The Government of St Kitts and Nevis has signed new visa waiver agreements expanding the diplomatic footprint across the global in an effort to strengthen the St Kitts passport power, augmenting economic and cultural ties that would be mutual benefit of their citizens.
- State of Palestine – Reciprocal visa waiver agreement signed on Oct 12, 2021 in Belgrade by Hon Mark Brantley
- Gabon – Visa waiver agreement signed on Oct 11, 2021 in Belgrade, Serbia
- Burkina Faso – Reciprocal visa waiver signed on Oct 11, 2021 in Belgrade.
The new visa waiver agreements will come into effect after 60 days from the date of signing giving citizens to travel for business, studies, tourism and meeting family and friends for stays upto 90 days maximum.
With the addition of three new destinations, the St Kitts and Nevis passport power increases to 160 countries and territories in 2021.
Passport Power
St Kitts and Nevis remains one of powerful caribbean passports with visa free access to more than 157 countries and territories as of 2021, according to Henley.
The diplomatic footprint of St. Kitts and Nevis has grown tremendously since 2015 with the signing of new diplomatic relations and visa free waiver arrangements, as a result of which SKN passport has become more powerful over the years.
From just 62 destinations in 2006, the number of visa free destinations jumped to 157 in 2021 for St Kitts passport holders..
| St Kitts Passport (Year) | Visa free |
| 2006 | 62 |
| 2010 | 121 |
| 2014 | 132 |
| 2018 | 151 |
| 2021 | 157 |
Source: Henley passport index
Chart shows increase in visa free countries for St Kitts and nevis passport holders since 2006 – Source: Henley index
History of Visa Waivers
Here is a brief timeline of visa waiver agreements signed by St Kitts and Nevis with other countries. The first step before signing a waiver is to establish mutual diplomatic relations between two countries.
- Schengen Area – Visa waiver agreement signed on Jun 30, 2009
- Brazil – Signed on January 20, 2015 (came into effect on March 7, 2015.)
- Russia – Visa exemption signed on Sep 1, 2017
- Marshall Islands – October 26, 2019
- Georgia – 15 July 2019
- Albania – 14 May 2019
- San Marino – 1 Feb 2019
- Indonesia – Sep 27, 2017
- Taiwan – Jul 14, 2017
- Montenegro – 12 Nov 2018
- Belarus – Signed on 19 Oct 2018
- Gambia – Sep 28, 2018
- Rwanda – Apr 26, 2018
- Moldova – March 2, 2018
- Turkey – eVisa (Jan 30, 2019)
- Eswatini – MoU signed 25th November 2020
- Gabon – 11th October, 2021 in Belgrade
- Palestine – Reciprocal visa waiver signed 12th October 2021 in Belgrade
Diplomatic Relations
St Kitts and Nevis (SKN) as the world’s newest independent sovereign nation and the smallest independent country in the Western Hemisphere, the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis was quickly steeped in strategic diplomacy, joining the Commonwealth of Nations on September 19th, 1983 and becoming its 48th member. St. Kitts and Nevis also joined the United Nations on September 23rd, 1983 as its 158th member, and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on October 27th, 1983 as its 161st member.
During 1983, its year of Independence, St. Kitts and Nevis also established diplomatic relations and effective dialogue with the United Kingdom and several Caribbean territories on September 19; with both the United States of America and the Republic of Korea (South Korea) on September 20; the Republic of China (Taiwan) on September 23; with Canada on October 11, and with the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela on October 31.
- Burkina Faso – Established on Oct 11, 2021 in Belgrade.
- Egypt – 22nd September, 2021
- Sri Lanka – 22nd March 2021
- Jordan – December 10, 2020
- ROC (Taiwan) – October 03, 2020
- Bosnia and Herzegovina – December 6, 2019
- North Macedonia – 12th September 2019
- Palestine – July 29, 2019
The Twin islands federation of St Kitts and Nevis is one of the smallest nations and also among top 10 richest caribbean countries with a population of 55,000 and also a birthplace of Economic citizenship program in 1984.
