The St Kitts Nevis Citizenship by Investment Program was founded in 1984, it is the oldest and most successful Immigration program in the world.

The St Kitts and Nevis Government formed the Program in order to attract foreign direct investment into St Kitts and Nevis. Investors can become Citizens by Investing in Real Estate in St Kitts and Nevis or by making a cash contribution to the St Kitts Nevis SIDF(Sugar Industry Diversification Fund)

The St Kitts and Nevis Immigration Program gets its legality from the St Kitts and Nevis 1984 Constitution, In 1984, pursuant to Section 92 (1) (h) of the Constitution, Parliament prescribed that such other persons who would be entitled, upon making application, to be registered as citizens. Accordingly, Section 3 (5) of the Saint Christopher and Nevis Citizenship Act, 1984 (No. 1 of 1984) makes the following provisions: "Subject to subsections (8) and (9) of this section, a person is entitled, upon making application under this subsection to the Minister in the prescribed manner and upon payment of any fee that may be prescribed, to be registered as a citizen of St. Christopher and Nevis without any rights of voting save under and in accordance with the provisions of any law governing the qualification of voters, if the Cabinet is satisfied that such person has invested substantially in St. Christopher and Nevis."

The Government determines, by Cabinet Decisions, which projects and which amounts of investment shall qualify as a "substantial investment".

Under current regulations, to qualify as a Citizen of St. Kitts and Nevis, the Government requires either an investment in designated real estate with a value of at least US$ 400,000 plus payment of various registration and other fees (the Real-Estate Option), or a contribution to the Sugar Industry Diversification Foundation (a public charity) to the amount of between US$ 250,000 and US$ 450,000, depending on the number of dependants included in the application (the SIDF Contribution Option)