St Kitts & Nevis Public Benefit Option: what the Citizenship Unit publishes

The Public Benefit Option (PBO) is one of the St Kitts & Nevis citizenship-by-investment routes. This is what the Citizenship Unit (CIU) page says about how it works, the government fees it lists, interviews and who files applications.

By Beyond Borders Editorial Team

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Last reviewed
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Key points

  • Under the PBO, the main applicant or a family of up to four contributes US$250,000 in a unit of an Approved Public Benefit Project, paid to the Unit, according to the CIU.
  • The CIU lists further government fees, including due-diligence fees and post-approval fees for a spouse and dependants, and separate amounts for additional dependants.
  • The main applicant and dependants over 16 attend an interview run by an independent professional firm commissioned by the Unit, or by Unit officials virtually.
  • Applications go through a CIU Authorised Agent. Projects are designated by the CIU after the developer is approved by the Board of Governors as an Approved Public Benefactor.

What the Public Benefit Option is

The St Kitts & Nevis Citizenship Unit (CIU) describes the Public Benefit Option (PBO) as a way for investors to contribute to national infrastructure and development projects. It is one of the routes under the St Kitts & Nevis citizenship-by-investment programme. The CIU lists four eligible project types:

  • industry development;
  • construction of real estate on State land;
  • real estate development transferred to State ownership;
  • projects with substantial local impact, such as employment and skills development.

How projects are approved

The CIU page says a developer first applies to the Board of Governors to be designated an Approved Public Benefactor. It can then apply for its projects to be designated Approved Public Benefit Projects that qualify for sale under this option. The CIU names the projects it currently lists on its page. We do not reproduce the list or the project contacts, and nothing here recommends any project.

Government amounts the CIU lists

These are government amounts as the CIU publishes them, checked on 21 October 2026. They are not Beyond Borders fees. Professional fees and third-party costs (for example banking, translation or travel) are separate and are not shown here.

Item, as listed by the CIUAmount
Minimum contribution, main applicant or family of up to four: a unit of an Approved Public Benefit Project, paid to the UnitUS$250,000
Due-diligence fee, main applicantUS$10,000
Due-diligence fee, each dependant 16 or overUS$7,500
Post-approval application fee, spouse of the main applicantUS$15,000
Post-approval application fee, each qualified dependant under 18US$10,000
Post-approval application fee, each qualified dependant 18 or overUS$15,000

The CIU page also lists separate amounts for each additional dependant beyond a family of four; see the official page for them. The post-approval application fees are a separate block, payable on approval in principle. Check the official page for which amounts apply to a particular family. Figures can change.

Interviews and due diligence

The CIU says each main applicant and all dependants over 16 must attend an interview. An independent professional firm commissioned by the Unit conducts it, or Unit officials do so virtually. Its step-by-step guide also refers to an interview “if deemed necessary” by the Unit. Due-diligence fees are charged per person, as shown above.

Who files the application

The CIU’s step-by-step guide starts with choosing an Authorised Agent, and forms and documents are submitted through that agent. Beyond Borders is not a CIU Authorised Agent and does not submit applications. Beyond Borders (beyondborders.ms) is not connected with any developer or marketer listed on the CIU page.

What this does not mean

The CIU decides every application, and nothing here suggests an outcome or a timeframe. The figures above are the CIU’s published government amounts, not a quote. This piece is not legal, tax or immigration advice.

What this does not mean

  • It does not mean any application will be approved; the CIU decides each case.
  • The amounts listed are government amounts only. They are not Beyond Borders fees and do not include professional or third-party costs.
  • It is not a recommendation of any project or developer listed by the CIU.

Government-published fees

Set by the government and subject to change. Not a Beyond Borders quote.

PBO minimum contribution, main applicant or family of up to four (unit of an Approved Public Benefit Project, paid to the Unit)US$250,000Official source · checked 21 Oct 2026
Due-diligence fee, main applicantUS$10,000Official source · checked 21 Oct 2026
Due-diligence fee, each dependant 16 or overUS$7,500Official source · checked 21 Oct 2026
PBO post-approval application fee, spouse of the main applicant; also each qualified dependant 18 or overUS$15,000Official source · checked 21 Oct 2026
PBO post-approval application fee, each qualified dependant under 18US$10,000Official source · checked 21 Oct 2026

Official sources

  1. St Kitts & Nevis Citizenship Unit (CIU)

    Public Benefit Option
    VerifiedGovernmentaccessed 21 Oct 2026

Evidence labels: Verified — we checked this against the official source; Reported — from a named press report, not an official statement; Analysis — our reading of the sources.

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