St Kitts And Nevis travel guide
About St Kitts And Nevis
Palm-fringed beaches? Check. Limpid lagoons? Check. Tropical rainforests? Check. The twin-island nation of St Kitts and Nevis embodies everything travellers have come to expect from the Caribbean, except, that is, for the crowds.
Somehow, this vibrant island state has remained under the radar of mass tourism, carving out a niche as an alternative destination for those looking to avoid more mainstream Caribbean islands.
The smallest sovereign state in the Americas, St Kitts and Nevis are compact and easy to navigate, which is just as well because the pace of life here is slow – and proudly so.
St. Kitts is the larger and more developed of the two and is home to the laidback capital, Basseterre, a former colonial outpost renowned for its historical monuments, vibrant markets and lively beach life.
Dominated by Mount Liamuiga, a dormant volcano carpeted with verdant rainforest, Kitts is also home to the defunct British fortress, Brimstone Hill, one of the best preserved citadels in the Americas and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Remnants of the sugar cane industry, once the beating heart of the Kitts economy, remain; old sugar plantations have found new lives as bijous hotels and restaurants, while the island's narrow-gauge railway, once used to transport the cane, has become a popular attraction.
And then there's Nevis. Fanned by trade winds and dominated by an active volcano, this island is the quieter of the two. The scenery remains relatively unchanged by progress; its undulating landscape punctuated by plantation-style hotels which offer lazy lunches and charming lodgings.
Those looking for something more adventurous can pass the days hiking through forests, pedalling down mountain trails or surveying the island's coral reefs, which are popular with scuba divers and snorkelers.
There is little competition for space on Nevis' powdery beaches, and, for the discerning gastronome, there are plenty of excellent restaurants to choose from.
St Kitts and Nevis will, alas, not stay under the radar forever. The authorities are keen to boost tourism and those familiar with this corner of the Caribbean will be hoping they do it without diluting the islands' many charms.
Key facts
261 sq km (101 sq miles). Saint Kitts: 168 sq km (65 sq miles). Nevis: 93 sq km (36 sq miles).
56,183 (UN estimate 2016).
199 per sq km.
Basseterre.
Constitutional monarchy.
HM King Charles III since 2022, represented locally by Governor-General Marcella Liburd since 2023.
Prime Minister Terrance Drew since 2022.
Travel Advice
Before you travel
No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to:
- see general advice for women travellers
- read our guide on disability and travel abroad
- see general advice for LGBT+ travellers
- read about safety for solo and independent travel
- see advice on volunteering and adventure travel abroad
Travel insurance
If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.
About FCDO travel advice
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice.
Follow and contact FCDO travel on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. You can also sign up to get email notifications when this advice is updated.
This information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of St Kitts and Nevis’s current rules for the most common types of travel.
The authorities in St Kitts and Nevis set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the St Kitts and Nevis High Commission in the UK.
COVID-19 rules
There are no COVID-19 testing or vaccination requirements for travellers entering St Kitts and Nevis.
Passport validity requirements
To enter St Kitts and Nevis, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you arrive.
Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.
You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.
Visa requirements
You can visit St Kitts and Nevis without a visa for up to 6 months.
If you want to stay longer, you must apply and pay for an extension through the St Kitts and Nevis Immigration Department. Email: stkittsimmigrationdept@gmail.com.
It is illegal to overstay your visa or to work without a work permit.
Immigration form
Before you travel, complete the immigration form online to speed up your arrival in St Kitts and Nevis. You can also complete the form when you arrive using your personal device with a data connection or the free public wifi.
Arriving by sea
You must contact the St Kitts and Nevis Port Authority at least 24 hours before arriving by sea. You must:
- fill in the immigration form
- contact either the Nevis Air and Sea Ports Authority, for Nevis, or the St Christopher Air and Sea Ports Authority, for St Kitts
Airport tax
Arrival and departure tax is usually included in the ticket price of most commercial flights.
If you’re leaving from Robert L Bradshaw International Airport on a flight operated by LIAT, you must pay the departure tax cash or card at the Airport Finance Office.
Vaccine requirements
To enter St Kitts and Nevis, you must have a certificate to prove you’ve had a yellow fever vaccination if you’re coming from a country listed as a transmission risk.
For full details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see TravelHealthPro’s St Kitts and Nevis guide.
Customs rules
There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of St Kitts and Nevis. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.
Terrorism
There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets. Stay aware of your surroundings at all times.
UK Counter Terrorism Policing has information and advice on staying safe abroad and what to do in the event of a terrorist attack. Find out how to reduce your risk from terrorism while abroad.
Terrorism in St Kitts and Nevis
Although there is no recent history of terrorism in St Kitts and Nevis, attacks cannot be ruled out.
Crime
There have been incidents of serious crime including murder, armed robbery and sexual assault.
Maintain the same personal awareness as you would in the UK, such as:
- being vigilant when walking alone off busy main roads
- avoiding isolated areas, including beaches, after dark
- taking care at late-night street parties and during the festival season
If you’re driving, do not stop if pedestrians flag you down. Keep car doors locked.
Protecting your belongings
Do not carry large amounts of cash or wear expensive-looking jewellery or watches. Where possible leave valuables and travel documents in a safe deposit box or hotel safe.
Laws and cultural differences
Camouflage clothing
It is illegal for anyone, including children, to dress in camouflage clothing. You could get a 250 Eastern Caribbean dollar (EC dollar) fine and 3 months in prison.
Illegal drugs and prison sentences
There are severe penalties for all drug offences, particularly drug trafficking. If convicted at Magistrates Court, you could get a fine of up to 400,000 EC dollars or 3 times the street value, whichever is higher, and up to 10 years in prison. If the case goes to the High Court, sentences are a minimum of 15 years, up to life imprisonment.
Marijuana (cannabis) for personal use has been decriminalised, but you must have a licence to use it. There are fines for smoking of marijuana in some public places or without a licence.
LGBT+ travellers
Attitudes towards the LGBT+ community are mostly conservative in the Caribbean. Showing affection in public (for example, holding hands or kissing) is uncommon for opposite or same-sex couples and may receive unwanted and negative attention.
Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers.
Outdoor activities and adventure tourism
Swimming safety
Take care when swimming. Currents can be deceptively strong and not all beaches have lifeguards and warning flags. Monitor all beaches carefully and follow warnings.
See water safety on holiday from the Royal Life Saving Society.
Transport risks
Road travel
If you are planning to drive in St Kitts and Nevis, see information on driving abroad.
You must have a St Kitts and Nevis driving licence. You can buy a temporary licence from the Inland Revenue Department, valid for either 3 months (62.50 EC dollars) or one year (125 EC dollars). If you’re hiring a vehicle, the hire company will usually help with this process. You will need to show your UK driving licence and passport.
Hire car companies often have stricter requirements for their customers, such as a year of driving experience or a higher minimum age for driving. The minimum age to hire a vehicle is 21 years, but most car hire companies require you to be 25 or older.
If you have an accident, phone the police on 911 and do not move your vehicle.
Drink-driving is illegal in St Kitts and Nevis. If you are tested and found to have more than 80mg of alcohol in 100mg of blood the penalties are a fine of:
- 2,000 EC dollars and 12 months’ imprisonment for a first offence
- 4,000 EC dollars and 2 years’ imprisonment for subsequent offences
Driving standards and road conditions
In St Kitts and Nevis:
- there are potholes and unmarked speed bumps on minor roads
- roads can be narrow with blind corners in rural areas
- some roads are unlit at night
- pedestrians often walk on the roads
- drivers do not always use their indicators
- road signs and hazards may not be easy to see
Taxis
Only use licensed taxis. Licensed taxi operators carry or display identification, and you can identify the taxis by the yellow licence plate with ‘T’ or ‘TA’ in the number. Unlicensed taxis often do not have insurance to carry passengers.
Taxis are not metered. There are standard taxi fares for most destinations. Agree the fare with the driver before you set off. You can often pay in US dollars as well as EC dollars.
Extreme weather and natural disasters
Find out what you can do to prepare for and respond to extreme weather and natural hazards.
Hurricanes
The hurricane season runs from June to November.
Monitor local and international weather updates from the World Meteorological Organization and the US National Hurricane Center, and follow the advice of local authorities, including any evacuation orders. See Extreme weather and natural disasters for more information.
Wildfires
During especially hot and dry periods, a single spark or flame can start a wildfire. Report any fires to the emergency services immediately. If you start a wildfire (or attempt to start one), you can get up to 10 years in prison.
Earthquakes
Earthquakes are a risk in St Kitts and Nevis. The US Federal Emergency Management Agency website has advice about what to do before, during and after an earthquake. If there is an earthquake, follow advice from the local authorities.
Volcanoes
Mount Liamuiga is a potentially active volcano and is likely to erupt in the future. The University of West Indies (UWI) Seismic Research Centre monitors volcanic activity on St Kitts and Nevis.
Before you travel check that:
- your destination can provide the healthcare you may need
- you have appropriate travel insurance for local treatment or unexpected medical evacuation
This is particularly important if you have a health condition or are pregnant.
Emergency medical number
Call 911 and ask for an ambulance.
Contact your insurance company quickly if you’re referred to a medical facility for treatment.
Vaccine recommendations and health risks
At least 8 weeks before your trip:
- check the latest vaccine recommendations for St Kitts and Nevis
- see where to get vaccines and whether you have to pay on the NHS travel vaccinations page
See what health risks you’ll face in St Kitts and Nevis.
Medication
The legal status and regulation of some medicines prescribed or bought in the UK can be different in other countries.
Read best practice when travelling with medicines on TravelHealthPro.
Healthcare in St Kitts and Nevis
The main government hospital in St Kitts is the Joseph N France General Hospital in Brumaire. For Nevis the main government hospital is Alexandra Hospital in Charlestown. Both hospitals can provide many forms of treatment. However, serious cases may require emergency evacuation.
Medical treatment in St Kitts and Nevis is expensive. If you choose to be treated at a private medical facility, check first if they accept medical travel insurance.
Make sure you have adequate medical travel insurance and or accessible funds to cover the cost of medical treatment and repatriation.
FCDO has a list of medical providers in St Kitts and Nevis.
There is also guidance on healthcare if you’re living in St Kitts and Nevis.
Travel and mental health
Read FCDO guidance on travel and mental health. There is also mental health guidance on TravelHealthPro.
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) cannot provide tailored advice for individual trips. Read this travel advice and carry out your own research before deciding whether to travel.
Emergency services in St Kitts and Nevis
Ambulance: 911
Fire: 333
Police: 911
Coastguard: 465 8484 or 466 9280
Contact your travel provider and insurer
Contact your travel provider and your insurer if you are involved in a serious incident or emergency abroad. They will tell you if they can help and what you need to do.
Refunds and changes to travel
For refunds or changes to travel, contact your travel provider. You may also be able to make a claim through insurance. However, insurers usually require you to talk to your travel provider first.
Find out more about changing or cancelling travel plans, including:
- where to get advice if you are in a dispute with a provider
- how to access previous versions of travel advice to support a claim
Support from FCDO
FCDO has guidance on staying safe and what to do if you need help or support abroad, including:
- finding lawyers and funeral directors in St Kitts and Nevis
- dealing with a death in St Kitts and Nevis
- being arrested or imprisoned in St Kitts and Nevis
- getting help if you’re a victim of crime
- what to do if you’re in hospital
- if you’re affected by a crisis, such as a terrorist attack
Contacting FCDO
Follow and contact FCDO travel on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. You can also sign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated.
You can also contact FCDO online.
Help abroad in an emergency
If you’re in St Kitts and Nevis and you need emergency help from the UK government, contact the British High Commission in Bridgetown, Barbados who provide consular assistance for St Kitts and Nevis.
FCDO in London
You can call FCDO in London if you need urgent help because something has happened to a friend or relative abroad.
Telephone: 020 7008 5000 (24 hours)
