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The Alien Landholding Licence application form for St. Kitts and Nevis is available to download below. The form is issued by the Ministry of Sustainable Development and is the official document your attorney submits on your behalf when applying for an Alien Landholding Licence (ALHL) to purchase property in St. Kitts. Browse current property listings at SKN Real Estate.
Download the Alien Landholding Licence Application Form (PDF)
The form is also available directly from the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis at gov.kn. Your attorney handles the completed submission. You do not submit the form yourself.
What the form contains: a field-by-field breakdown
Reviewing the form before your attorney begins the application process saves time and helps you prepare the supporting documents in advance. The ALHL application form has two sections.
Section 1: Affidavit of Identity and Character. This is a sworn affidavit that must be executed before a Commissioner of Oaths or Justice of the Peace. It covers:
- Your citizenship and identity
- Your relationship to the applicant if you are swearing on behalf of another person or entity
- The nature of the transaction: land purchase, company shareholding, company directorship, or voting rights at a company meeting
- The location and acreage of the land being purchased
- A declaration that neither you nor the person you represent has a criminal record in any country
- Consent to the Government of St. Christopher and Nevis conducting character and criminal record investigations
- Acknowledgment that if a criminal record comes to light, the licence may be withdrawn and the property may be liable for forfeiture to the Crown under the Aliens Land Holding Regulation Act Cap. 10.01
Section 2: Company Questionnaire. This section applies where the licence is being sought by or on behalf of a company. It requires:
- Registered name and operating name of the company
- Present address and permanent address with period operated there
- Date and country of incorporation
- Nature of business
- Names, addresses, and nationalities of directors
- Name and address of the local company in which shares are to be acquired
- Date of incorporation of that local company
- Share capital of the local company
- Amount of shares to be acquired
- Type of business being undertaken
- Names and addresses of local shareholders and number of shares held
- Names and addresses of local directors
- Banker’s name and address
The completed form is submitted to the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Bladens Commercial Development, P.O. Box 186, Basseterre, St. Kitts, W.I.
Who must submit this form
Any foreign national purchasing property in St. Kitts and Nevis outside the designated exempt zones and outside the CBI programme must obtain an ALHL before completing the purchase. This means submitting this form through a local attorney.
You do not need to submit this form if you fall into one of three categories:
You are purchasing property in Frigate Bay or the South East Peninsula, both of which are designated Special Development Zones exempt from the ALHL requirement under Cabinet Orders made pursuant to Section 19 of the Aliens Land Holding Regulation Act Cap. 10.01. Land at Port Zante also carries this exemption.
You are purchasing a government-approved property through the Citizenship by Investment programme, which carries its own exemption from the ALHL requirement. The CBI approval process substitutes for the ALHL entirely.
You are a citizen of St. Kitts and Nevis.
If you are unsure whether an exemption applies to your specific purchase, this must be confirmed in writing by a licensed local attorney before you proceed. Do not rely on a seller’s or agent’s verbal assurance that a property is exempt.
Supporting documents required alongside the form
The form itself is one part of the application package. Your attorney assembles the full submission. Standard supporting documentation includes valid passport copies for all applicants, proof of legal residence in your home country, bank statements covering a minimum of six months demonstrating the source of funds for the purchase, a police clearance certificate or criminal background check from your country of residence and any other country where you have lived for an extended period, a copy of the Sale and Purchase Agreement or Letter of Intent for the specific property, and character references if required by the Ministry.
Requirements can vary depending on the nature of the application and current Ministry practice. Your attorney confirms the exact documentation package needed before submission to avoid delays caused by incomplete filings.
The four-step process after the form is submitted
Understanding the full process beyond the form submission helps you plan your purchase timeline accurately. The four-step sequence confirmed by Johnson & Associates, a St. Kitts-based law firm that handles ALHL applications:
Step 1: Your attorney submits the completed form and all supporting documents to the Ministry of Sustainable Development.
Step 2: If approved, the Ministry notifies your attorney and forwards the approval letter to the Legal Department for processing of the licence certificate.
Step 3: Your attorney takes the licence certificate to the Inland Revenue Department, where the ALHL fee is paid. The fee is 10 percent of the property value as assessed by the IRD. The attorney’s legal fee for handling the ALHL application is approximately EC$1,500 (US$556) in addition to the government fee.
Step 4: The licence certificate is registered at the High Court Registry. This registration qualifies you to purchase and register land in St. Kitts and Nevis. Without this final step, the licence is not operative.
Allow approximately three months from initial submission to registered licence. For the full picture of how the ALHL fits into the property purchase process from offer to title, the complete guide to obtaining an Alien Landholding Licence in St. Kitts walks through every stage.
The form for company purchasers
Where a company or corporate vehicle is purchasing property, the Section 2 questionnaire is the relevant part of the form. Note that under Section 6 of the Aliens Land Holding Regulation Act, a company incorporated in St. Kitts and Nevis or elsewhere is treated as an alien if it is under alien control, meaning if more than one-third of its directors, votes, or shares are held by unlicensed aliens. Structuring a purchase through a company does not automatically exempt the transaction from the ALHL requirement. Your attorney advises on the correct approach for corporate purchasers and whether the corporate structure changes the ALHL position.
How the ALHL cost compares between zones
One of the most practical reasons to review this form before selecting a property is to understand where the ALHL cost applies. The 10 percent fee is property-value-dependent and adds significantly to the total acquisition cost for purchases outside the exempt zones. On a US$400,000 property outside an exempt zone, the ALHL fee is US$40,000 (EC$108,000). On a US$600,000 property it is US$60,000 (EC$162,000).
For buyers who have not yet decided on a location, this cost differential is a material factor in comparing buying property in St. Kitts across different areas. Frigate Bay and the South East Peninsula purchases skip this form and this fee entirely.
Submitting the form: your attorney’s role
SKN Real Estate does not provide legal advice and does not submit ALHL applications. The form must be submitted by a licensed attorney-at-law in St. Kitts and Nevis acting on your behalf. We facilitate introductions to qualified local attorneys who handle ALHL applications as a standard part of their practice.
If you are at the stage of reviewing this form, you have likely identified a property and are preparing for the purchase process. Contact SKN Real Estate at info@sknrealestate.com or +1 869 763 4441 to discuss the specific property, confirm whether the ALHL applies, and arrange an introduction to an attorney if needed.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I get the official ALHL application form?
The form is available to download at the top of this page and directly from the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis at gov.kn. It is also held by the Ministry of Sustainable Development at Bladens Commercial Development, Basseterre. Your attorney will have the current version and handles all preparation and submission.
Can I fill in and submit the form myself?
Section 1 of the form is a sworn affidavit that requires execution before a Commissioner of Oaths or Justice of the Peace, and the overall application is a legal document forming part of a regulated property transaction. In practice, all ALHL applications in St. Kitts are prepared and submitted by local attorneys who manage the four-step process through all government departments.
How much does the ALHL cost in total?
The government fee is 10 percent of the property value as assessed by the Inland Revenue Department. In addition, your attorney charges approximately EC$1,500 (US$556) for handling the ALHL application, on top of their standard legal fees for the overall property transaction. This fee does not apply in Frigate Bay, the South East Peninsula, or on CBI-approved purchases.
What happens if I buy property without submitting this form when it is required?
Section 3 of the Aliens Land Holding Regulation Act Cap. 10.01 is explicit: land held by an unlicensed alien is subject to forfeiture to the Crown. A court judgment is required to declare the forfeiture, but the legal risk is real. No legitimate property transaction should complete without either a registered ALHL or written attorney confirmation that a specific exemption applies.
Does the form need to be renewed each year?
No. Once granted and registered at the High Court Registry, the ALHL remains operative for the duration of your ownership. It does not require annual renewal. Breach of any condition in the licence triggers forfeiture under Section 4(2) of the Act.
Is this the same form used in Nevis?
Nevis has its own administration under the Nevis Island Administration (NIA). The ALHL application for a Nevis property is submitted to the NIA rather than the Ministry of Sustainable Development in St. Kitts. The underlying legislation is the same Aliens Land Holding Regulation Act Cap. 10.01, but the submission route and contact authority differ. Your attorney routes the application correctly based on which island the property is located on.
Last updated: April 2026 | SKN Real Estate, Central Street, Basseterre, St. Kitts | sknrealestate.com/ | info@sknrealestate.com | +1 869 763 4441
