Moving to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: visas, cost of living & immigrant guide

4 facts — expand for details.

Population

101,390

Population Growth Rate

-0.3%

Urban Population

49.300000

Population in Major Urban Areas

KINGSTOWN (capital) 31,000

6 facts — expand for details.

Age Structure

21.780000

Median Age

31.300000

Birth Rate - births/1,000 population

14

Death Rate - deaths/1,000 population

7.06

Total Fertility Rate - children born/woman

1.87

Sex Ratio at Birth - male/female

1.030000

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

-10.04

Ethnic Groups

black 66%, mixed 19%, East Indian 6%, Carib Amerindian 2%, other 7%

Nationality Noun

Saint Vincentian(s) or Vincentian(s)

6 facts — expand for details.

Literacy - total population

96%

Literacy - male

96%

Literacy - female

96%

Literacy Definition

age 15 and over has ever attended school

Education Expenditures - percent of GDP

5.1%

Total School Life Expectancy - (primary to tertiary)

13.000000

9 facts — expand for details.

Life Expectancy at Birth

74.620000

Infant Mortality Rate

13.460000

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

13.460000

Maternal Mortality Rate - deaths/100,000 live births

48

Physicians Density - physicians/1,000 population

.53

Health Expenditures - percent of GDP

4.9%

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

23.4%

Drinking Water Source - percent of urban population improved

95.100000

Sanitation Facility Access - percent of urban population improved

76.100000

4 facts — expand for details.

Economic Overview

Success of the economy hinges upon seasonal variations in agriculture, tourism, and construction activity, as well as remittances.

Much of the workforce is employed in banana production and tourism.

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is home to a small offshore banking sector and continues to fully adopt international regulatory standards.

This lower-middle-income country remains vulnerable to natural and external shocks.

The economy has shown some signs of recovery due to increased tourist arrivals, falling oil prices and renewed growth in the construction sector.

The much anticipated international airport opened in early 2017 with hopes for increased airlift and tourism activity.

The government's ability to invest in social programs and respond to external shocks is constrained by its high public debt burden, which was 67% of GDP at the end of 2013.

Industries

food processing, cement, furniture, clothing, starch

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$11,000.00 (USD)

GDP - real growth rate

2.1%

8 facts — expand for details.

GDP - Gross Domestic Product (PPP)

$1,340,000,000 (USD)

GDP Per Capita

$11,000.00 (USD)

GDP - real growth rate

2.1%

GDP - official exchange rate

$765,000,000 (USD)

GDP - composition, by end use

• consumption: 97.8% government
• consumption: 17.3% investment in fixed
• capital: 24.2% investment in
• inventories: -0.2% exports of goods and
• services: 15.2% imports of goods and
• services: -54.3%

GDP by Sector- agriculture

7.1%

GDP by Sector- Industry

17.9%

GDP by Sector- services

75%

5 facts — expand for details.

Inflation Rate

0.8%

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

9.4%

4 facts — expand for details.

Labor Force

57,520

Unemployment Rate

15%

Major Industries

food processing, cement, furniture, clothing, starch

Agriculture Products

bananas, coconuts, sweet potatoes, spices, small numbers of cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, fish

3 facts — expand for details.

Labor Force By Occupation- agriculture

26%

Labor Force By Occupation- industry

17%

Labor Force By Occupation- services

57%

Annual Budget

$192,200,000 (USD)

Taxes and other revenues - percent of GDP

25%

5 facts — expand for details.

Full Country Name

none

Country Name

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Etymology- history of name

Saint Vincent was named by explorer Christopher COLUMBUS after Saint VINCENT of Saragossa because the 22 January 1498 day of discovery was the saint's feast day

Independence

27 October 1979 (from the UK)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 27 October (1979)

10 facts — expand for details.

Government Type

parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm

Constitution

• history: previous 1969, 1975; latest drafted 26 July 1979, effective 27 October 1979 (The Saint Vincent Constitution Order 1979)
• amendments: proposed by the House of Assembly; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote of the Assembly membership and assent of the governor general; passage of amendments to constitutional sections on fundamental rights and freedoms, citizen protections, various government functions and authorities, and constitutional amendment procedures requires approval by the Assembly membership, approval in a referendum of at least two thirds of the votes cast, and assent of the governor general

Legal System:

English common law

Executive Branch:

• chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Governor General Susan DOUGAN (since 1 August 2019)
• head of government: Prime Minister Ralph E. GONSALVES (since 29 March 2001)
• cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
• elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister

Legislative Branch:

• Description: unicameral House of Assembly (23 seats; 15 representatives directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote, 6 senators appointed by the governor general, and 2 ex officio members - the speaker of the house and the attorney general; members serve 5-year terms)
• Elections: last held on 5 November 2020 (next to be held in 2025)
• Election Results: percent of vote by party - ULP 49.58%, NDP 50.34%, other 0.8%; seats by party - ULP 9, NDP 6

Judicial Branch:

• office: chief justice of Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court appointed by Her Majesty, Queen ELIZABETH II; 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:

6 parishes; Charlotte, Grenadines, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint Patrick

Political Parties and Leaders:

• New Democratic Party or NDP [Dr. Godwin L. FRIDAY]
• SVG Green Party or SVGP [Ivan O'NEAL]
• Unity Labor Party or ULP [Dr. Ralph GONSALVES] (formed in 1994 by the coalition of Saint Vincent Labor Party or SVLP and the Movement for National Unity or MNU)

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Citizenship Criteria:

• birth: yes citizenship by
• descent: at least one parent must be a citizen of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines dual citizenship
• recognized: yes residency requirement for
• naturalization: 7 years

Capital Name

Kingstown

Capital - geographic coordinate

13 08 N, 61 13 W

Capital Time Difference

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

4 facts — expand for details.

International Organization Participation:

• ACP
• AOSIS
• Caricom
• CDB
• CELAC
• FAO
• G-77
• IBRD
• ICAO
• ICCt
• ICRM
• IDA
• IFAD
• IFRCS
• ILO
• IMF
• IMO
• Interpol
• IOC
• IOM
• ISO (subscriber)
• ITU
• MIGA
• NAM
• OAS
• OECS
• OPANAL
• OPCW
• Petrocaribe
• UN
• UNCTAD
• UNESCO
• UNIDO
• UPU
• WFTU (NGOs)
• 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 Vincent and the Grenadines; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Diplomatic Representation in the US:

• Chief of Mission: Ambassador Lou-Anne Gaylene GILCHRIST (since 18 January 2017)
• Chancery: 1627 K Street, NW, Suite 704, Washington, DC 20006
• Telephone: [1] (202) 364-6730
• FAX: [1] (202) 364-6736
• Email: mail@embsvg.com
• Website: http://wa.embassy.gov.vc/washington/
• Consulate(s) General: New York

5 facts — expand for details.

Geographic Location

The Caribbean

Geographic Coordinates

13 15 N, 61 12 W

Total Area

150 Square Miles 389 Square Kilometers

Land Area

150 Square Miles 389 Square Kilometers

Coastline

52 Miles 84 Kilometers

6 facts — expand for details.

Terrain

volcanic, mountainous

Highest Point

1,234 Meters

Highest Point Location

Soufriere 1,234 m

Lowest Point Location

Caribbean Sea 0 m

Natural Resources

hydropower, cropland

Irrigated Land

4 Square Miles 10 Square Kilometers

Time Zone

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

4 facts — expand for details.

Climate

tropical; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)

Terrain

volcanic, mountainous

Location

Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago

Total Area

150 Square Miles 389 Square Kilometers

Environment - Current Issues

pollution of coastal waters and shorelines from discharges by pleasure yachts and other effluents

in some areas, pollution is severe enough to make swimming prohibitive

Environment - International Agreements

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

4 facts — expand for details.

Exports

$193,000,000 (USD)

Imports

$578,000,000 (USD)

Major Exports

bananas 39%, eddoes and dasheen (taro), arrowroot starch, tennis racquets

Major Imports

foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, chemicals and fertilizers, minerals and fuels

Top Export Partners

France 25.2%, Greece 19.2%, Spain 16.4%, UK 9.3%, US 7%

Top Import Partners

France 32.6%, US 11.2%, Trinidad and Tobago 10.4%, Singapore 10.2%, Spain 7.9%, Greece 4.3%

Export Partners

France 25.2%, Greece 19.2%, Spain 16.4%, UK 9.3%, US 7%

Import Partners

France 32.6%, US 11.2%, Trinidad and Tobago 10.4%, Singapore 10.2%, Spain 7.9%, Greece 4.3%

Country Description

St. Vincent and the Grenadines is an English-speaking developing Caribbean island nation. Tourism facilities are widely available.

2 facts — expand for details.

Crime

Crimes of all types, including violent crime, occurs in St.

Vincent and the Grenadines.

From time to time, property has been stolen from yachts anchored in the Grenadines.

Valuables left unattended on beaches are vulnerable to theft.

Persons interested in nature walks or hikes in the northern areas of St.

Vincent should arrange in advance with a local tour operator for a guide; these areas are isolated and police presence is limited.

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.

Vincent and the Grenadines laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned.

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

Vincent and the Grenadines are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines.

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

2 facts — expand for details.

Medical Facilities

Medical facilities are limited.

The main hospital is Milton Cato Memorial Hospital (Telephone (784) 456-1185).

This hospital is in the capital, Kingstown, but serious medical problems usually require evacuation to another island or to the United States.

There is no hyperbaric chamber; divers requiring treatment for decompression illness must be evacuated from the island.

The closest hyperbaric chamber is located in Barbados.

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

Doctors and hospitals usually 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.

The information below concerning St.

Vincent and the Grenadines is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.

Vehicles travel on the left side of the road.

Roads are narrow, and generally poorly paved, with steep inclines throughout the islands.

Taxis and buses are relatively safe, but buses are often overcrowded.

Vans are generally overcrowded and frequently travel at high rates of speed.

Night driving is discouraged in mountainous areas because the roads are not well marked; there are few, if any, guardrails, and roads are steep and winding.

Traffic Safety

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

The information below concerning St.

Vincent and the Grenadines is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.

Vehicles travel on the left side of the road.

Roads are narrow, and generally poorly paved, with steep inclines throughout the islands.

Taxis and buses are relatively safe, but buses are often overcrowded.

Vans are generally overcrowded and frequently travel at high rates of speed.

Night driving is discouraged in mountainous areas because the roads are not well marked; there are few, if any, guardrails, and roads are steep and winding.

5 facts — expand for details.

Airports - total

6

Airports with Paved Runways

5

Roadways- total

515 Miles 829 Kilometers

Roadways- paved

360 Miles 580 Kilometers

Ports and Terminals

Kingstown

7 facts — expand for details.

Telephones

23,000

Cell Phones

104,000

Internet Users

57,000

Internet Country Code

.vc

Internet Hosts

211

Broadcast Media

St.

Vincent and the Grenadines Broadcasting Corporation operates 1 TV station and 5 repeater stations that provide near total coverage to the multi-island state; multi-channel cable TV service available; a partially government-funded national radio service broadcasts on 1 station and has 2 repeater stations; about a dozen privately owned radio stations and repeater stations

Telephone System

• assessment: adequate islandwide, fully automatic telephone system
• domestic: fixed-line teledensity exceeds 20 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular teledensity exceeds 125 per 100 persons
• international: country code - 1-784; the East Caribbean Fiber Optic System (ECFS) and Southern Caribbean fiber optic system (SCF) submarine cables carry international calls; connectivity also provided by VHF/UHF radiotelephone from Saint Vincent to Barbados; SHF radiotelephone to Grenada and Saint Lucia; access to Intelsat earth station in Martinique through Saint Lucia

Electricity Consumption- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

124,400,000

Electricity Production- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

133,800,000

Oil Consumption- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

1,948

Anthem Lyrics English

Saint Vincent!

Land so beautiful, With joyful hearts we pledge to thee Our loyalty and love, and vow To keep you ever free.

Whate'er the future brings, Our faith will see us through.

May peace reign from shore to shore, And God bless and keep us true.

Hairoun!

Our fair and blessed Isle, Your mountains high, so clear and green, Are home to me, though I may stray, A haven, calm, serene.

Our little sister islands are Those gems, the lovely Grenadines, Upon their seas and golden sands The sunshine ever beams.