Editing Saint Kitts and Nevis (section)

===Economic citizenship by investment===
{{see also|Saint Kitts and Nevis passport}}
St. Kitts and Nevis allows [[Alien (law)|foreigners]] to obtain the status of St. Kitts and Nevis citizen by means of a government sponsored investment programme called Citizenship-by-Investment.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ciu.gov.kn/ |title=Citizenship-by-Investment Introduction |access-date=17 June 2013 |archive-date=22 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130622030345/http://www.ciu.gov.kn/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="cia.gov"/> Established in 1984, St. Kitts and Nevis's citizenship programme is the oldest prevailing [[economic citizenship]] programme of this kind in the world. However, while the programme is the oldest in the world, it only catapulted in 2006 when [[Henley & Partners]], a global citizenship advisory firm, became involved in the restructuring of the programme to incorporate donations to the country's sugar industry.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Cosmopolites: The Coming of the Global Citizen|last=Abrahamian|first=Atossa Araxia|publisher=Columbia Global Reports|isbn=978-0-9909763-6-3|year=2015}}</ref>

Citizenship-by-Investment Programmes have been criticised by some researchers due to the risks of corruption, [[money laundering]] and [[tax evasion]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=Citizenship for Sale? In: The Oxford Handbook of Citizenship|author=Shachar, Ayelet |publisher=Oxford University Press|doi= 10.1093/oxfordhb/9780198805854.013.34|year=2017|pages= 789–816|s2cid=168914434 }}</ref> According to the official website of St. Kitts and Nevis's Citizenship-by-Investment Programme, they offer multiple benefits, including citizenship for life that can be passed down for generations, no residency or language requirements, and citizenship in a financially favourable country.<ref name=ciu2023julybenefits>St. Kitts and Nevis Government. (2023, July 27). Sustainable Island State Contribution (SISC). Ciu.Gov.Kn. Retrieved July 28, 2023, from https://ciu.gov.kn/investment-options/sustainable-island-state-contribution-sisc/.<br />https://web.archive.org/web/20230728101553/https://ciu.gov.kn/investment-options/sustainable-island-state-contribution-sisc/</ref> Applicants who are vetted and successfully attain citizenship are eligible to apply for a [[Saint Kitts and Nevis passport]].<ref name=HenleyRightToPassport>Henley &amp; Partners Holdings Ltd. (2023). St. Kitts and Nevis. Henleyglobal.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20230929173136/https://www.henleyglobal.com/citizenship-investment/st-kitts-nevis
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''"The Certificate of Registration confers citizenship status and once it has been issued, the applicant is entitled to apply for a passport"''</ref>

To qualify for citizenship under the investment programme, each candidate must complete a vetting process which includes several background and due diligence checks, an interview, and other various legal requirements. This is followed by a qualifying investment into the country.<ref name=pressrelease2023 /> The applicant must make at least a minimum investment in either approved real estate; or a donation, known as the ''Sustainable Island State Contribution (SISC)'' into the Federal Consolidated Fund; or a donation to an Approved Public Benefactor.<ref name=pressrelease2023 /><ref name=ciu2023julybenefits /><ref name=CBIoptions2023July />

The official website of St. Kitts and Nevis's Citizenship-by-Investment Programme lists the following investment options:
* An investment in designated real estate with a minimum value of US$400,000, plus the payment of government fees and other fees and taxes.<ref name=pressrelease2023>St. Kitts And Nevis Government Press Release. (2023, July 27). St Kitts and Nevis announces further monumental changes to its Citizenship by Investment Programme. St. Kitts And Nevis Government. Retrieved July 28, 2023, from https://ciu.gov.kn/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/SKN-Press-Release-SKN-CBI-July_2023_Final.pdf.<br />https://web.archive.org/web/20230728095706/https://ciu.gov.kn/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/SKN-Press-Release-SKN-CBI-July_2023_Final.pdf</ref><ref name=CBIoptions2023July>St. Kitts and Nevis Government. (2023, July). CBI Options. Retrieved July 29, 2023, from https://ciu.gov.kn/investment-options/<br />https://web.archive.org/web/20230729072552/https://ciu.gov.kn/investment-options/</ref><ref name=handbook1>{{Cite book|title=Global Residence and Citizenship Handbook|last=Kalin|first=Christian H.|publisher=Ideos Publications|year=2015|isbn=978-0992781859}}</ref><ref name=henleysite1>{{Cite web|url=https://www.henleyglobal.com/citizenship-saint-kitts-nevis-citizenship/|title=Citizenship Investment in St. Kitts and Nevis - Henley & Partners|website=Henleyglobal.com|access-date=20 July 2016|archive-date=19 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151019115126/https://www.henleyglobal.com/citizenship-saint-kitts-nevis-citizenship/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* A contribution to the Federal Consolidated Fund, or to an Approved Public Benefactor, of at least US$250,000, inclusive of all government fees but exclusive of due diligence fees which are the same as the real estate option.<ref name=pressrelease2023 /><ref name=ciu2023julybenefits />