St Kitts passes ancestry citizenship route for 2 November

The National Assembly of St Kitts and Nevis passed the St Christopher and Nevis Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2026 on 23 October 2026, The St Kitts Nevis Observer and the St Kitts and Nevis Information Service (SKNIS) reported. Led by Attorney General and Acting Citizenship and Immigration Minister Garth Wilkin, the law adds a citizenship-by-registration route under Section 3A.

The route covers adults born abroad on or after 19 September 1983 whose parent or grandparent became a citizen at Independence. Wilkin said the measure closes a 43-year statutory gap for descendants in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada and Bermuda. It uses the registration power in Section 92(1)(h) of the Constitution rather than a constitutional amendment.

The government plans to open Section 3A applications on Monday 2 November 2026, once the enacting regulations take effect. Forms will be available from the Ministry of National Security, Immigration and Citizenship in Basseterre, on its website and at overseas missions, with online card payments in preparation. During the debate, MPs raised questions on proof of ancestry, fairness and review rules, while fees and document checklists remain unpublished.

The law does not alter the Citizenship by Investment Programme. As of 7 October 2026, the Sustainable Island State Contribution starts at US$250,000 for up to four family members, and approved real estate starts at US$325,000, plus US$10,000 main-applicant due diligence.