St.Kitts

The Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis is made up of 2 neighbouring islands, St. Kitts and Nevis, located in the Eastern Caribbean at 17 20 North, 62 45 West, roughly 1,200 miles from Miami, 1600 miles from New York, 4,000 miles from London and about 45 minutes by plane from Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.

St. Kitts, the bigger of the two islands, is one of the more recent international financial centers to emerge in the world and can offer every investor what he or she is looking for. This small tropical island in the heart of the Caribbean, is the home of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank and the Eastern Caribbean Securities Exchange, two important pillars of the Regional Financial Sector.

The island is 68 square miles with a population of 44,000 mostly of African heritage. Basseterre is the capital.

 
Language:

The official language of the Federation is Engilsh.

Government:

St. Kitts and Nevis is a parliamentary democracy and an independent state within the commonwealth.  The Federation is the smallest independent nation in the Western Hemisphere.

After general election, constitutionally due every 5 years, the leader of the majority party is appointed as Prime Minister by the Governor General.

The Head of State is Queen Elizabeth II, who is locally represented by a Governor General.

Time:

Atlantic Standard Time throughout the year. 4 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (-4 GMT). Daylight Saving Time is not observed.

Economy:

Tourism, agriculture and light manufacturing.

Travel Documents and Entry/Departure Requirements:

Kindly click here for information regarding recent changes to the entry/re-entry requirements. Citizens of some countries are required to have visas in order to enter St. Kitts-Nevis. Cruise ship visitors staying less than twenty-four (24) hours are never required to have visas. If you are not exempt and therefore need a visa you can also click here to apply for one online. Please note, once your online visa is issued you must print it and carry it with you for entry into St. Kitts & Nevis. Upon presentation of the electronic visa you will also need to pay 270.00 EC or it's equivalent in USD, which is $100.00.

Internet Service:

Internet services are available at all of the hotels, as well as from Internet Cafes across the city. Broadband connections (DSL & Cable) are also available, as are Web developing and hosting services.

The Cable system provides at least 53 Cable TV Channels, including the local broadcasters ZIZ, CNN, ESPN and BBC.

Electricity:

The domestic market is served by a 230 volt single phase supply. However, a 117 volt supply is available in most hotels.

Water:

The water is of good quality and suitable for drinking. It is collected from direct precipitation, mountain springs and wells, and is chemically treated for purification. Locally bottled water is also available.

Health:

There are no particular health concerns associated with St. Kitts therefore special vaccines are usually not required. Modern ambulatory services are available and there are specialists in most fields of medicine. A brand new state of the art hospital was opened in 2003, and emergency 911 services are available.

Emergency Numbers:

Education:

There are a number of Private and Public schools on the island.  Public schooling is free of cost and private school fees vary.

The country enjoys a literacy rate of over 98%.

St. Kitts has a labour force of about 22, 000. Unemployment in St. Kitts- Nevis is among the lowest in the Caribbean. According to a survey of the labour force conducted jointly by the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Government, the rate was confirmed at 4.3%.

Religion:

The predominant religion is Christianity, however there are small Rastafarian, Orthodox and other communities.

Legal System:

The legal system is based on English Common Law served by a high court of justice, a Court of Appeal and her Majesty's Privy Council in London. St. Kitts has agreed to be included in the Caribbean Court of Appeals Circuit.