Saint Kitts and Nevis Company Search Guide 2026: How to Verify a Kittitian Business

TL;DR. Saint Kitts and Nevis has two distinct company registration authorities: the Financial Services Regulatory Commission (FSRC) for Saint Kitts domestic companies at fsrc.kn, and the Nevis Island Administration (NIA) for Nevis Business Corporations (NBCs) and Nevis Limited Liability Companies (NLLCs). Both are English-language. XCD fees apply (pegged to USD at XCD 2.70 = USD 1.00). Saint Kitts and Nevis is an OECS/ECCB member. The Nevis offshore sector is well-established and has strong asset protection features. UBO data is not public in either jurisdiction.

What is the official Saint Kitts and Nevis business registry?

Saint Kitts and Nevis is a federation of two islands, each with a degree of autonomous administration. This creates a dual-registry structure for corporate purposes:

Saint Kitts (Saint Christopher): The Financial Services Regulatory Commission (FSRC) licenses and supervises financial institutions and administers company registration for Saint Kitts under the Companies Act. The FSRC website is at fsrc.kn. The FSRC covers domestic companies (companies limited by shares, companies limited by guarantee, unlimited companies, partnerships, external companies) registered for activities on Saint Kitts and within the federation’s main island.

Nevis: The Nevis Island Administration (NIA) is the autonomous administration of Nevis, with separate offshore financial legislation:

• The Nevis Business Corporation Ordinance 1984 (as amended) governs Nevis Business Corporations (NBCs), the offshore company vehicle.
• The Nevis Limited Liability Company Ordinance 1995 (as amended) governs Nevis LLCs (NLLCs), popular for US-linked asset protection structures.
• The Nevis Multiform Foundation Ordinance 2004 governs Nevis Multiform Foundations (NMFs).

Nevis has a well-established reputation in offshore asset protection, particularly for NLLCs used by US persons seeking strong charging order protection. Nevis offshore entities are registered through licensed registered agents on the island of Nevis, not through a public government database.

Both Saint Kitts and Nevis are OECS members, share the Eastern Caribbean dollar (XCD) under the ECCB, and follow English common law.

What can you search?

Saint Kitts (FSRC): The FSRC online portal at fsrc.kn provides access to:

• Entity name search for Saint Kitts registered companies
• Licensed financial institutions list (banks, insurance companies, money services)
• Status information (active, struck off, dissolved)

For detailed records including directors, shareholders, and filing history, a certified extract from the FSRC office is required.

Nevis (NIA): Nevis offshore entity records are maintained by licensed registered agents on Nevis, not a public government database. Basic name availability and the name of the registered agent for a specific NBC or NLLC may be obtained through the Nevis Offshore Finance Authority. Full corporate records are held by the registered agent and are not publicly searchable.

How much does it cost?

The Eastern Caribbean dollar (XCD) is pegged at XCD 2.70 = USD 1.00. Nevis offshore fees are typically quoted directly in USD by registered agents. Verify all fees before any transaction.

Do you need a local account or ID?

No Kittitian or Nevisian identity document is required for basic FSRC online searches (Saint Kitts entities) or agent inquiries (Nevis entities). For certified FSRC extracts, formal requests to the FSRC office or a local attorney are the standard approach. For Nevis entity information, communication with the licensed registered agent (whose identity can be found through the Nevis Offshore Finance Authority) is the appropriate channel.

Is the website in English?

Yes. English is the official language of Saint Kitts and Nevis, and all registry materials, FSRC communications, and company documents are in English.

What’s the turnaround time?

FSRC online searches are immediate. Certified extracts from the FSRC office typically take 2–5 business days. Nevis agent responses to due diligence inquiries vary by agent; established agents typically respond within 2–5 business days to formal requests. For urgent requirements, engaging a local attorney familiar with both the FSRC and Nevis agent network is recommended.

Is there an API?

No public API is available from either the FSRC or the Nevis Offshore Finance Authority for programmatic access as of May 2026. Web-based and agent-based access only.

What you legally cannot do

The FSRC terms of use and applicable law in Saint Kitts and Nevis prohibit:

• Automated bulk scraping of FSRC registry records for commercial redistribution
• Using director or shareholder personal data for unsolicited marketing or profiling
• Misrepresenting uncertified search results as certified official documents

For Nevis offshore entities: the Nevis Business Corporation Ordinance and the NLLC Ordinance impose confidentiality obligations on registered agents. Corporate records are confidential except to authorised competent authorities. Disclosure outside authorised channels is a criminal offence under Nevis law.

Saint Kitts and Nevis’s AML/CFT framework is supervised by the FSRC (financial services) and the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU-SKN). The AML/CFT legislation includes the Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorism (Prevention) Act and the Proceeds of Crime Act.

For cross-border due diligence principles, see the Global Business Due Diligence Guide.

Practical tips for foreign compliance buyers

• Two-island, two-registry structure. Always clarify whether your counterparty’s entity is registered under Saint Kitts law (FSRC) or Nevis law (NIA/Nevis agent). The corporate framework, asset protection features, and disclosure obligations differ considerably.
• Nevis LLC for asset protection. The Nevis LLC is particularly sought by US persons for asset protection because Nevis courts have historically been less receptive to charging orders against LLC interests than most US states. This is a legitimate legal structure but may indicate a counterparty focused on asset protection from creditors, a factor relevant in credit and business risk assessment.
• XCD is pegged to USD. Fixed at XCD 2.70 = USD 1.00 since 1976 by the ECCB. No exchange rate risk.
• OECS/ECCB regulatory context. Banking is supervised regionally through the ECCB. Financial services on both islands are regulated by the FSRC, which maintains a register of licensed banks, insurance companies, and money services businesses.
• UBO data is not public. Beneficial ownership information for both Saint Kitts domestic and Nevis offshore entities is held by licensed registered agents and reported to the FIU-SKN under AML/CFT obligations. There is no public UBO registry. Request UBO declarations from the counterparty or their registered agent for compliance purposes.
• Citizenship by Investment (CBI). Saint Kitts and Nevis operates the oldest Citizenship by Investment programme in the Caribbean (established 1984). CBI citizens may have primary economic ties outside Saint Kitts and Nevis. For KYC nationality screening, CBI nationality should be noted and source-of-wealth verified through the underlying investment documentation.
• FATF status: not grey-listed. Saint Kitts and Nevis is not on the FATF list of jurisdictions under increased monitoring as of May 2026. It is a CFATF member. Verify current status at fatf-gafi.org.

Alternatives if you cannot access the registries directly

• FSRC (fsrc.kn): Primary source for Saint Kitts entity verification and licensed financial institution lists.
• Nevis Offshore Finance Authority: For Nevis entity registered agent identification.
• Local attorneys: Firms in Basseterre (Saint Kitts) and Charlestown (Nevis) with financial services and corporate practice experience.

Local data suppliers

No major independent commercial credit bureau operates specifically in Saint Kitts and Nevis as of May 2026. For credit risk assessment, engage a regional Eastern Caribbean law firm or request certified financial statements and trade references directly from the counterparty.

FAQ

What is the difference between a Nevis Business Corporation (NBC) and a Nevis LLC (NLLC)?

A Nevis Business Corporation (NBC) is an offshore company incorporated under the Nevis Business Corporation Ordinance 1984. It has shareholders, directors, and officers, similar to a standard corporation. A Nevis LLC (NLLC) is an offshore limited liability company under the Nevis Limited Liability Company Ordinance 1995, with members and managers rather than shareholders and directors. The NLLC is particularly favoured for US-linked asset protection structures because of Nevis’s restrictive charging order remedy (limiting creditors’ ability to reach LLC interests). The NBC is more commonly used for international holding and investment purposes.

Does Saint Kitts and Nevis have a public UBO registry?

No. Beneficial ownership data is maintained by FSRC-licensed financial institutions and registered agents (for both Saint Kitts and Nevis entities), and is reported to FIU-SKN under AML/CFT obligations. There is no public UBO registry. Request UBO declarations from the counterparty or their licensed registered agent.

Is Saint Kitts and Nevis on the FATF grey list?

No. Saint Kitts and Nevis is not on the FATF list of jurisdictions under increased monitoring as of May 2026. It is a CFATF member. Verify current status at fatf-gafi.org/en/countries/detail/Saint-Kitts-and-Nevis.html.

What is the Saint Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programme?

The Saint Kitts and Nevis CBI programme (established 1984) is the oldest citizenship by investment programme in the Caribbean. It allows foreign nationals to obtain Kittitian citizenship through qualifying real estate investment or donation to the Sustainable Growth Fund. CBI passports provide visa-free access to the UK, EU Schengen Area, and over 150 countries. The programme has been subject to periodic reviews and tightening of due diligence requirements. As of 2026, the programme operates under enhanced vetting standards for applicants from certain nationalities.

Last verified: May 2026. Sources: Financial Services Regulatory Commission Saint Kitts and Nevis (fsrc.kn); Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (eccb-centralbank.org); Nevis Business Corporation Ordinance 1984 (as amended); Nevis LLC Ordinance 1995 (as amended); FATF Saint Kitts and Nevis country page (fatf-gafi.org). For the full global due diligence framework, see our Global Business Due Diligence Guide.