Choosing the best Citizenship by Investment program can prove to be a difficult task with so many amazing options on the market. Countries all around the world are offering foreign nationals the opportunity to obtain a second passport for themselves and their family.
Naturally, European programs tend to be the most popular as they offer great opportunities for both leisure and business purposes. Yet, you might be surprised to learn that the non-European programs, like those in the Caribbean, are on par or even more sought-after than their European counterparts. This is due to the fast, efficient and simple application process associated with these CBI programs – not to mention that they are the more cost-effective option.
Yes, there are many Citizenship by Investment programs choose from – and all of them have many benefits and advantages to offer foreign investors – but there will always be one program that is more suitable for your specific wants and needs. Here, we compare the Vanuatu and St. Kitts and Nevis CBI programs to provide a better idea of which second citizenship is better suited to you and your loved ones.
What Are These Citizenship by Investment Programs?
Vanuatu
Launched in 2017 and the only one of its kind in the South Pacific, the Vanuatu Citizenship Development Support Program is a Citizenship by Investment program based on the country’s law and is guaranteed by the government as a legal naturalization process. Foreign nationals are able to obtain full Vanuatuan citizenship and passport for themselves and their families in exchange for a qualifying investment into the country.
St. Kitts & Nevis
The St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment program has been active since 1984 and is revered worldwide as the oldest and most respected programs of its kind. As with Vanuatu, the program was implemented in the hopes of attracting foreign investment into the country and is a legal naturalization process that offers full St. Kitts and Nevis citizenship and passport in exchange for a qualifying investment in the island nation.
Benefits of Each Program
Both Vanuatu and St. Kitts and Nevis’ CBI programs offer similar fantastic benefits and opportunities for foreign nationals. However, there are slight differences between the advantages the two programs offer.
Vanuatu
- Unrestricted travel: As a citizen of Vanuatu, investors gain visa-free or visa-on-arrival travel to over 125 countries and territories worldwide, including the United Kingdom, the Schengen Area and Singapore.
- Good quality of life: Vanuatu is known to be a stable and peaceful country. In fact, Vanuatu has been named the happiest place on the planet several times over. And the island nation is so safe that it does not have Regular Armed Forces.
- Retirement option: Vanuatu is most people’s idea of an island paradise – so why not reward yourself for all your hard work and spend your golden years here?
- Ultimate insurance: Holding second citizenship in Vanuatu is a great Plan B to put your mind at ease in times of economic or political instability in your home country.
- Ease of Process: The application process is designed to be a smooth and straightforward process, with no interview and education and management experience required to apply.
- Favourable tax policies: Vanuatu places no taxes on worldwide income, capital gains, dividends, gifts, wealth and inheritance.
- Minimal residency requirements: There are no physical residency requirements and applicants do not have to visit Vanuatu before or after the applying.
- Dual citizenship permitted: When obtaining Vanuatuan citizenship, you are not required to renounce your current citizenship(s), and your home authorities will not be notified of your new nationality and passport.
St. Kitts & Nevis
- Unrestricted travel: As a citizen of St. Kitts and Nevis, investors gain visa-free or visa-on-arrival travel to over 150 countries and territories worldwide, including the United Kingdom, the Schengen Area, Hong Kong, Russia and Singapore.
- Ultimate insurance: Holding second citizenship in St. Kitts and Nevis is a great Plan B to put your mind at ease in times of economic or political instability in your home country.
- Ease of Process: The application process is designed to be a smooth and straightforward process, with no interview and education and management experience required to apply.
- Good quality of life: Kitts and Nevis a safe, stable and peaceful country that affords a low cost of living and an attractive coastal environment.
- Retirement option: Like Vanuatu, St. Kitts and Nevis an island paradise, and as such, would be the ideal place to relocate to when you retire.
- Favourable tax policies: Kitts and Nevis imposes minimal taxations with no taxes on foreign income, capital gains, gifts, wealth and inheritance.
- Minimal residency requirements: There are no physical residency requirements and applicants do not have to visit St. Kitts and Nevis before or after the applying.
- Dual citizenship permitted: When obtaining St. Kitts and Nevis citizenship, you are not required to renounce your current citizenship(s), and your home authorities will not be notified of your new nationality and passport.
Timeframe
Vanuatu
Vanuatu’s CBI program is one of the more favoured programs on the market due to it being one of the quickest paths to second citizenship through investment. The processing time for applications takes anywhere from as little as 45 days to 6 months at the most.
St. Kitts & Nevis
St. Kitts and Nevis has one of the most established CBI programs on the market and is renowned worldwide for its simple and efficient application procedure. However, the processing time is not as quick as Vanuatu, with investors receiving their new citizenship status within a period of 6 months.
Program Requirements
Both Vanuatu and St. Kitts and Nevis’ CBI programs have similar requirements. Applicants must:
- Be over 18 years of age
- Possess a clean criminal record
- Hold a valid medical insurance and health certificate
- Have enough funds to live in the country
- Receive approval from the government
- Have confirmed investment sources
- Successfully pass due diligence checks
Eligible Family Members
Vanuatu
Eligible family members include the spouse of the main applicant and children (biological or adopted) under 25 years of age. Parents above the age of 50 and children older than 18 years old can be included in the application if they are dependent on the main applicant.
St. Kitts & Nevis
Eligible family members include the spouse of the main applicant and children (biological or adopted) under 30 years of age. Parents above 55 years, siblings and children older than 18 years old can be included in the application if they are dependent on the main applicant. Siblings of any age who are classified by law as having a disability can also be added to the application.
Qualifying Investment Options
Vanuatu
Investors are required to make a non-refundable contribution of USD 135,000 to the Vanuatuan government as the qualifying investment when applying for citizenship by investment.
St. Kitts & Nevis
Applicants to the St. Kitts and Nevis CBI program can either make a non-refundable donation of USD 150,000 to the country’s Sustainable Growth Fund or invest at least USD 200,00 in government-approved real estate projects.
Book a Free Consultation
When applying to any Citizenship by Investment program, please be sure to render the services of a government-authorized agent and advisor like Savory & Partners. The internet is rife with fraudulent companies offering scams that promise citizenship or residency within an implausible timeframe and at an impossibly low price. If it’s too good to be true, then it probably is.
Savory & Partners is a government-approved agency that specializes in high-net-worth individuals applying to any Citizenship or Residency by Investment program. We are a British Authorised Agent with decades of experience who has helped over 1,200 families obtain second citizenship and have a 100% success rate in the industry.
If you would like to apply to the Vanuatu Citizenship by Investment program or would like to learn more, get in contact with us today for a free online consultation and one of our agents will happily aid you in your enquiry. All of our team members have at least 5 years’ experience in Citizenship and Residency by Investment Programs.
