The islands were discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1493, but the Spanish did not colonize them. Saint Kitts and Nevis, among the Caribbean islands, were the first location for English and French colonies.
In 1967, the islands were granted internal self-government but remained as an "associated state" with Britain. The country gained independence on September 19, 1983, but as a federation of 2 islands. In 1998, a referendum was held on the issue of Nevis seceding from the federation, but the proposal was not accepted due to insufficient votes. Currently, it is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations and the United Nations.
Visa
Some countries have a visa-free entry agreement with Saint Kitts and Nevis. This allows citizens of these countries to visit the islands and stay without additional permits for up to 90 days. Longer visits require obtaining the appropriate type of visa based on the purpose of stay.
The federation’s government offers foreigners both long-term (over 30 days) and short-term (up to 30 days) visas. Each permit is issued in strict accordance with the intended purpose of arrival:
- Tourist
- Student
- Work
- Business
- Digital nomad (based on a tourist or electronic visa)
Regardless of the type of visa, a foreigner must obtain a work permit separately, and the future employer must be involved in this process.
The relevant article provides detailed information about all types of visas, the conditions for their issuance, possible restrictions, and processing times.
Residence Permit
A residence permit in Saint Kitts and Nevis can be obtained if you need to stay in the country for more than 3 months. The simplest procedure for obtaining a residence permit is available for owners of local real estate.
The government of Saint Kitts and Nevis offers 3 programs, differing in duration and activity restrictions – temporary, annual, and permanent residence. Each of these programs does not automatically grant the right to work.
Currently, foreigners can apply for the following types of residence permits:
- For purchasing real estate.
- For studying.
- For remote work.
- For family reunification.
- For employment.
- For business activities.
Each residence permit can be extended, but the applicant must provide a detailed justification for this need. Applications are processed within one month if a complete set of documents is submitted.
Get more information about the residence permit process, the conditions for obtaining it, and the opportunities it opens up in the target article.
Passport
The National Identification Card of Saint Kitts and Nevis allows visa-free access to over 150 countries worldwide. It is one of the strongest passports in the world. The biometric passports issued by the government are valid for 10 years, after which they need to be renewed.
A passport is issued exclusively to a citizen of the federation. Therefore, a foreigner must attach a certificate of citizenship obtained through one of the residency programs to their application. The current regulatory framework allows for obtaining a passport through one of the following methods:
- By birthright.
- By descent.
- Through marriage.
- Through investment.
An important innovation in 2024 is the ban on issuing citizenship and passports to individuals from certain countries through the “Citizenship by Investment” program.
Learn more about the benefits of a St. Kitts and Nevis passport, all the ways to obtain it, as well as current conditions and restrictions.
Citizenship
St. Kitts and Nevis residency is one of the most coveted among expats around the world. The economically and politically stable country offers broad opportunities for comfortable living, working, and doing business. One of the most well-known citizenship programs is the "Golden Passport" program, which allows applicants and their family members to obtain residency for a sum starting from $250,000.
Besides direct financial contributions, a foreign citizen can become a resident based on:
- Origin
- Adoption
- Naturalization
- Marriage
Each method involves individual conditions for granting status, including requirements for minimum residency on the islands and knowledge of the language/local culture. Investments allow you to bypass most obligations and obtain citizenship within a period of 2 months.
Learn more about all the ways to obtain citizenship, the specifics of each program, and the benefits of a Caribbean passport.
Climate Conditions
The islands have a hot tropical climate, moderated by the trade winds. Summer is long, hot, and mostly cloudy. Winter is warm, dry, and almost cloudless. Winds blow throughout the year. The average annual temperature ranges from +23°C to +31°C, rarely dropping below +22°C or rising above +32°C.
The hot season lasts from June to October. The average daily temperature reaches +30°C and higher. August is the hottest month, with a maximum temperature of +31°C and a minimum of +27°C.
The cool season lasts from December to March. The average temperature during this period is +29°C. February is the coldest month, with a minimum temperature of +23°C and a maximum of +28°C.
The rainy season starts in May and ends in December. The average monthly precipitation ranges from 30 to 80 mm. October is the rainiest month, with an average precipitation of 78 mm. The dry season lasts for 2 months (January-March). During this time, precipitation ranges from 10 to 20 mm. The least rainy month is February, with up to 10 mm of precipitation. The total annual precipitation reaches 1400 mm.
Demographics
According to the 2020 census, the islands had a population of nearly 53,000 residents. Unofficial estimates for the end of 2023 suggest a population of 54,779 people. The population density is 210 people per square kilometer. The birth rate is 1.53 births per woman. Around 14% of the residents are migrants, although emigration processes are traditionally intense.
The average life expectancy is 69.6 years for men and 75.4 years for women.
Almost 25% of the population lives on the island of St. Kitts in the country's capital (15,000 people). Other major towns include Cayon (3,000 people) and Sandy Point Town (3,000 people) on St. Kitts, as well as Gingerland (2,500 people) and Charlestown (2,000 people) on Nevis.
The largest ethnic groups are Black descendants of slaves brought from Africa (90.4%), people of mixed ethnic heritage (5%), people of Asian descent (3%), and White people (including British, Lebanese, and Portuguese) (1%).
The majority of residents (82%) practice Christianity – Anglicans (36%) and Methodists (32%). There are also Catholics (12%), members of the Moravian Church (9%), Baptists (5%), and 40 other various religious communities.
English is the main official language. The St. Kitts Creole language, a dialect of Creole English, is widely spoken among the population. It is spoken by over 40,000 people, but it does not have official status.
Economy
In 2023, the GDP of Saint Kitts and Nevis was $1.08 billion. The annual GDP growth rate is 3.4%. The GDP per capita is $21,292. The average unemployment rate is 4.5%.
The official currency is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar, which is used in 6 countries of the Eastern Caribbean States Organization. The maximum inflation rate is 8.5%.
The economy is dominated by tourism, agriculture, and light industry. Sugar is a traditional export product. However, high production costs, low global market prices, and government efforts to reduce dependence on sugar exports have gradually shifted major agricultural income to the tourism sector.
Major agricultural products include cotton, coconuts, sweet potatoes, onions, tomatoes, cabbage, carrots, and breadfruit. The livestock sector focuses on raising sheep, goats, cows, and pigs. Main export partners are the USA (61.9%), Canada (9.4%), and the Netherlands (6.6%). Major importers include the USA (49.5%), Trinidad and Tobago (13.3%), and the UK (4.5%).
The economy of Saint Kitts and Nevis heavily depends on tourism. In recent decades, the expansion of port infrastructure has led to a booming tourism sector. Meanwhile, the food industry, focused on processing agricultural raw materials, contributes over 25% of the country's GDP.
Freedom of Travel (Visa-Free Countries)
In the global passport strength ranking, Saint Kitts and Nevis is in 24th place, sharing this position with Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and the Seychelles. It ranks higher than Costa Rica, which is 26th. Peru and Ukraine are one position higher.
The Freedom of Movement Index is 146. This means that citizens of the country have visa-free access to 101 countries for stays of up to 180 days. In 39 countries, they can obtain a visa on arrival (up to 120 days), and 6 countries allow entry with a pre-approved electronic authorization (up to 90 days).
Saint Kitts and Nevis citizens can travel freely to the UK and Schengen Area countries. Russia, Hong Kong, and Singapore also provide visa-free access, but a visa is required for trips to China and the USA.