CBI — Public Benefit Option (PBO)

Citizenship by Investment via the Public Benefit Option — a US$250,000 contribution to an Approved Public Benefactor funding an Approved Public Benefit Project (Citizenship Act Cap 1.05 s.3(5) + s.15 regs; SRO 26 of 2023 Part VIII reg32). Held in irrevocable escrow; Stamp-Duty EXEMPT (reg32(12)); distinct from both the SISC donation and the real-estate option.

• CBI main-applicant qualifications (SRO 20/2024 reg12): at least eighteen years of age; has made or agreed to make a qualifying CBI investment/contribution; and meets the application requirements. Disqualifiers (reg12(2), as amended by SRO 43/2024 reg5): denied citizenship of any country; denied a visa to a SCN-visa-free country and not subsequently obtaining it; a criminal record; subject of a criminal investigation; declared bankrupt within ten years of application; or involvement in activity likely to bring SCN into disrepute. - Citizens of — AND persons ordinarily resident in — six excluded countries are barred from ANY application for citizenship by investment: the Russian Federation, the Republic of Belarus, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea), the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the Republic of Iraq, and the Islamic Republic of Iran (SRO 27 of 2023 reg3 excludes 'every citizen of, and persons ordinarily resident in' the listed countries from any application for registration as a citizen; Exclusion Order made under Citizenship Act Cap 1.05 s.3(13); the Minister responsible for National Security may amend the list).

• Processing timeline: within 120 to 180 days of the Unit's acknowledgment of a CBI application, the Unit notifies the Authorised Agent whether the application is approved-in-principle, denied, or delayed for cause (SRO 20/2024 reg20(18)/21(5)/22(16)/23(14)). This widened the prior fixed 120-day notification window under SRO 26/2023. - Mandatory interview + due-diligence regime: every main applicant in process must attend an interview (virtually, in person in SCN, or at a Board-approved location); a dependant aged sixteen or over may, if deemed necessary, attend an interview (SRO 20/2024 reg16). DD checks are mandatory for every applicant aged 16+ and (SRO 20/2024 reg24(3)) submitted to the Financial Intelligence Unit, the Continuing International Due Diligence Unit, the Joint Regional Communications Centre (CARICOM IMPACS) and at least one reputable international due-diligence firm. - Authorised-Agent gateway: CBI applications may be submitted to the Unit only by an Authorised Agent; application forms are available only from the Unit (not online); an applicant cannot apply directly or contact the CIU directly. Authorised Agents pay a non-refundable US$5,000 application fee and renew annually (by 31 January); International Marketing Agents pay US$20,000 (renew by 30 November). - Investment timing: the qualifying SISC contribution / real-estate purchase / PBO contribution is made AFTER approval-in-principle (the brochure: 'Make your investment after you receive the approval-in-principle letter'), no later than 90 days after the approval-in-principle notification, before the grant of citizenship. Due-diligence and processing fees are non-refundable even if the applicant withdraws before a Certificate of Registration issues. - CIU institutional reform (governance, not an acquisition ground): the Citizenship by Investment Unit Act, 2024 (Act 11/2024) established the CIU as a separate body corporate with perpetual succession (operational 31 July 2024) and established the Board of Governors; SRO 20/2024 reg3 reads the Board of Governors and the Unit as established under the CIU Act 2024. The Continuing International Due Diligence (CIDD) Unit also became operational from 31 July 2024. - Advertising restrictions (anti-'golden passport' branding): SRO 20/2024 reg27 + Schedule 2 prohibit marketing that names visa-free counts, uses terms like 'second/golden/strong passport' or 'sale of passports', depicts a SCN passport or Certificate of Registration, advertises discounts/special offers, or misstates the legally prescribed minimum investment. Breach = summary conviction fine not exceeding EC$10,000 plus agent/benefactor sanctions. - CBI investment funds are paid via an FSRC-licensed, INDEPENDENT escrow agent into an escrow account held in Saint Christopher and Nevis under a written escrow agreement (Citizenship (CBI Escrow Accounts) Act Cap 21.27 ss.3-5; SRO 20/2024 reg20(19)(b)/reg22(17)(b)). The escrow agent must be licensed by the Financial Services Regulatory Commission (a Banking-Act trust/custodial company or Registered Agent) and maintain SEPARATE escrow accounts for each Approved Development at a licensed bank (Cap 21.27 s.4(3)); monies are held/released per the escrow agreement and the CIU's written due-diligence approval, with the designated drawdown process for developments. The SRO 26/2023 escrow timing/mechanics were revised; the irrevocable escrow account itself is retained (reg20(19)(b)/reg22(17)(b)/reg23(17)).

Primary statute: Citizenship Act Cap 1.05 s.3(5) + s.15 regs + SRO 26 of 2023 reg32. Operative 2023-07-27–present. Authority: Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU).