Nevis company formation for non-residents

Why founders choose Nevis

Nevis is the smaller island of the Federation of St Kitts and Nevis, with its own company laws and financial services regulator. It is best known for its limited liability company, which many owners use to hold investments and family assets.

Both the LLC and the business corporation are quick to form, need only one owner and do not need an audit. Owners are not on a public register, and the company can move into or out of Nevis by re-domiciliation.

The Federation is not on the EU list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes or the FATF grey list, as of September 2026. That usually makes banking easier than for listed jurisdictions.

Nevis is less suited to businesses that need a strong local presence or a public register for credibility with customers. For those, an onshore company is often the better tool.

LLC or business corporation

A Nevis LLC is formed under the Nevis Limited Liability Company Ordinance. It needs one member, and it can be managed by its members or by appointed managers. Companies can be members or managers.

A Nevis business corporation is formed under the Nevis Business Corporation Ordinance. It needs at least one director and one shareholder, of any residence or nationality, and corporate directors are allowed.

Choose the LLC for flexible management and charging-order protection. Choose the corporation if you want shares and a board, which some banks and investors find easier to review.

• LLC: 1 member; member-managed or manager-managed
• Corporation: 1 director and 1 shareholder
• Both: registered agent and office in Nevis
• Both: bearer shares or bearer interests not allowed

How we form your Nevis company

Formation starts with a name check. Names can be reserved quickly through the registry's online system, and we confirm the right suffix for an LLC or a corporation.

After you upload your KYC documents, the registered agent completes due diligence on every member, director and beneficial owner. It then files the articles of organisation or incorporation, and the certificate is issued. Most files take 2–4 days from KYC approval.

For an LLC, we prepare an operating agreement that sets out who manages the company and how profits are shared. For a corporation, we prepare by-laws, first board resolutions and share certificates. You receive everything through the client portal.

A custom operating agreement for a multi-member or family LLC is worth doing carefully. We can prepare a standard version, and your lawyer can tailor it for estate or asset planning.

Charging-order protection, explained plainly

A charging order lets a member's personal creditor receive distributions the LLC pays to that member. Under the Nevis LLC Ordinance, it is the creditor's main remedy against a member's interest. The creditor does not take over the LLC or its assets.

The ordinance also adds procedural hurdles for creditors, such as time limits on claims and a requirement to post a bond before suing in some cases. The details change with amendments, so ask your lawyer to confirm the current rules (confirm with your specialist).

This protection is for lawful planning set up in advance. It does not protect against fraud, sanctions or your own tax obligations, and courts in other countries may not respect it. We form the LLC; legal advice on asset protection should come from a lawyer.

Tax after the 2018 reform

Nevis entities formed before 2019 used to enjoy a blanket tax exemption. Amendments in 2018 ended that for new entities, and older entities lost it after a transition period.

Today the tax position depends on residence. An entity managed and controlled outside St Kitts and Nevis, with no permanent establishment there, is generally taxed only on income from St Kitts and Nevis. A resident entity is taxed on its worldwide income.

Every entity incorporated in St Kitts and Nevis files an annual income tax return with the Inland Revenue Department, even if it had no transactions. The return is due 3½ months after the financial year-end, so 15 April for a December year-end. Your home country may still tax the company or you, especially if you manage it from home.

Where decisions are made matters. Board or manager meetings, signing of key contracts and day-to-day control all count. If these happen in your home country, expect its tax authority to take an interest, whatever the Nevis position.

Registers, records and disclosure

Nevis does not keep a public register of members, shareholders or beneficial owners. The registered agent holds this information and provides it to the Financial Services Regulatory Commission and other authorities when required.

The company keeps records for at least five years and makes them available to the registered agent and the regulator on request. Bearer shares are not allowed.

St Kitts and Nevis exchanges financial account information under the Common Reporting Standard. Assume your home tax authority can learn about the company; the privacy is within the law.

Keep your own copy of the key documents, too. Banks and counterparties often ask for certified copies, and we can order them with an apostille when you need them.

Annual upkeep and banking

Each year you pay the renewal fee on the anniversary of formation and file the annual tax return. The company must keep a registered agent at all times. If fees stay unpaid, penalties apply and the company can be struck off, though restoration is possible for a limited period.

We keep the calendar and send you each renewal with its cost well ahead of time. For banking, we introduce you to suitable banks or payment institutions and prepare the application. The bank decides.

If you are unsure whether you need an LLC at all, compare it with a US LLC or a BVI company. We show the running costs side by side before you choose.