Citizenship by Marriage in St. Kitts & Nevis

Spouses surely can apply for citizenship. But the procedure depends on when the marriage occurred.

If the marriage occurred before the citizenship was granted, the application will be processed by the CIU. Additionally, here are the key fees:

• The due diligence fee is $7,500 (per person)
• The application fee is $250 (per person).
• The government fee is $30,000

The processing time will be up to 3 months. 

If the marriage occurred after the citizenship was granted, there are two main options:

National Security Secretariat:

• This option is allowed only if  3+ years have passed since citizenship was granted.
• The fee is $370.
• Involves a statutory Marriage Verification Process.
• The process may take up to 2 years.

CIU:

• This option involves the same fees and documents that are required for the case when the marriage occurred before receiving the citizenship ($7,500 + $250 per person, with the $30,000 government fee).
• The process may take up to 3 months.

You need to consider that in both cases, applications are not accepted for individuals born in Iraq, Iran, Russia, Belarus, North Korea, or Afghanistan.

Important eligibility considerations for spouse naturalization include

1. Neither spouse can be a national or permanent resident of restricted countries (Russia, Belarus, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, and North Korea)

2. For applicants from countries or religions permitting multiple marriages, only the first wife is eligible for naturalization unless:

• There is legal divorce documentation and subsequent remarriage
• The first wife is deceased and the husband has remarried

3. The applying citizen must have held St. Kitts and Nevis citizenship for at least one year
4. Both spouses must pass due diligence checks

Required Documentation

1. Personal Documents

• Valid passport copies for both spouses
• Birth certificates with apostille for both spouses
• National ID card copies (if applicable)
• Professional and educational certificates
• Recent passport-sized photos (taken within the last 6 months)
• Current residential address proof

2. Marriage Documentation

• Original marriage certificate with apostille
• Divorce certificates from previous marriages (if applicable)
• Death certificate of previous spouse (if applicable)

3. Financial and Professional Documents

• Bank reference letters
• Professional reference letters
• Employment verification letter
• Recent bank statements (last 6 months)
• Evidence of source of funds

4. Background Verification

• Police clearance certificates from country of birth
• Police clearance from countries of residence for past 10 years
• Military records (if applicable)

5. St. Kitts and Nevis Citizen Spouse Documents

• Proof of citizenship (passport or citizenship certificate)
• Proof of residence in St. Kitts and Nevis (if applicable)
• Evidence of one year of citizenship

6. Additional Requirements

• Completed application forms
• Statutory declaration of support
• Medical examination reports
• Affidavit of support (if applicable)
• Two character reference letters