Moving to Saint Kitts and Nevis: visas, cost of living & immigrant guide

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Population

53,821

Population Growth Rate

0.8%

Urban Population

32.000000

Population in Major Urban Areas

BASSETERRE (capital) 12,000

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Age Structure

20.610000

Median Age

33.000000

Birth Rate - births/1,000 population

14

Death Rate - deaths/1,000 population

7.06

Total Fertility Rate - children born/woman

1.78

Sex Ratio at Birth - male/female

1.020000

Net Migration Rate - migrant(s)/1,000 population

1.23

Ethnic Groups

predominantly black; some British, Portuguese, and Lebanese

Nationality Noun

Kittitian(s), Nevisian(s)

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Literacy - total population

97.8%

Literacy Definition

age 15 and over has ever attended school

Education Expenditures - percent of GDP

4.2%

Total School Life Expectancy - (primary to tertiary)

13.000000

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Life Expectancy at Birth

75.070000

Infant Mortality Rate

9.200000

Infant Mortality Rate - total deaths/1,000 live births

9.200000

Physicians Density - physicians/1,000 population

1.17

Hospital Bed Density - beds/1,000 population

4.8

Health Expenditures - percent of GDP

4.4%

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

40.7%

Drinking Water Source - percent of urban population improved

98.300000

Sanitation Facility Access - percent of urban population improved

87.300000

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Economic Overview

The economy of Saint Kitts and Nevis depends on tourism; since the 1970s, tourism has replaced sugar as the economy’s traditional mainstay.

Roughly 200,000 tourists visited the islands in 2009, but reduced tourism arrivals and foreign investment led to an economic contraction in the 2009-2013 period, and the economy returned to growth only in 2014.

Like other tourist destinations in the Caribbean, Saint Kitts and Nevis is vulnerable to damage from natural disasters and shifts in tourism demand.

Following the 2005 harvest, the government closed the sugar industry after several decades of losses.

To compensate for lost jobs, the government has embarked on a program to diversify the agricultural sector and to stimulate other sectors of the economy, such as export-oriented manufacturing and offshore banking.

The government has made notable progress in reducing its public debt, from 154% of GDP in 2011 to 83% in 2013, although it still faces one of the highest levels in the world, largely attributable to public enterprise losses.

Saint Kitts and Nevis is among other countries in the Caribbean that supplement their economic activity through economic citizenship programs, whereby foreigners can obtain citizenship from Saint Kitts and Nevis by investing there.

Industries

sugar processing, tourism, cotton, salt, copra, clothing, footwear, beverages

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$22,800.00 (USD)

GDP - real growth rate

5%

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GDP - Gross Domestic Product (PPP)

$1,240,000,000 (USD)

GDP Per Capita

$22,800.00 (USD)

GDP - real growth rate

5%

GDP - official exchange rate

$889,000,000 (USD)

GDP - composition, by end use

• consumption: 73.6% government
• consumption: 10.7%& investment in fixed
• capital: 29.3% investment in
• inventories: 0% exports of goods and
• services: 25.3% imports of goods and
• services: -38.9%

GDP by Sector- agriculture

1.7%

GDP by Sector- Industry

24.1%

GDP by Sector- services

74.2%

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Inflation Rate

4.5%

Exchange Rate per US Dollar

East Caribbean dollar (XCD)

Currency Name and Code

East Caribbean Dollar (XCD)

Fiscal Year

calendar year

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

8.9%

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Labor Force

18,170

Unemployment Rate

4.5%

Major Industries

sugar processing, tourism, cotton, salt, copra, clothing, footwear, beverages

Agriculture Products

sugarcane, rice, yams, vegetables, bananas; fish

Annual Budget

$212,400,000 (USD)

Budget Surplus or Deficit - percent of GDP

4.8%

Taxes and other revenues - percent of GDP

29%

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Full Country Name

Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis

Country Name

Saint Kitts and Nevis note: Nevis is pronounced nee-vis

Former Name

Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis

Etymology- history of name

• Saint Kitts was, and still is, referred to as Saint Christopher and this name was well established by the 17th century (although who first applied the name is unclear)
• in the 17th century a common nickname for Christopher was Kit or Kitt, so the island began to be referred to as "Saint Kitt's Island" or just "Saint Kitts"
• Nevis is derived from the original Spanish name "Nuestra Senora de las Nieves" (Our Lady of the Snows) and refers to the white halo of clouds that generally wreathes Nevis Peak

Independence

19 September 1983 (from the UK)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 19 September (1983)

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Government Type

federal parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

Constitution

• history: several previous (preindependence); latest presented 22 June 1983, effective 23 June 1983
• amendments: proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires approval by at least two-thirds majority vote of the total Assembly membership and assent of the governor general; amendments to constitutional provisions such as the sovereignty of the federation, fundamental rights and freedoms, the judiciary, and the Nevis Island Assembly also require approval in a referendum by at least two thirds of the votes cast in Saint Kitts and in Nevis

Legal System:

English common law

Executive Branch:

• chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor General Marcella LIBURD (since 1 February 2023)
• head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Terrance DREW (since 6 August 2022); Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Geoffrey HANLEY (since 13 August 2022)
• cabinet: Cabinet appointed by governor general in consultation with prime minister
• elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by governor general; deputy prime minister appointed by governor general

Legislative Branch:

• Description: unicameral National Assembly (14 or 15 seats, depending on inclusion of attorney general; 11 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 3 appointed by the governor general - 2 on the advice of the prime minister and the third on the advice of the opposition leader; members serve 5-year terms)
• Elections: last held on 5 August 2022 (next to be held on 2027)
• Election Results: percent of vote by party - SKNLP 44.4%, PLP 16.1%, PAM 16.2%, CCM 12.7%, other 10.6%; seats by party - SKNLP 6, CCM 3, PLP 1, CCM 1

Judicial Branch:

• office: chief justice of Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court appointed by His Majesty, King Charles III; other justices and judges appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission, an independent body of judicial officials; Court of Appeal justices appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 65; High Court judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 62
• subordinate courts: magistrates' courts

Regions or States:

14 parishes; Christ Church Nichola Town, Saint Anne Sandy Point, Saint George Basseterre, Saint George Gingerland, Saint James Windward, Saint John Capesterre, Saint John Figtree, Saint Mary Cayon, Saint Paul Capesterre, Saint Paul Charlestown, Saint Peter Basseterre, Saint Thomas Lowland, Saint Thomas Middle Island, Trinity Palmetto Point

Political Parties and Leaders:

• Concerned Citizens Movement or CCM [Mark BRANTLEY]
• Nevis Reformation Party or NRP [Dr. Janice DANIEL-HODGE]
• People's Action Movement or PAM [Shawn K. RICHARDS]
• People's Labour Party or PLP [Dr. Timothy HARRIS]
• Saint Kitts and Nevis Labor Party or SKNLP [Dr. Terrance DREW]

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Citizenship Criteria:

• birth: yes citizenship by descent
• only: yes dual citizenship
• recognized: yes residency requirement for
• naturalization: 14 years

Capital Name

Basseterre

Capital - geographic coordinate

17 18 N, 62 43 W

Capital Time Difference

UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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International Organization Participation:

• ACP
• AOSIS
• Caricom
• CDB
• CELAC
• FAO
• G-77
• IBRD
• ICAO
• ICCt
• ICRM
• IDA
• IFAD
• IFC
• IFRCS
• ILO
• IMF
• IMO
• Interpol
• IOC
• ITU
• MIGA
• OAS
• OECS
• OPANAL
• OPCW
• Petrocaribe
• UN
• UNCTAD
• UNESCO
• UNIDO
• UPU
• WHO
• WIPO
• WTO

International Law Organization Participation:

has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Diplomatic Representation from US:

• Embassy: the US does not have an embassy in Saint Kitts and Nevis; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Saint Kitts and Nevis

Diplomatic Representation in the US:

• Chief of Mission: Ambassador Jacinth HENRY-MARTIN (since 15 September 2023)
• Chancery: 1203 19th St. NW, 5th Floor, Washington, DC 20036
• Telephone: [1] (202) 686-2636
• FAX: [1] (202) 686-5740
• Email: stkittsnevis@embskn.com
• Consulate(s) General: Los Angeles, New York

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Geographic Location

The Caribbean

Geographic Coordinates

17 20 N, 62 45 W

Total Area

101 Square Miles 261 Square Kilometers

Land Area

101 Square Miles 261 Square Kilometers

Coastline

84 Miles 135 Kilometers

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Terrain

volcanic with mountainous interiors

Highest Point

1,156 Meters

Highest Point Location

Mount Liamuiga 1,156 m

Lowest Point Location

Caribbean Sea 0 m

Natural Resources

arable land

Irrigated Land

0 Square Miles 0 Square Kilometers

Time Zone

UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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Climate

• tropical tempered by constant sea breezes
• little seasonal temperature variation
• rainy season (May to November)

Terrain

volcanic with mountainous interiors

Location

Caribbean, islands in the Caribbean Sea, about one-third of the way from Puerto Rico to Trinidad and Tobago

Total Area

101 Square Miles 261 Square Kilometers

Environment - Current Issues

NA

Environment - International Agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

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Exports

$84,000,000 (USD)

Imports

$383,000,000 (USD)

Major Exports

machinery, food, electronics, beverages, tobacco

Major Imports

machinery, manufactures, food, fuels

Top Export Partners

US 65.7%, Canada 7.1%, UK 7.1%, Portugal 5.7%

Top Import Partners

US 39%, Trinidad and Tobago 15.4%, Canada 9.2%, UK 6.7%, Denmark 6.2%

Export Partners

US 65.7%, Canada 7.1%, UK 7.1%, Portugal 5.7%

Import Partners

US 39%, Trinidad and Tobago 15.4%, Canada 9.2%, UK 6.7%, Denmark 6.2%

Country Description

St. Kitts and Nevis is a developing Eastern Caribbean nation consisting of two islands. Tourist facilities are widely available.

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Crime

The government is currently working to combat an influx of illegal weapons onto the islands.

Violent crime—including murder, petty street crime, automobile break-ins and burglary—continue to occur.

To combat these problems, St.

Kitts has hired a new police chief to guide the police force and implement higher standards in crime fighting.

Visitors and residents must exercise common-sense precautions such as traveling in groups, avoiding walking alone at night or carrying large amounts of cash, other valuables or travel documents.

Hotel safety deposit facilities should be used to safeguard valuables and travel documents.

Visitors should also avoid leaving bags, valuables and other belongings in rental vehicles or on beaches.

Some American universities in St.

Kitts and Nevis have instituted strict curfew hours for students, as many have recently been victims of crime in downtown Basseterre.

Don’t buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available.

Not only are the bootlegs illegal in the United States, you may be breaking local law too.

Criminal Penalties

While you are traveling in another country, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen.

Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different than our own.

In some places you may be taken in for questioning if you don’t have your passport with you.

In some places, it is illegal to take pictures of certain buildings.

In some places, driving under the influence could land you immediately in jail.

These criminal penalties will vary from country to country.

There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States, and you can be prosecuted under U.S. law if you buy pirated goods or engage in child pornography.

While you are overseas, U.S. laws don’t apply.

If you do something illegal in your host country, your U.S. passport won’t help.

It’s very important to know what’s legal and what’s not where you are going.

Persons violating St.

Kitts and Nevis laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned.

Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs or firearms in St.

Kitts and Nevis are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines.

It is important to note that the prison on St.

Kitts was built in the 1800s and is not on par with U.S. prisons.

Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime, prosecutable in the United States.

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Medical Facilities

Medical care is limited.

The main hospitals are Joseph N.

France General Hospital (telephone (869) 465-2551) on St.

Kitts and Alexandria Hospital (telephone (869) 469-5473) on Nevis.

St.

Kitts has two additional hospitals and both islands have several health clinics.

Neither island has a hyperbaric chamber.

Divers suffering from decompression illness are transported to the island of Saba, in the Netherlands Antilles.

Serious medical problems requiring hospitalization and/or medical evacuation to the U.S. can cost thousands of dollars.

Doctors and hospitals expect immediate cash payment for health services.

Traffic Safety and Road Conditions While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States.

Generally, traffic in St.

Kitts and Nevis moves on the left-hand side of the road.

Roads are reasonably well paved but narrow and sometimes poorly marked.

Drivers often stop on the side of or in the middle of the road to visit with other drivers, blocking traffic lanes.

Honking one's horn is a common form of greeting, not a warning.

Travelers are required to obtain a visitor's driver’s license, which may be obtained from the Traffic Department or the Fire Station for a small fee on presentation of a valid home or international license.

Public Transportation consists of mini-buses and taxis.

Established, reasonable fares are available from airport dispatchers and local hotels.

Complaints regarding taxi or minibus services may be lodged with The Department of Tourism or with your hotel.

More detailed information on roads and traffic safety can be obtained from the Ministry of National Security or Ministry of Tourism and International Transport located in Port Zante, Bay Road, Basseterre, St.

Kitts, telephone (869) 465-4040.

For specific information concerning St.

Kitts and Nevis driving permits, vehicle inspection, road tax and mandatory insurance, contact the Government of St.

Kitts and Nevis or the St.

Kitts and Nevis Tourism Board.

Traffic Safety

While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States.

Generally, traffic in St.

Kitts and Nevis moves on the left-hand side of the road.

Roads are reasonably well paved but narrow and sometimes poorly marked.

Drivers often stop on the side of or in the middle of the road to visit with other drivers, blocking traffic lanes.

Honking one's horn is a common form of greeting, not a warning.

Travelers are required to obtain a visitor's driver’s license, which may be obtained from the Traffic Department or the Fire Station for a small fee on presentation of a valid home or international license.

Public Transportation consists of mini-buses and taxis.

Established, reasonable fares are available from airport dispatchers and local hotels.

Complaints regarding taxi or minibus services may be lodged with The Department of Tourism or with your hotel.

More detailed information on roads and traffic safety can be obtained from the Ministry of National Security or Ministry of Tourism and International Transport located in Port Zante, Bay Road, Basseterre, St.

Kitts, telephone (869) 465-4040.

For specific information concerning St.

Kitts and Nevis driving permits, vehicle inspection, road tax and mandatory insurance, contact the Government of St.

Kitts and Nevis or the St.

Kitts and Nevis Tourism Board.

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Airports - total

2

Airports with Paved Runways

2

Railways

31 Miles 50 Kilometers

Roadways- total

238 Miles 383 Kilometers

Roadways- paved

101 Miles 163 Kilometers

Ports and Terminals

Basseterre, Charlestown

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Telephones

20,500

Cell Phones

10,000

Internet Users

10,000

Internet Country Code

.kn

Internet Hosts

51

Broadcast Media

• the government operates a national TV network that broadcasts on 2 channels
• cable subscription services provide access to local and international channels
• the government operates a national radio network
• a mix of government-owned and privately owned broadcasters operate roughly 15 radio stations

Telephone System

• assessment: good interisland and international connections
• domestic: interisland links via Eastern Caribbean Fiber Optic cable; construction of enhanced wireless infrastructure launched in November 2004; fixed-line teledensity about 40 per 100 persons; mobile-cellular teledensity is roughly 170 per 100 persons
• international: country code - 1-869; connected internationally by the East Caribbean Fiber Optic System (ECFS) and Southern Caribbean fiber optic system (SCF) submarine cables

Electricity Consumption- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

120,900,000

Electricity Production- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

130,000,000

Oil Consumption- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

1,496

Anthem Lyrics English

O Land of Beauty!

Our country where peace abounds, Thy children stand free On the strength of will and love.

With God in all our struggles, Saint Kitts and Nevis be A Nation bound together With a common destiny.

As stalwarts we stand, For justice and liberty, With wisdom and truth We will serve and honour thee.

No sword nor spear can conquer, For God will sure defend.

His blessings shall for ever To posterity extend