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Saint Kitts and NevisCitizenship by descent

Citizenship by descent in Saint Kitts and Nevis

The programme allows people whose parents or grandparents were born in the Federation to obtain citizenship of Saint Kitts and Nevis. The applicant may file from anywhere in the world, with no requirement to live in Saint Kitts and Nevis. Citizenship is registered indefinitely, but may be revoked where it was obtained by false information or fraud. A citizen has full rights to work in the country and may pass the citizenship to their descendants.

Work
A citizen works in the country without a work permit.
Next
There is no separate permanent residence stage: descent leads straight to citizenship.

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of St Kitts and Nevis — Types of Citizenship

Who can obtain citizenship by descent

Citizenship by descent suits people born abroad who have a blood link to Saint Kitts and Nevis through a parent or grandparent. The process is the same for adults and children, but different forms are used.

Direct first-generation descendants

  • Born abroad to a citizen of Saint Kitts and Nevis
  • One parent was a citizen at the time of your birth
  • There is a birth certificate for the parent issued in the Federation

Descendants through a grandparent

  • A grandfather or grandmother was born in Saint Kitts and Nevis
  • That parent passed the citizenship to your parent
  • An unbroken chain of citizenship must be proved

The applicant's family members

  • A spouse, where there are marriage documents
  • Children, as at the date the application is filed
  • They may be included in a single application where there is evidence

When the programme will not suit you

There is no proof that a parent or grandparent was born in Saint Kitts and Nevis

Citizenship by naturalisation (which requires residence in the country)

You are ready to invest substantial funds in the country's development

Citizenship by investment (which requires a contribution from USD 250,000)

You are looking for residence without citizenship

The permanent residence programme of Saint Kitts and Nevis

What it costs

Filing the application with the High CommissionPaid by bank draft made out to the Accountant General60 GBP
Certifying one certificateFor each document requiring official certification50 GBP
FedEx delivery to BasseterreTo send the completed application for processing by the ministry75 GBP
Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table. Charges with no official price list are in the list below.185 GBP

Paid separately

  • Notarising the documents — Done in the applicant's country of residence at their own expense before dispatch
  • Apostilles on the documents — Obtained in the country where the document was issued, under the Hague Convention
  • Document translation — Required for documents in languages other than English

Documents to gather

All documents are submitted as originals with copies attached. Foreign documents require an apostille under the Hague Convention.

  • The completed Citizenship by Descent form (different forms for adults and children)
  • The applicant's birth certificate (original and copy, showing the parents' details)
  • The birth certificate of the parent or grandparent born in the Federation (original and copy, notarised)
  • The applicant's passport (copy of the data page)
  • Two passport photographs, 35x45 mm, white background
  • A police certificate from the country of residence (for those over 16, issued no more than 6 months before filing)
  • The passport or citizenship certificate of the parent applicant (a copy if living, or a death certificate if deceased)
  • Marriage certificate (where relevant to prove the link through a spouse)
  • A medical examination (may be required at the checking stage)
  • Proof of address (a utility bill or a bank letter dated no more than 3 months before filing)

How the process runs

Obtaining citizenship by descent involves preparing the documents, verifying the details and the actual consideration of the application by the authorities.

  1. 1

    Gathering and preparing the documents

    2-4 weeks

    Obtain every necessary birth certificate, passport and certificate. Order apostilles from the authorities that issued the documents. Arrange notarisation and translations where required.

  2. 2

    Completing the application and paying at the High Commission

    1-2 weeks

    Complete the Citizenship by Descent form (form R4). Send the documents to the High Commission of Saint Kitts and Nevis or to the consulate in your country. Pay the fee of £60 by bank draft.

  3. 3

    Dispatch to the ministry for processing

    1 week

    The High Commission sends your application to the Ministry of National Security in Basseterre (by FedEx). A fee of £75 is payable for delivery.

  4. 4

    Verification of the information and documents

    4-8 weeks

    The ministry verifies that the documents are genuine and that your ancestors held citizenship. A criminal background check is carried out through the foreign affairs authorities.

  5. 5

    The mandatory interview

    1-2 weeks

    Since 2024 a personal interview has been required. You may need to attend a video interview or a meeting at the consulate to confirm the information and check the documents.

  6. 6

    Approval and issue of the citizenship certificate

    1-2 weeks

    Once the decision is favourable, a citizenship certificate is issued. The document is posted to the address you give or collected in person.

  7. 7

    Applying for a passport

    2-4 weeks

    With the citizenship certificate, apply for a passport at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or at the consulate. Two photographs and the passport issue fee are required.

Who you can bring with you

Family members may be included in the citizenship by descent process on the basis of a documented blood link or marriage.

The spouse of a citizen of Saint Kitts and Nevis
May obtain citizenship where there is a marriage certificate, but a separate application with a complete set of documents is required. The timings and fees are the same.
A citizen's minor children
May be included in the parent's application using the special form for children. They need no police certificate of their own. The documents include a birth certificate naming the father and mother.
A citizen's adult children
May file a separate application as first-generation descendants. A complete set of documents is required, including a police certificate.

Renewal and the grace period

Citizenship obtained by descent is valid indefinitely and needs no periodic renewal. The citizenship certificate has no expiry date. The passport issued to a citizen does, however, require periodic renewal in line with its validity (usually 10 years for adults). Citizenship may be revoked only where it emerges that it was obtained on the basis of false information, fraud or the concealment of material facts.

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to citizenship

Citizenship of the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis

Frequently asked questions about Citizenship by descent

Must I live in Saint Kitts and Nevis to obtain citizenship by descent?
No. One of the main advantages of citizenship by descent is that you can apply for and obtain citizenship while living anywhere in the world. No minimum period of residence in the Federation is required to obtain or keep the status of citizen.
Can I hold dual citizenship after obtaining citizenship of Saint Kitts and Nevis by descent?
Yes. Saint Kitts and Nevis fully recognises and permits dual citizenship. You may keep your existing citizenship and hold citizenship of the Federation at the same time. There is no requirement to renounce any other nationality.
How long does citizenship by descent take?
Standard processing takes three to six months from the filing of a complete set of documents. The time covers verification that the documents are genuine, the mandatory interview (required since 2024) and the criminal background check. Obtaining the passport once the citizenship certificate has been issued takes a further 2-4 weeks.
What must I prove to apply for citizenship by descent if my grandfather was born in Saint Kitts and Nevis?
You must prove an unbroken chain of citizenship. That means proving: (1) that your grandfather was born in the Federation, (2) that he passed the citizenship to your parent by descent or registration, and (3) that your parent passed the citizenship to you. Originals or notarised copies of the birth and marriage certificates for every generation are required, apostilled under the Hague Convention.
What rights does a citizen by descent have in Saint Kitts and Nevis?
A citizen has full rights to work and live in the country with no need for a work permit. They may move freely across all CARICOM member states (the organisation of Caribbean countries) under the single market and economy agreement. They are entitled to a passport of Saint Kitts and Nevis, which gives visa-free access to more than 150 countries, including the EU and Schengen states.
Can the ministry take away citizenship obtained by descent?
Yes, citizenship may be revoked, but only on serious grounds. Where it emerges that citizenship was obtained by supplying false information, by fraud or by concealing material facts, the Ministry of National Security has the power to withdraw the status. Where all the information was given honestly and in full, however, your citizenship remains in force for life.

Other ways to move to Saint Kitts and Nevis

Every route in one list — migration programmes: Saint Kitts and Nevis.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.