Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Kitts and Nevis CARICOM free movement
First stay: 6 mo
CARICOM skilled nationals free movement (CSME Skills Certificate)
First checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
CARICOM free movement is a long-stay route for Saint Kitts and Nevis. Local work: limited. Checked 2026-10-10 against the official source.
- First stay
- 6 mo
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Work rights are limited
- Only for passports from 12 countries
What you'll need
Who can apply4
- The person holds a valid passport of a qualifying CARICOM state listed in the St Kitts and Nevis Skilled Nationals Act.
- Ten categories are approved: graduates, artistes, musicians, sports persons, media workers, nurses, teachers, CVQ artisans, associate degree holders, CVQ domestics.
- CARICOM nationals outside these categories need a work permit from the Ministry of National Security.
- The Act grants rights no greater than the reciprocal rights St Kitts and Nevis citizens receive in the person's home state.
Documents1
- The application form and required documents go to the CSME Desk Officer at the Ministry of International Trade in St Kitts.
Steps4
- The Free Movement of Skilled Persons Committee reviews the application, which takes a minimum of six weeks.
- On entry a person with a certificate or without one receives a six-month definite stay.
- Within the six months the certificate is applied for or verified at the Ministry of International Trade.
- The Ministry of National Security (Immigration Division) then endorses the passport with an indefinite stay stamp.
After you arrive1
- Entry can be refused if the person is likely to become a charge on public funds or has a dangerous communicable disease.
When you become tax resident
How Saint Kitts and Nevis decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Stay on this route
6 months at first
- Tax residence
Section 3(1) provides that earned income arising outside the State of a person not ordinarily resident or not domiciled is taxable only when received in the State, and that a person in the State for a temporary purpose with under six months' residence is not taxed on it; this section is disapplied for non-company persons from 1 May 1980.
- Foreign-source income
No individual income tax
Income tax on individuals was abolished in 1980, so individuals are not charged income tax on Kittitian or Nevisian income or on foreign-source income; income tax applies to corporate entities under the Income Tax Act Cap 20.22.
All tax rules for Saint Kitts and Nevis Tax records checked
Full official text
Skilled nationals of 12 qualifying CARICOM states can enter St Kitts and Nevis with a Skills Certificate, get a six-month definite stay while it is verified, then an indefinite stay stamp, without a work permit. 1 2
Requirements
- The person holds a valid passport of a qualifying CARICOM state listed in the St Kitts and Nevis Skilled Nationals Act. 2
- Ten categories are approved: graduates, artistes, musicians, sports persons, media workers, nurses, teachers, CVQ artisans, associate degree holders, CVQ domestics. 1
- CARICOM nationals outside these categories need a work permit from the Ministry of National Security. 1
- The Act grants rights no greater than the reciprocal rights St Kitts and Nevis citizens receive in the person's home state. 2
- The application form and required documents go to the CSME Desk Officer at the Ministry of International Trade in St Kitts. 1
- The Free Movement of Skilled Persons Committee reviews the application, which takes a minimum of six weeks. 1
- On entry a person with a certificate or without one receives a six-month definite stay. 1 2
- Within the six months the certificate is applied for or verified at the Ministry of International Trade. 1
- The Ministry of National Security (Immigration Division) then endorses the passport with an indefinite stay stamp. 1
- Entry can be refused if the person is likely to become a charge on public funds or has a dangerous communicable disease. 2
Stay
- 6-month definite stay on entry, then indefinite stay once the certificate is applied for or verified.
- Initial permitted stay: 6 months.
- On entry up to 6 months: Skills Certificate is applied for or verified at the Ministry of International Trade.
- After approval: Indefinite stay stamp from the Ministry of National Security.
Nationality
Nationals of the qualifying CARICOM states in the Act: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago. Open to: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, MS, Saint Lucia, VC, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago.
Work
No work permit needed in the approved categories; the holder can work as an employee or self-employed person and acquire property for business use.
Family
The spouse and dependent family members of the holder can enter and remain with the holder and move freely, including leaving and re-entering.
Official sources
- CSME · Ministry of International Trade, Industry, Commerce and Consumer Affairs, St Kitts and Nevis · checked 2026-10-10
- Caribbean Community Skilled Nationals Act, Cap. 25.04 · Government of Saint Christopher and Nevis · checked 2026-10-10 · published 2017-12-31
CARICOM free movement and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| CARICOM free movement | – | 6 mo | Limited |
| Visa-free stay Mexico | – | 6 mo | No |
| Andean free movement Colombia | – | 2 yr | Yes |
| Free movement by treaty Brazil | – | – | – |
| Mercosur residence Argentina | – | 2 yr, renewable | Yes |
Questions people ask
How long can I stay on the CARICOM free movement?
6-month definite stay on entry, then indefinite stay once the certificate is applied for or verified.
Can I work on the CARICOM free movement?
Limited. No work permit needed in the approved categories; the holder can work as an employee or self-employed person and acquire property for business use.
Can I bring my family on the CARICOM free movement?
The spouse and dependent family members of the holder can enter and remain with the holder and move freely, including leaving and re-entering.
Who can apply for the CARICOM free movement?
Nationals of the qualifying CARICOM states in the Act: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago. Open to: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, MS, Saint Lucia, VC, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago.
Similar visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-10 against 2 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- CSME · Ministry of International Trade, Industry, Commerce and Consumer Affairs, St Kitts and Nevis · checked 2026-10-10
- Caribbean Community Skilled Nationals Act, Cap. 25.04 · Government of Saint Christopher and Nevis · checked 2026-10-10
Tracked since 2026-10-11. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.