Saint Kitts Considers Residency Clause for CBI Applicants

Saint Kitts and Nevis has announced that it may soon require a mandatory residency period for all new applicants to its Citizenship by Investment (CBI) program.

Prime Minister Terrance Drew confirmed that a residency clause and biometric checks will be part of the upcoming CBI reform law, which is expected to be passed within weeks.

Although not yet enacted, the proposed requirement would represent a major policy shift, as CBI programs in the Caribbean have traditionally allowed applicants to acquire citizenship without ever visiting the country.

The move directly addresses one of the concerns mentioned in a leaked U.S. State Department memo, which criticized CBI programs for granting nationality without any real physical or social link to the issuing country.

Saint Kitts has also committed to integrating biometric systems and interview processes into the application flow, including either in-person or verified virtual interviews, along with mandatory data capture.