across many countries, it is a good idea to make the dual island one’s second home.
Besides security and safety, St Kitts and Nevis has an unrivalled advantage: a 36-year successful track record of attracting foreign investors to its economy. Notably, only investors who pass all the due diligence checks, which this year will include biometric checks, can apply for CBI, yet no residence, language or cultural knowledge is required.
Foreign Affairs Minister Mark Brantley has also ensured that investors gain mobility to nearly 160 countries and territories. Boasting the strongest passport of the Caribbean CBI countries, Saint Kitts’ passport has moved up two places, according to the most recent Passport Index Q4 2020, placing as the 25th most powerful worldwide, with access to more countries (now 156 countries).
Established in 1984, it remains the ‘Platinum Standard’ of the industry. It is widely renowned in the industry for being one of the most efficient, transparent and reliable options for economic citizenship and has been recently announced as the second best CBI Programme worldwide (just one point less than Dominica) according to the CBI Index 2020.
The fastest CIP worldwide, it is the only citizenship by investment nation to offer a secure, fast-track route. For a fee, the Accelerated Application Process (AAP) delivers a guaranteed 60-day result. The programme is also family-inclusive, allowing for parents and grandparents of both the main applicant and spouse, above the age of 55 and 65, respectively, as well as siblings, having recently announced the inclusion of siblings in an application.
Headquartered in London with 14 offices worldwide, including in Malta and the UAE, our preferred partner, Latitude, is a leading international firm in Citizenship-by-Investment and is a government-approved agent for all the programmes it offers including St Kitts & Nevis.
To find out more about the Saint Kitts & Nevis CBI Programme, read our country profile by clicking here