At the end of March 2026, a seminar for local agents of the citizenship by investment program was held in St. Kitts, Caribbean. The St Kitts passport for investors will contain a comprehensive set of biometric data. Moreover, it will be necessary to submit this data in person. Nuri Katz, President and Founder of APEX Capital Partners, received first-hand information about the new biometric submission procedure at the event.
Why such innovations?
St. Kitts is implementing the reform under pressure from the US and European regulators. This is all to preserve its key advantage – visa-free entry to the UK and the Schengen area.
Who will be affected by the new rules?
Essentially, all St. Kitts investment citizens. Starting April 14, 2026, the new rules will apply to those renewing their passports or receiving them for the first time. All other St. Kitts investment citizens will be given a transition period until July 31, 2027.
How do I obtain a biometric St. Kitts passport?
First, contact a local agent. Please note that St. Kitts has two types of licenses for the program: a marketing license (held by most market players) and a local license (held by a few, including APEX Capital Partners). It's officially stated that biometric appointments can only be made by local agents, not marketing agents. Therefore, if you want to receive the service directly, without additional fees, contact APEX Capital Partners.
How does the new biometrics process for St. Kitts passport work?
Pre-registration. To undergo biometrics, you must schedule an appointment through a local agent of the St. Kitts Citizenship by Investment program. Please note that the location for the biometrics appointment can be selected from the list published by the St. Kitts authorities. All family members, including children of any age, who hold a St. Kitts passport, or who have been approved under the program and are applying for a passport for the first time, must then pay the fee and attend.
Approved Biometric Registration Centers
IMPORTANT UPDATE! As of mid-April, registration for biometric centers in Asia and the UAE will open on May 1, 2026. Please contact APEX for more information.
Biometrics fees for a new St. Kitts passport: $2,500 USD per main applicant, $2,000 USD per each adukt dependent, $1,500 per child under 16 years of age.
Biometrics
The investor and dependent family members provide fingerprints, a digital signature, and facial scanning. Currently, the procedure takes 15-30 minutes on-site per person. Please note that the St Kitts passport will not be issued immediately upon biometric testing.
A new St Kitts passport and citizenship certificate
Please note that, with the assistance of a local agent, you will need to prepare the necessary documents for the passport reissue. You will also need to pay the required reissue fees. A new citizenship certificate will be issued for each family member. This is a mandatory step in the new procedure. A new passport will also be issued at this stage.
What if you don't replace your St. Kitts passport by the end of July 2027?
Your passport will become invalid and you won't be able to use it for travel. However, you won't lose your citizenship even if you don't replace it by the deadline. This reform won't revoke citizenship by investment. However, it does require you to appear in person to continue using your passport's benefits.
"There will be a large number of people who will need their passports reissued at the same time, so don't delay the process. It's best to apply early, before there are long queues for biometrics. Please note that the procedure hasn't been finalized by the authorities yet, so it will take time and patience," comments Nuri Katz, President and Founder of APEX Capital Partners.
