Saint Kitts and Nevis · Work
Saint Kitts and Nevis Work permit
Work permit for non-nationals (Immigration Act)
First checked against official sources on , some details partly verifiedChange log
Key facts
Work permit is a work route for Saint Kitts and Nevis. Checked 2026-10-11 against the official source.
Time and long term
RenewalRenewable
A work permit can be renewed; ask for the renewal at least three months before it expires. If it is not renewed, the worker must leave.
Permanent residenceGeneral rule: 7 years of residence
People who have been resident for at least seven years and own substantial assets in the country may apply to the Minister for permanent residence. The Minister decides each case.
Where to applyFrom abroad
The employer applies for the permit while the worker is outside the country. A renewal can be made from inside the country, and a person who entered as a visitor must leave and re-enter once the permit is approved.
Law Commission of Saint Christopher and NevisGovernment of St. Kitts and Nevis
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Applications are made from outside Saint Kitts and Nevis, not after arriving
- Needs a job offer from an employer in Saint Kitts and Nevis
What you'll need
Who can apply4
- Non-citizens, other than approved CARICOM citizens and Protocol Member State citizens, need a written work permit to work.
- The process starts with a job in St Kitts and Nevis, and the employer applies on behalf of the employee.
- Each work permit is granted for a specific job with a specific employer.
- The employer must be registered at the Social Security Office and hold a valid Business and Occupations Licence.
What you must show1
- The work permit fee is $1,600 for a calendar year or $250 for one month or less, paid by the employer.
Documents2
- Police certificates dated within one month, from the place of birth and any country lived in over six months, are submitted.
- Proof of a passed HIV test and two passport-size photographs are submitted.
Steps2
- The employer advertises the job locally for at least one month before applying for a non-citizen.
- The application is made while the prospective employee is outside the Federation, and documents go through the embassy or consulate.
After you arrive1
- A renewal is requested at least three months before the permit expires.
When you become tax resident
How Saint Kitts and Nevis decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- 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
Non-nationals need a permit to work; the employer in St Kitts and Nevis supports the application and the visa is issued through a consulate or embassy after a waiting period. 1 2
Requirements
- Non-citizens, other than approved CARICOM citizens and Protocol Member State citizens, need a written work permit to work. 2
- The process starts with a job in St Kitts and Nevis, and the employer applies on behalf of the employee. 1 2
- Each work permit is granted for a specific job with a specific employer. 2
- The employer must be registered at the Social Security Office and hold a valid Business and Occupations Licence. 2
- The work permit fee is $1,600 for a calendar year or $250 for one month or less, paid by the employer. 2
- Police certificates dated within one month, from the place of birth and any country lived in over six months, are submitted. 2
- Proof of a passed HIV test and two passport-size photographs are submitted. 2
- The employer advertises the job locally for at least one month before applying for a non-citizen. 2
- The application is made while the prospective employee is outside the Federation, and documents go through the embassy or consulate. 2 1
- A renewal is requested at least three months before the permit expires. 2
Stay
- A work permit is granted for a specific job with a specific employer. The official fee schedule provides for permits for a calendar year or for one month or less. A renewal is sought at least three months before the permit expires; if it is not renewed, the holder leaves Saint Christopher and Nevis.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
Work
Work for the sponsoring employer.
Official sources
- In SKN Work Visa Procurement · Government of St. Kitts and Nevis · checked 2026-10-10
- Immigration Act, Cap. 6.02 (revision date 31 Dec 2020), ss. 6, 25 and 26 · Law Commission of Saint Christopher and Nevis · checked 2026-10-11
Work permit and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work permit | – | – | – |
| Job-offer residence Mexico | – | 4 yr | – |
| Internationalisation visa M Colombia | – | 3 yr | – |
| Scientist/professional permit Costa Rica | – | 2 yr, renewable | – |
| Work visa Brazil | – | 2 yr, renewable | – |
Questions people ask
How long can I stay on the Work permit?
A work permit is granted for a specific job with a specific employer.
Can I work on the Work permit?
Work for the sponsoring employer.
Does the Work permit lead to permanent residence in Saint Kitts and Nevis?
The general rule for permanent residence in Saint Kitts and Nevis is 7 years of residence.
How are Work permit holders taxed in Saint Kitts and Nevis?
No special regime in our records is tied to the Work permit. The standard rules apply: The Income Tax Act charges tax on persons' income arising in or outside the State, but section 3(3) states that the charge does not apply to income accruing on or after 1 May 1980 to any person other than a company; no personal income tax rate is therefore applied to individuals' foreign-source income.
Work 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 2026-10-11 against 2 official sources. Status: partly verified; the page marks the facts an official source does not fully confirm.
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.
- In SKN Work Visa Procurement · Government of St. Kitts and Nevis · checked 2026-10-10
- Immigration Act, Cap. 6.02 (revision date 31 Dec 2020), ss. 6, 25 and 26 · Law Commission of Saint Christopher and Nevis · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-10. 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.