Moving to St Kitts and Nevis: tax, residence and real costs (2026)
St Kitts and Nevis: 0% on foreign income · 0% on local income. The cheapest route to residence is passport route USD 250k donation (spent); plain residence permits are discretionary: USD 250k that stays yours (deposit, investment or funds shown) plus about USD 30k in fees, in about 6 months. Living costs about USD 1,350 a month for one person in Basseterre, USD 1,350 in Cayon, and around USD 960 on a bare-minimum budget.
Key facts
| Tax in one line | 0% on foreign income · 0% on local income |
| Foreign income | not taxed |
| Gains · dividends | 0 · 0 |
| Wealth · inheritance tax | none · none |
| Cheapest residence | passport route USD 250k donation (spent); plain residence permits are discretionary |
| Money needed | USD 250k that stays yours (deposit, investment or funds shown) plus about USD 30k in fees |
| Time | about 6 months |
| Doable yourself? | Mostly; a local fixer for one step helps |
| Days you must spend there | none for citizenship |
| Citizenship | by investment in ~4-6 months |
| Online business | 0% effective, about USD 900 a year to run: no personal income tax |
| Living (one person a month) | Basseterre ~USD 1,350; bare minimum ~USD 960; family of four ~USD 2,650 |
| Good for | Nevis LLC and trust: some of the strongest asset protection anywhere |
| Common set-up | a Nevis LLC holding assets; CBI passport |
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
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Programmes
| Programme | All-in, one person | Months | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Citizenship by investment (Sustainable Island State Contribution) | USD 285k | 5 | Oldest programme (1984), strongest brand. Property route from USD 325k-400k (resale after 7 years). |
Questions
- How much does residence in St Kitts and Nevis cost?
- Passport route USD 250k donation (spent); plain residence permits are discretionary: USD 250k that stays yours (deposit, investment or funds shown) plus about USD 30k in fees, about 6 months.
- Does St Kitts and Nevis tax foreign income?
- Not taxed. In one line: 0% on foreign income · 0% on local income.
- What does it cost to live in St Kitts and Nevis?
- Living costs about USD 1,350 a month for one person in Basseterre, USD 1,350 in Cayon, and around USD 960 on a bare-minimum budget (based on livingcost.org, 2026).
- Can I run an online business from St Kitts and Nevis?
- Effective tax about 0% with the cheapest legal set-up, which costs about USD 900 a year: no personal income tax.
- What is the catch in St Kitts and Nevis?
- A passport does not end tax residence in the home country.
- What residence or citizenship programmes does St Kitts and Nevis have?
- Citizenship by investment (Sustainable Island State Contribution): about USD 285k all-in for one person, ~5 months
Compare
- Bahamas: 0% on foreign income · 0% on local income · no gains or estate tax
- Cayman Islands: 0% on foreign income · 0% on local income · no gains or estate tax
- Puerto Rico (Act 60): US citizens: 0% on Puerto Rico dividends, interest and post-move gains · 4% on export-services companies
- Bermuda: 0% on foreign income · 0% on local income (payroll tax on wages)
- Turks and Caicos: 0% on foreign income · 0% on local income
- Anguilla: 0% on foreign income · 0% on local income
- Antigua and Barbuda: 0% on foreign income · 0% on local personal income
- Barbados: 0% on foreign income not brought in · up to 28.5% on local income · no gains tax
Compare all 53 places with your own income and budget →
Sources
- https://ciu.gov.kn
- Living costs: based on livingcost.org (livingcost.org, June 2026), rounded