Provision I
Bond
Creditor bond
A creditor must post a bond, in an amount set by the Nevis High Court, before suing a Nevis LLC.
- Home
- Why Nevis
Where Nevis is, and why it matters
Nevis lies in the Leeward Islands of the eastern Caribbean, south-east of Puerto Rico and a few hours' flight from the US East Coast. Its sister island, St Kitts, is just across a three-kilometre channel called The Narrows.
A financial centre since 1984
St Kitts and Nevis became independent in 1983 as a federation. Under its constitution, Nevis has its own Island Assembly and Administration, and the Assembly legislates for the island's international financial services. A year after independence it passed the Nevis Business Corporation Ordinance, the first of the statutes on which the sector is built.
Trusts followed in 1994, limited liability companies in 1995 and multiform foundations in 2004. The laws have been revised regularly since, most recently to strengthen creditor protection and to meet international transparency standards.
Today the sector is supervised by the Nevis Financial Services Regulatory Commission, which licenses registered agents and oversees their anti-money-laundering compliance. Nevis follows English common law, with appeals to the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court and, finally, the Privy Council in London. Its currency, the Eastern Caribbean dollar, has been fixed to the US dollar since 1976.
Select a year to see what changed.
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St Kitts and Nevis became independent from the United Kingdom on 19 September 1983. The constitution gives Nevis its own Island Assembly and Administration, which legislate for the island's financial services.
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The first of Nevis's international statutes, creating the Nevis corporation still used for trading and holding companies today.
The Nevis IBC -
Created the Nevis asset-protection trust. Foreign judgments aren't recognised, and a creditor must prove intent to defraud beyond reasonable doubt.
The Nevis trust -
Introduced the Nevis LLC, with a charging order as a creditor's only remedy against a member's interest.
The Nevis LLC -
Created an ownerless entity that can take the form of a foundation, trust, company or partnership, and change that form later.
The Multiform Foundation -
A creditor now had to deposit a bond before suing a Nevis LLC, then fixed at EC$100,000 (about US$37,000). Charging-order protection was strengthened at the same time.
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The corporation and LLC laws were consolidated in revised editions. Registered agents cite these editions on their incorporation forms today.
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The fixed amount was replaced: the Nevis High Court now sets the bond case by case, and can vary it while proceedings continue.
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Map data: Natural Earth. Distances are great-circle distances from Nevis.
Nevis parishes in green. Boundaries: geoBoundaries (CC BY 4.0).
Nevis structures at a glance
Nevis law offers four main vehicles, each built for a different job. We also open bank accounts for them, and Nevis licenses three specialist activities. Select one to see what it is and who it suits.
Services
Specialist licences
Nevis LLC
A limited liability company built for holding wealth. A creditor of the owner can get only a charging order, and must post a court-set bond before suing.
- Law
- Limited Liability Company Ordinance
- Owned by
- One or more members
- Run by
- Members or a manager
- Ready in
- 2 business days
Best for
- Investment portfolios and property
- Professionals facing liability risk
- Pairing with a Nevis trust
From US$1,550See LLC packages
Nevis IBC
An international business corporation with shares, directors and a board: the familiar company form banks and counterparties expect.
- Law
- Business Corporation Ordinance
- Owned by
- One or more shareholders
- Run by
- A board of one or more directors
- Ready in
- 3 business days
Best for
- International trading and consulting
- Holding subsidiaries abroad
- Companies with several shareholders
From US$1,550See IBC packages
International Exempt Trust
A trust that separates legal ownership from benefit. A creditor must prove intent to defraud beyond reasonable doubt, and foreign judgments aren't recognised.
- Law
- International Exempt Trust Ordinance
- Owned by
- The trustee, for the beneficiaries
- Run by
- A qualifying trustee, often your own private trust company
- Ready in
- 5–10 business days
Best for
- Families planning succession
- Long-term asset protection
- Owning a Nevis LLC you manage
From US$4,900About the trust
Multiform Foundation
An ownerless entity that can take the form of a foundation, trust, company or partnership, and change that form later. Familiar to families from civil-law countries.
- Law
- Multiform Foundations Ordinance
- Owned by
- No one; it owns itself
- Run by
- A council, with an optional supervisory board
- Ready in
- 5–10 business days
Best for
- Civil-law families
- An ownerless parent for a family company
- Combining family benefit and charity
From US$2,400About the foundation
Bank account opening
We introduce your Nevis company, trust or foundation to banks and EMIs that onboard Nevis entities, prepare the application pack and stay with it until the bank decides.
- For
- Any Nevis LLC, IBC, trust or foundation
- Needs
- Company documents, KYC for owners and officers, source of funds and a business profile
- Timing
- Usually 2 to 6 weeks, depending on the bank
- Decision
- Always the bank's, after its own due diligence
Best for
- New companies that need an account in their own name
- Holding structures opening custody or brokerage accounts
- Businesses adding a second bank or EMI
Included in Package 3 · extra banks US$500See packages
Online gaming licence
Since 2025, Nevis has its own online gaming regime under the Nevis Online Gaming Ordinance, supervised by the Nevis Online Gaming Authority (NOGA). The licence is held by a Nevis company.
- Law
- Nevis Online Gaming Ordinance, 2025
- Regulator
- Nevis Online Gaming Authority (NOGA)
- Licences
- B2C for operators; B2B for software, platform and service suppliers
- Term
- One year, renewable annually
- Timing
- Typically 1 to 2 months after a complete application
Needs
- A Nevis IBC as the licence holder
- Full due diligence on owners, directors and key persons
- Business plan, source of funds, and AML and responsible-gaming policies
Quoted on requestDiscuss a gaming licence
International insurance company
Nevis licenses international insurers, most often captives: insurance companies owned by a business group to insure its own risks.
- Law
- International Insurance Ordinance
- Licensed by
- Nevis Financial Services Regulatory Commission
- Requires
- A licence, business plan and capital, assessed by the regulator
Best for
- Groups self-insuring their own risks
- Specialist insurance programmes
Specialist licenceAsk about an introduction
International bank
Nevis also licenses international banks under a dedicated ordinance. It's a heavily regulated activity for established financial groups, not a formation product.
- Law
- International Banking Ordinance
- Licensed by
- Nevis Financial Services Regulatory Commission
- Requires
- A banking licence, fit-and-proper owners and substantial capital
Best for
- Established financial institutions
- Groups with regulated banking experience
Specialist licenceAsk about an introduction
Compare the four structures
| LLC | IBC | Exempt Trust | Foundation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main use | Holding assets | Trading and holding | Protection and succession | Legacy and philanthropy |
| Owned by | Members | Shareholders | Trustee, for beneficiaries | No one |
| Run by | Members or manager | Directors | Trustee, often a private trust company | Council |
| Creditor protection | Strong: charging order only | Standard corporate | Strongest | Strong: no owner to pursue |
| Owners on public record | No | No | No | No |
| Ready in | 2 business days | 3 business days | 5–10 days | 5–10 days |
| From | US$1,550 | US$1,550 | US$4,900 | US$2,400 |
The Island
Four provisions do most of the workProvision II
2 years
Limitation period
Fraudulent-transfer claims face a two-year limit, and transfers made before a claim arose can't be challenged.
Provision III
Sole
Charging order remedy
A creditor receives distributions, if any are made, for up to three years. They can't take the interest or vote it.
Provision IV
Nil
Foreign judgments enforced
Judgments from abroad must be re-litigated before the Nevis High Court.
Nevis vs. Wyoming vs. Delaware
The comparison clients ask for first: creditor protections for an LLC, provision by provision.
| Provision | Nevis | Wyoming | Delaware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charging order is exclusive remedy | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Applies to single-member LLCs | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bond required to sue the LLC | Yes, set by the High Court | None | None |
| Fraudulent-transfer limitation | 2 years | 4 years | 4 years |
| US judgments enforced | No, must re-litigate | Yes (full faith & credit) | Yes (full faith & credit) |
| Can a US court act against a US-resident owner? | Yes, personally | Yes | Yes |
| Members on public register | No | No | No |
| Best suited to | Offshore asset protection | Low-cost US holding | US operating & investment |
A summary for orientation only, not legal advice. Statutes change, so counsel should confirm current law before you rely on it.