St Kitts and Nevis travel info

Electricity

Electrical current is 230 volts, 60 Hz, but a 117-volt supply is available in most hotels. Round three-pin plugs and three-pin rectangular blade plugs (as in the UK) are in use.

Language

English is the official language.

Money

The official currency is the East Caribbean Dollar (XCD), which is divided into 100 cents. It is tied to the US dollar at a rate of US$1 to XDC2.70. Most businesses accept US dollar notes as payment, but change is given in XCD. Major credit cards are widely accepted, and major currencies can be exchanged at banks, with US dollars the cheapest to exchange. Most banks are closed on weekends, but provide 24-hour ATM services.

Tipping

A 10 percent service charge is usually included in hotel and restaurant bills. Otherwise, it's customary to leave 10 to 15 percent of the bill, depending on the service. Taxi drivers can also receive a tip of around 10 to 15 percent.

Health

All eligible travellers should be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines, and vaccinations for hepatitis A, hepatitis B and typhoid are recommended. A yellow fever vaccination is required for travellers who are over the age of one and are visiting from a country where there is a risk of transmission. Dengue fever can occur throughout the year and cases of Chikungunya virus have been reported, so visitors should take steps to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes. The main government hospital can cope with many types of treatment but serious cases may require emergency evacuation. Medical treatment can be expensive; visitors should have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment and repatriation.

Safety

Although most visits to the islands are trouble-free, visitors should still guard against robbery and other crimes of opportunity. Valuables should be left in hotel safes where possible and remote places, particularly beaches, should be avoided, especially after dark. Travellers should take great care at all times when swimming as currents can be deceptively strong and not all beaches have lifeguards or warning flags. Hurricane season normally runs from June to November.

Local customs

Local attitudes towards the LGBT community are mostly conservative throughout the Caribbean. Public displays of affection such as hand-holding or kissing between same-sex couples are uncommon; certain homosexual acts are illegal. Wearing camouflage clothing is illegal and the penalties for drug-related offenses are severe.

Doing business

Business in Saint Kitts and Nevis is conducted in a relatively informal manner, but fairly formal dress is expected despite the heat. Handshakes for both men and women are the common form of greeting, and business cards should be exchanged immediately after being introduced. Business hours are generally 8am to 4pm Monday to Friday, with an hour taken at lunch.

Duty free

Travellers over the age of 18 may import 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g tobacco, and 1.5 litres of wine or spirits without paying customs duty.

Communications

The international dialling code for St Kitts and Nevis is +1 869. Hotels, cafes and restaurants offer free WiFi; travellers can purchase local prepaid SIM cards for unlocked phones.

Passport & Visa

Although a maximum stay of either three or six months is indicated in official requirements, immigration officials will decide how long visitors are legally allowed to stay in St Kitts and Nevis upon arrival. Visitors are recommended to hold confirmed return or onward tickets, all documents needed for next destination and sufficient funds to cover their stay. As part of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI), all travellers moving between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Bermuda, and the Caribbean region are required to present a passport or other valid travel document to enter or re-enter the United States. If departing from the USA a valid passport will be required by immigration authorities. It is highly recommended that travellers' passports have at least six months' validity remaining after the intended date of departure from their travel destination. Immigration officials often apply different rules to those stated by travel agents and official sources.

Entry requirements

U.S. citizens must have a valid U.S. passport to enter Saint Kitts and Nevis. No visa is required for stays up to 90 days if travellers have an onward or return ticket, confirmation of accommodation, and can produce evidence of their ability to maintain themselves.

UK passports should be valid for a minimum period of six months from the date travellers arrive. A visa is not required, though UK travellers will be granted a specific period to stay. Those who wish to stay longer must apply for an extension of stay through the St Kitts and Nevis Immigration Department.

Canadians require a passport valid for at least six months beyond period of stay. A visa is not required for a stay of up to six months.

Australians require a passport valid for at least six months beyond period of stay, but no visa is necessary for stays of up to three months.

South Africans require a passport valid for the intended period of stay, but no visa is required for visits of up to 90 days.

Irish nationals require a passport valid for the intended period of stay, but no visa is required for a stay of up to three months.

New Zealand nationals require a passport valid for the intended period of stay, but no visa is required for a stay of up to 90 days.

Useful contacts

Department of Tourism, Basseterre, St. Kitts: +1 869 465 4040 or www.stkittstourism.kn

Emergencies: 911

Embassies / consulates in other countries

St Kitts and Nevis Embassy, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 686 2636.

St Kitts and Nevis High Commission, London, UK: +1 020 7937 9718.

High Commission for the Eastern Caribbean States, Ottawa, Ontario: +1 613 236 8952.

Embassies / consulates in St Kitts and Nevis

United States Embassy, Bridgetown, Barbados (also responsible for St Kitts-Nevis): +1 246 227 4000.

British High Commission, Bridgetown, Barbados (also responsible for St Kitts and Nevis): +1 246 430 7800.

Canadian High Commission, Bridgetown, Barbados (also responsible for St Kitts-Nevis): +1 246 429 3550.

Australian High Commission, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago (also responsible for St Kitts-Nevis): +1 868 822 5450.

South African High Commission, Kingston, Jamaica (also responsible for St Kitts-Nevis): +1 876 620 4840.