St Kitts and Nevis passport strongest in Eastern Caribbean

St Kitts and Nevis have been named the most valuable passport in the Eastern Caribbean by a global passport index. The latest Henley Passport Index, issued for Q3 of this year, ranks the twin-island state’s passport 26th out of 199 and 1st within the OECS countries.

The Federation now offers citizens visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 152 jurisdictions, up from 151 due to a recent visa waiver agreement the Government negotiated with Serbia. Whilst the nation has long been celebrated for its passport power, this number has been steadily growing over the past years. According to Chanée Isaac, a regional Managing Partner overseeing the Index, the St Kitts and Nevis “passport continues to shine as a highly sort after passport, which translates to better quality investment opportunities for the island.” The closest OECS country, Antigua and Barbuda, is behind by three nations, an increase on the one-spot difference in Q2. Such growth over a period of three months is rare, and is chiefly down to St Kitts and Nevis’ diplomatic strategy that has seen the Government and Ministry of Foreign Affairs secure relations with countries around the world.

It is not just local residents who benefit from such success. Successful applicants to St Kitts and Nevis’ Citizenship by Investment Programme also experience greater global mobility as a result. Under the Programme, entrepreneurs and families receive citizenship in return for an investment into a Government fund focused on sustainable development. If the Government continues to increase the strength of its passport, applicants will experience additional return on their investment.