by 
The CIU publishes its investment minimums clearly. What it does not publish in one place is the complete picture of every fee that sits between signing with an agent and holding a passport. Those fees come from three separate sources: the CIU, the St. Kitts and Nevis Anguilla National Bank (SKNANB), and your Authorised Agent. This article puts them all together, with worked totals for the most common family profiles across all four investment routes.
All government and bank fee figures are drawn from the CIU’s official fee pages and their citizenship cost calculator at ciu.gov.kn/citizenship-calculator. For the full context on the four routes themselves, the complete guide to St. Kitts CBI covers everything from passport access to the 2026 programme updates.
Every fee
The qualifying investment is what goes to the programme or the property. US$250,000 (EC$675,000) for the SISC and PBO. US$325,000 (EC$877,500) for developer real estate or a private condominium. US$600,000 (EC$1,620,000) for a private single-family home. The contribution routes are non-refundable. The real estate routes are property purchases that can be sold after seven years.
Due diligence fees are paid to the CIU at submission. US$10,000 for the main applicant. US$7,500 for each dependant aged 16 or over. Children under 16 pay no due diligence fee.
Post-approval state fees are paid to the CIU after Approval in Principle. They do not apply on the SISC. On the PBO, no post-approval fee is charged to the main applicant; only spouse and dependants. On the developer and private real estate routes, the full structure applies: main applicant US$25,000, spouse US$15,000, each dependant under 18 US$10,000, each dependant aged 18 or over US$15,000.
SKNANB bank fees are collected through the St. Kitts and Nevis Anguilla National Bank. Main applicant: US$500. Spouse: US$300. Children aged 10 to 17: US$150 each. Adult dependants aged 18 or over: US$250 each. Children under 10: no SKNANB fee.
Application processing fee: US$250 per person, including children of all ages.
Certificate of Registration and passport: US$50 per person for the Certificate of Registration. US$365 per person for the passport. These apply to everyone in the application.
Fixed bank charge: US$300 per application, regardless of family size.
Authorised Agent fee: Not set by the CIU. Each agent determines their own fee. For a straightforward single-applicant SISC application, US$5,000 to US$10,000 is a reasonable expectation. Larger families and more complex applications push this higher. Always agree the full fee in writing before signing with any agent.
Legal and conveyancing costs: Real estate routes only. Your attorney handles the property purchase and title registration. Budget US$8,000 to US$15,000 for a standard residential purchase at the entry threshold.
Worked totals
The government and bank totals below cover the qualifying investment, due diligence, post-approval state fees where applicable, SKNANB bank fees, processing fees, certificate and passport fees, and the fixed bank charge. Agent fees and legal costs are noted separately.
Single applicant
SISC: US$250,000 investment + US$10,000 due diligence + US$500 SKNANB + US$250 processing + US$415 certificate and passport + US$300 fixed bank charge = US$261,465 (EC$705,956). Add agent fees of US$5,000 to US$10,000 for a realistic total of US$266,000 to US$272,000.
Developer real estate, US$325,000 unit: US$325,000 + US$25,000 post-approval + US$10,000 due diligence + US$500 SKNANB + US$250 processing + US$415 certificate and passport + US$300 fixed bank charge = US$361,465 (EC$975,956). Add agent and legal fees of US$13,000 to US$25,000 for a realistic total of US$374,000 to US$387,000.
Private single-family home, US$600,000 minimum: US$600,000 + US$25,000 post-approval + US$10,000 due diligence + US$500 SKNANB + US$250 processing + US$415 certificate and passport + US$300 fixed bank charge = US$636,465 (EC$1,718,456), before agent and legal costs.
Couple: main applicant and spouse, no children
SISC: US$250,000 + US$17,500 due diligence + US$800 SKNANB + US$500 processing + US$830 certificate and passport + US$300 fixed bank charge = US$269,930 (EC$728,811).
Developer real estate: US$325,000 + US$40,000 post-approval + US$17,500 due diligence + US$800 SKNANB + US$500 processing + US$830 certificate and passport + US$300 fixed bank charge = US$384,930 (EC$1,039,311).
Family of four: main applicant, spouse, two children under 10
The SISC base rate of US$250,000 covers a family of up to four people. Children under 10 pay no due diligence fee and no SKNANB fee, but do pay the processing and certificate/passport fees.
SISC: US$250,000 + US$17,500 due diligence + US$800 SKNANB + US$1,000 processing + US$1,660 certificate and passport + US$300 fixed bank charge = US$271,260 (EC$732,402).
Developer real estate: US$325,000 + US$60,000 post-approval (main US$25,000 + spouse US$15,000 + two children US$20,000) + US$17,500 due diligence + US$800 SKNANB + US$1,000 processing + US$1,660 certificate and passport + US$300 fixed bank charge = US$406,260 (EC$1,096,902). Add agent and legal fees for a realistic all-in of US$420,000 to US$432,000.
Family of four: two children aged 10 to 17
Children aged 10 to 15 add US$150 each in SKNANB fees. Children aged 16 to 17 add US$150 SKNANB and US$7,500 due diligence. The age of your children changes the total.
SISC, two children aged 10 to 15: US$271,560 (EC$733,212).
Developer real estate, two children aged 10 to 15: US$406,560 (EC$1,097,712).
Main applicant with one adult child aged 18 to 25 in full-time education
An adult dependant aged 18 or over falls outside the SISC family-of-four base, adding US$50,000 to the SISC investment.
SISC: US$300,000 investment + US$17,500 due diligence + US$750 SKNANB + US$500 processing + US$830 certificate and passport + US$300 fixed bank charge = US$319,880 (EC$863,676).
Developer real estate: US$325,000 + US$40,000 post-approval + US$17,500 due diligence + US$750 SKNANB + US$500 processing + US$830 certificate and passport + US$300 fixed bank charge = US$384,880 (EC$1,039,176).
Main applicant, spouse, and two parents aged 55 or over
Each parent adds US$50,000 to the SISC investment, US$7,500 due diligence, and US$15,000 in post-approval state fees on the real estate routes.
SISC: US$350,000 investment + US$32,500 due diligence + US$1,300 SKNANB + US$1,000 processing + US$1,660 certificate and passport + US$300 fixed bank charge = US$386,760 (EC$1,044,252).
Developer real estate: US$325,000 + US$70,000 post-approval (main US$25,000 + spouse US$15,000 + two parents US$30,000) + US$32,500 due diligence + US$1,300 SKNANB + US$1,000 processing + US$1,660 certificate and passport + US$300 fixed bank charge = US$431,760 (EC$1,165,752).
For this family profile, the SISC qualifying investment of US$350,000 exceeds the developer real estate minimum of US$325,000. The post-approval fees on the real estate route then add to that gap rather than closing it. Families with multiple adult dependants should run the full calculation for both routes, because the cheaper-looking option at first glance is not always cheaper in practice.
Family of five: main applicant, spouse, three children under 10
The third child falls outside the SISC base of four, adding US$25,000 to the SISC investment.
SISC: US$275,000 + US$17,500 due diligence + US$800 SKNANB + US$1,250 processing + US$2,075 certificate and passport + US$300 fixed bank charge = US$296,925 (EC$801,698).
Developer real estate: US$325,000 + US$70,000 post-approval + US$17,500 due diligence + US$800 SKNANB + US$1,250 processing + US$2,075 certificate and passport + US$300 fixed bank charge = US$416,925 (EC$1,125,698).
SISC and real estate compared
For a standard family of four with young children, the government and bank fee difference between SISC and developer real estate is US$135,000. That is the additional capital the real estate route requires, and what it buys is a property.
Over seven years, a well-chosen unit in a managed development can generate rental income and appreciate in value. At 3 percent net annual yield on US$325,000, rental income across the full hold comes to roughly US$68,000. If the property appreciates at 4 percent annually, it may be worth around US$428,000 at year seven, a gain of approximately US$103,000. Combined, that would more than cover the additional cost. Whether it does depends on the development, the management quality, and how the market moves. The scenario is achievable in the right property. It is not guaranteed in any of them.
The SISC case for the same family is US$271,260, citizenship granted, nothing to manage. For families who do not want an overseas asset or the responsibilities that come with one, that is a straightforward outcome with a predictable total cost.
After the seven-year hold
When the hold period ends and the property is sold, stamp duty of 6 to 10 percent of the sale price is payable by the seller. No capital gains tax applies on property held for more than 12 months. Citizenship is retained permanently regardless of what happens to the property.
Post-citizenship additions
Adding a spouse or qualified dependant after Approval in Principle: US$30,000 plus standard processing, certificate of registration, and passport fees. Adding a newborn child under three born after the Certificate of Registration is issued: US$7,500 plus standard fees. Dependants who were eligible at the time of the original application but were not included cannot use this route and must apply through a sponsored application.
Including eligible family members in the original application is always more cost-efficient than adding them later.
Biometric passport
For new CBI applicants from this point forward, biometric enrolment is part of the process. For existing CBI citizens, the deadline is 31 July 2027. First adult US$2,500, second adult in the same family US$2,000, children under 16 US$1,300. These fees are all-inclusive, covering both the biometric enrolment and the passport upgrade.
Frequently asked questions
When do I pay?
The fees are staged. Due diligence is paid at submission. For real estate routes, a reservation deposit of typically 10 percent holds the unit. The property balance, post-approval state fees, and investment contribution transfer only after Approval in Principle is received. No major capital is committed before the CIU confirms citizenship will be granted.
Are agent fees negotiable?
Yes. The CIU does not regulate agent fees and different agents charge differently. Get the full fee structure confirmed in writing before signing with any agent.
Can the fees change?
Yes. The October 2024 Statutory Rules and Orders No. 43 reduced real estate minimums significantly from their previous levels. The figures here reflect the structure in force as of April 2026. Always confirm current fees at ciu.gov.kn before committing.
Why does SISC sometimes cost more than developer real estate for families with adult dependants?
The SISC base rate of US$250,000 covers a family of up to four. Each additional adult dependant beyond four adds US$50,000 to the SISC investment. A main applicant with a spouse and two parents aged 55 or over reaches a SISC investment of US$350,000, which exceeds the US$325,000 developer real estate minimum. For these families, the route comparison requires a full calculation rather than a quick assumption.
Fee figures sourced from ciu.gov.kn/citizenship-calculator and individual CIU investment option pages at ciu.gov.kn, read in April 2026. Government fees are subject to change. Always verify current figures with your Authorised Agent and directly at ciu.gov.kn before making any financial commitment. This article is for information only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Last updated: April 2026.
