St Kitts and Nevis Immigration

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Nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, St. Kitts and Nevis (also known as St. Christopher and Nevis) is a beautiful dual island nation famous for its green rolling mountains and beautiful beaches. This article will run you over St Kitts and Nevis’s immigration process and help you better understand the formalities associated with it.

The Caribbean Island nation of St Kitts and Nevis re-opened its tourism initiatives on 31 October 2020 following the COVID-19 pandemic. At present, all international travelers who are looking to visit the island need to complete a St Kitts and Nevis immigration form. It is an important travel requirement created to safeguard the residents’ and non-residents’ health amid the COVID19 pandemic.

You can find the immigration form on St Kitts and Nevis Immigration Website.

Regulations in response to Covid-19 pandemic

In the view of the Covid-19 pandemic, all nationalities who wish to visit the dual island nation needs to fill out the St Kitts and Nevis immigration form, along with a negative covid-19 RT-PCR or NAAT test report. You should also hold the proof of accommodation on the island.

You must be fully vaccinated to enter St Kitts and Nevis if you are not a resident or national of the island. Adult visitors who would like to visit St Kitts and Nevis without a vaccination will not be allowed entry into the island.

Here we’ll provide the current requirements for entry to the country for all travelers, including tourists, nationals, or international travelers,

Negative Rapid antigen test result, taken one day prior to the arrival, or COVID PCR test result, taken 72 hours prior to arrival. The tests must be taken at ISO17025/CLIA-certified labs.
Once your covid reports come negative, you need to fill out the embarkation form.
All the visitors who arrive at St Kitts and Nevis should undergo health screening at the airport.

Demonstrating your COVID 19 status

The following are the various requirements for travelers based on their COVID 19 status

COVID 19 Vaccination Status	Requirements
Fully Vaccinated	You must have received both doses at least 14 days prior to the arrival and carry the proof of the same. The valid vaccination doses include the ones from AstraZeneca/Oxford, Bharat Biotech- Covaxin, Covishield, Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, Sinovac and Sinopharm. You should complete the embarkation forms and attach the test results and vaccination proof before departure.
Not vaccinated	If you are not vaccinated, you cannot enter St Kitts and Nevis.
Contracted COVID 19 in the past year	If you had COVID 19 in the past 90 days and recovered, you need not be tested unless you show new symptoms. Also, you need not self-quarantine upon arrival.
St Kitts and Nevis residents	Non-vaccinated or partially vaccinated returning nationals or residents are allowed entry into St Kitts and Nevis. Upon arrival, you will have your temperature checked and asked questions related to your health and travel history. If you show any COVID 19 symptoms during the screening, you will have to take the COVID 19 test on the spot at your expense. If you are a non-vaccinated or partially vaccinated St Kitts and Nevis national or resident, you will undergo an RT-PCR test. The RT-PCR test will be taken on day 7 after arrival. If the test comes back negative, you will be allowed to roam free in St Kitts and Nevis.
Children and young people	Children must be accompanied by fully vaccinated parents if they are 17 or under. Children are required to have proof of a negative nasopharyngeal antigen, RTPCR, or NAAT test. The parents must upload this to their KNA travel entry form.
Exemption	There are no exemptions for entry into St Kitts and Nevis. You must be vaccinated if you are not a St Kitts and Nevis resident or national. Adults who are not vaccinated are not permitted to enter the island.

Regular entry requirements

Visas

On arrival, you will be approved for a specific period to stay. If you want to extend your trip, you have to pay for an extension of stay through the immigration department. It is illegal to overstay the granted period or work without a work permit. The entry requirements depend on various factors, such as your nationality, duration of your stay, and the purpose of the trip.

St Kitts and Nevis allow certain national passport holders visa-free travel. For example, if you hold a British passport, you do not require a visa. Visa-free travel is valid from 30 days to six months depending on your nationality and if your stay goes beyond the allowed number of days, you need to apply for a relevant visa that aligns with St Kitts and Nevis’s visa policy.

St Kitts and Nevis also offer an electronic visa (eVisa) option, an online application form, for travelers who are there for a short visit for sports, leisure, or tourism.

The following are required to complete your visa application form,

Two recent passport-sized photos
Visa fee of 100 USD payable by money order.
Valid passport.
Employer’s letter (if applicable).
Bank statement for the past three months.
Signed original application form.
Accommodation proof.
Invitation letter or other supporting documents (for business travelers).

Abide by the following conditions when you are applying for the visa,

The application fees are payable by money orders or certified checks.
The application processing time is two weeks.
You are not permitted to work, have access to public funds, be self-employed, or study in St. Kitts and Nevis.
You need proof of valid onward or return ticket.
You need proof of necessary funds to cover the cost of your stay.
If you are from a country that requires a visa to enter St Kitts and Nevis, note that you do not need an entry visa for a 24 hours stay.
The fee is not refunded if the application is withdrawn or unsuccessful.

Passport validity

Your passport should be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the date of your arrival if you are visiting St Kitts and Nevis. For most countries, it is the 6 months validity and 2 blank pages.

However, few other countries require four months, three months, and one-month validity from the date of your arrival. Make sure which category you come under before applying.

UK emergency travel documents

The UK emergency travel documents are accepted for entry, exit, and airside transit in St Kitts and Nevis. Check St Kitts and Nevis high commission in London to know the latest entry requirements, as they can change from time to time.

Yellow fever certificate requirements

St Kitts and Nevis have no yellow fever risk, however, you need to have the certificate on you. According to the International Health Regulations, travelers above one year of age should carry a yellow fever vaccination certificate if they are traveling from a country with a high risk of yellow fever transmission.

The yellow fever vaccination certificate is valid for the duration of the life of the person vaccinated. thus, travelers cannot be rejected on the grounds of certificate expiry.

Departure tax

The travelers and the locals, need to pay the US $37 as departure tax in St Kitts and Nevis. The departure tax is included as part of the airfare, you need not pay separately. Withholding a tax at St Kitts and Nevis is 10%.

If you are interested in knowing more about St Kitts and Nevis, check out the below links,

Frequently asked questions on St Kitts and Nevis immigration

How can I immigrate to Saint Kitts and Nevis?

In order to immigrate to St Kitts and Nevis, you need to submit the immigration form, which you can find on St Kitts and Nevis’s immigration website.

How do I become a Nevis resident?

There are three residency options to consider, temporary, annual, and permanent residency. At Nevis, the temporary and annual residency applications are processed through the Premier’s Ministry and the permanent residency is processed through the Ministry of National Security, located at St Kitts.

Is St Kitts tax-free?

St Kitts and Nevis allow you to live with significant tax benefits, as there is no individual income tax. However, short-term capital gains may be taxable.

Is Nevis a good place to live?

St Kitts and Nevis is a dual-island Caribbean destination, and is an exciting place to live. The crime rate in Nevis is low, and it is a safe country for individuals and families. It is an attractive location with its pristine beaches and enjoys good air links to Europe and North America.

How can I get St Kitts and Nevis citizenship?

You and your other family members can become St Kitts and Nevis citizens through the citizenship by investment program. It requires the applicant to invest a significant economic contribution to the country.

What are the investment options available in St Kitts and Nevis?

There are two investment options in St Kitts and Nevis, either into a sustainable growth fund or a real estate investment program. The sustainable growth fund is used in education, health, infrastructure, tourism, culture, etc. The real estate investment applicants can invest in government authorized properties, located on St Kitts or Nevis.

You and your family members will be automatically eligible for a St Kitts and Nevis’s passport. For more information on citizenship by investment program, refer to this article.

How much does it cost to get St Kitts and Nevis passport?

A St Kitts and Nevis’s passport cost US $7,500 for the main applicant and, for additional famlity members, US $4,000 is required for each dependentover the age of 16. To learn more about passport refer to our article on St Kitts and Nevis passport.

Can I work in St Kitts and Nevis?

Yes, you need a work permit. Before obtaining a work permit, you need to have a legal presence in St Kitts and Nevis. Once you have established legal residency, you can apply for a business permit for varying duration.