Established in 1984, the St. Kitts & Nevis Citizenship by Investment Program is one of the oldest and most trusted in the world. Investors can qualify through either a real estate purchase or a donation to the Sustainable Growth Fund (SGF). No one has appreciated the CBI program more than 36-year-old James Charles Taylor, who has become an avid spokesperson for the program.
When Taylor first applied for citizenship of St. Kitts & Nevis, which requires purchasing a property with a value of at least £300,000, the attraction was conventional: a passport that unlocks hassle-free travel and lower taxes – and, of course, the sunshine, healthy environment, and slow-paced lifestyle freedom that islanders have long enjoyed.
By selling his home in Bath, UK, and purchasing a valuable condo, Taylor was able to fast-track his transition and legally obtain citizenship without the lengthy wait or uncertainty associated with traditional immigration channels. In joining the nation’s 40,000-plus citizenry, he also avoided a 10% alien landholder license tax.
Two years later, Taylor has become a spokesperson for the benefits of life in this Caribbean nation known for a laid-back lifestyle and individual freedom.
“When you come here, it’s such a warm and embracing culture, it’s such a beautiful place to live,” he says. “The biggest impact for me has been a massive improvement on quality of life. People here know how to have a good work-life balance.”
Taylor recently spoke at the nation’s second annual Investment Gateway Summit, staged under the banner “Investment to Impact: Our Journey to a Sustainable Island State.” The conference gathered economic citizens, policymakers, opinion leaders, and local entrepreneurs to connect, collaborate, and see firsthand why St. Kitts & Nevis offers not only opportunity but also an enviable quality of life.
Taylor told delegates that the summit was proof that newcomers and locals “want to build together.” He praised the event’s mix of site visits, cultural showcases, and deal-making sessions as a model for future partnership.
Taylor’s conversion from cautious investor to committed resident began within hours of landing. Luggage in hand and short of transport, he was offered a free ride into Basseterre by a stranger who refused payment. The gesture, he says, summed up the islands’ instinctive hospitality and still colors every conversation he has with prospective applicants.
Taylor is no stranger to relocation. “I have lived in a lot of countries. I have been very lucky to travel with my career. I have lived in the U.S., in Japan, I have spent a lot of time in Asia and in Europe, but no one makes you feel more welcome than Kittitians and Nevisians,” he says.
That warmth is reinforced by an outward-looking local population: many islanders complete degrees abroad before returning, making cultural crosstalk instantaneous. “You hit it off very quickly and make friends,” Taylor adds, recalling a friend who was “already missing the island” on the flight home.
From passport to partnership
Taylor insists his move was not just personal but participatory. “For me it was about becoming part of a country that is developing -- growing. They want you here, they want you to enjoy the culture, and I think they see we want to build together.”
Inspired by that outlook, Taylor and several fellow newcomers now host informal networking evenings that link recent economic citizens with local lawyers, craftsmen, community groups and small businesses – a grassroots attempt to weave newcomers into the fabric of island life.
Taylor’s enthusiasm goes beyond mere sentiment and touches on the tangible benefits of life on St. Kitts & Nevis. The islands offer a unique blend of serenity and opportunity, with volcanic peaks and pristine beaches providing a natural backdrop to an emerging economy rooted in sustainability.
The Investment Gateway Summit, in his view, is a microcosm of the possibilities that await newcomers—where the vibrancy of the local culture meets the ambitions of foreign investors. The twin islands are also becoming a prime location for movies and television series.
During his speech, Taylor recounted how his decision to participate in the conference was driven by a desire to "actively contribute to the shared goals of the island state." His words reflected not just gratitude but a commitment to growth, emphasizing the vital role that collaboration plays in shaping the country’s future.
The summit stands as a testament to this partnership, illustrating how both economic citizens and locals are working in tandem to reinforce the island’s appeal as a destination for long-term living, investment, and cultural exchange.
The gatherings fit neatly with government rhetoric. Prime Minister Terrance Michael Drew, a medical doctor, has been promoting the nation’s “Sustainable Island State” agenda – a plan to marry renewable energy, climate-smart agriculture, and heritage tourism.
Taylor sees room for migrants like himself in that vision. “The sustainable island plan that the prime minister talks about – he sees where we are an asset in building that, but he also sees where we can connect with locals and really help do this together, it’s about partnership.”
For anyone weighing the six-figure commitment, Taylor offers a single prescription: visit. “Definitely come and have a visit ’cos you will fall in love quickly,” he says. He is fond of noting “how many people have visited and did not want to leave,” a phenomenon he attributes to what he calls “a gem of an island—authentic old West Indies culture.”
Two years after swapping Bath’s Georgian terraces for volcanic peaks and black-sand beaches, Taylor’s verdict is uncomplicated. “The passport opened the door,” he says, “but the people convinced me to stay.”
