Last Updated:
November 7, 2007 14:30
EST
Still Valid:
November 15, 2007 23:16
EST
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1. RECENT UPDATES
Section 3 of this Travel Report has been updated (Saint Kitts and Nevis Tourism Authority).
Since January 23, 2007, all Canadian citizens transiting the United States when travelling to and from Saint Kitts and Nevis by air must comply with entry requirements to the U.S. For more information, please see our Current Issues page.
The hurricane season extends from June 1st to November 30th. For more information, please see our Current Issues on the hurricane season.
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2. WARNINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Canadians should exercise a high degree of caution in this country due to limited medical resources, generally poor road conditions, unreliable public transportation, and moderate crime rates.
OFFICIAL REGISTRATION RECOMMENDATION: We offer a registration service for all Canadians travelling or living abroad. This service is provided so that we can contact and assist you in an emergency in a foreign country, such as a natural disaster or civil unrest, or inform you of a family emergency at home. Registration can be done on-line or by contacting a Canadian government office abroad. For more information, see our FAQs on Registration of Canadians Abroad.
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3. SAFETY AND SECURITY
The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller. The traveller is also responsible for his or her own personal safety. The purpose of this Travel Report is to provide Canadians with up-to-date information to enable them to make well-informed decisions.
Exercise a high degree of caution and ensure that personal belongings, passports, and other travel documents are secure. Petty crime, robbery, and assault occur. Check with local authorities to find out which beaches are safe and patrolled. Avoid unpatrolled beaches after dark.
Tourists can obtain travel safety tips, directions, and information on accommodation from the following organism:
Saint Kitts and Nevis Tourism Authority
133 Richmond Street West, Suite 311
Toronto, ON, M5H 2L3
Tel.: 416-368-6707 (toll free: 1-888-395-4887)
Fax: 416-368-3934
E-mail: canada@stkittstourism.kn
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4. ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS
The following information on entry and exit requirements has been confirmed with the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, and was valid on February 22, 2007. However, entry and exit requirements are subject to change.
It is the sole prerogative of each country to determine who is allowed to enter. All countries have special requirements for persons intending to reside for extended periods (usually more than 90 days) or who plan to work, study, or engage in non-tourist activities. To obtain information on specific entry requirements, contact the nearest diplomatic or consular office of the country or countries to be visited. Violations of entry and exit requirements may result in serious penalties.
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada’s Office of Protocol provides contact details for the High Commission for the Countries of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States and its consulates, where you can obtain further information on entry and exit requirements.
A valid passport should be carried for all visits outside Canada. The passport should be valid for at least six months beyond the date of your expected return to Canada. However, Canadians are only required to be in possession of valid official photo identification (such as a driver's licence) and proof of citizenship (such as a birth certificate) for travel to Saint Kitts and Nevis. An onward or return ticket and proof of sufficient funds is also required.
Since January 23, 2007, all Canadian citizens transiting the United States when travelling to and from Saint Kitts and Nevis by air must comply with entry requirements to the U.S. For more information, please see our Current Issues page.
Tourist Visa: Not required
Business Visa: Not required
Student Visa: Required
An airport tax of US$17 cash, which is subject to change, is required upon departure.
A Certificate of Canadian Citizenship (CCC) is not a travel document. Airlines are known to refuse boarding to dual national Canadian passengers returning to Canada, travelling on a passport that requires a visa to enter Canada, regardless of whether the passenger presents a valid CCC as proof of Canadian citizenship. A Canadian passport is the only reliable and universally accepted travel and identification document for the purpose of international travel. It proves your admissibility to enter Canada.
Selling, altering, or allowing another person to use your passport is a criminal offence. It could lead to the laying of charges and imprisonment if convicted. It could also lead to the denial of future passport services.
Special and diplomatic passport holders should verify visa requirements for this and other countries, as they may differ from those that apply to regular passport holders.
Any adult travelling with children may be required to show evidence of parental/custodial and/or access rights. Foreign and Canadian authorities may also require evidence that the adult has the consent of the parents, legal guardian, and/or the court to travel with the children. Some countries may not permit children to enter or, in some cases, leave the country without proper documentation such as a letter of consent or a court order.
Although same-sex marriages are legal in Canada, many countries do not recognize them. Attempting to enter as a same-sex married couple may result in refusal by local officials. For more information, contact the foreign government office accredited to Canada.
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5. CANADIAN GOVERNMENT CONTACTS
There is no resident Canadian government office in Saint Kitts and Nevis. You can obtain consular assistance and further consular information at the following address:
Barbados - BRIDGETOWN, High Commission of Canada
Address: Bishop's Court Hill, St. Michael, PO Box. 404, Bridgetown, Barbados BB11000
Tel.: (246) 429-3550
Emergency toll-free to Ottawa: 1-888-949-9993
Fax: (246) 437-7436
E-Mail: bdgtn@international.gc.ca
Internet: http://www.bridgetown.gc.ca
For emergency assistance after hours, call the High Commission of Canada in Bridgetown, Barbados, and follow the instructions. You may also call the Department in Ottawa toll-free at 1 800 387-3124.
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6. LOCAL LAWS AND CUSTOMS
Canadians arrested or detained have the right to contact the responsible Canadian government office (embassy, high commission, etc.) listed in Section 5 above. Arresting officials have a responsibility to assist you in doing so. Canadian consular officials can provide a list of local lawyers upon request.
The procedures required in legal proceedings or police investigations may be different from the procedures in force in the Canadian legal system. Canadians wishing to undertake such proceedings can expect to face long delays and additional efforts in order to resolve their case. The Government of Canada cannot intervene in ongoing legal proceedings in other countries, unless requested to do so by local authorities. Such requests are rare.
You are subject to local laws. A serious violation may lead to a jail sentence. The sentence will be served in local prisons.
There are severe penalties for all drug offences. Possession of illegal drugs (including marijuana) may lead to large fines or imprisonment.
It is an offence for anyone, including children, to dress in army or camouflage clothing or carry items made of camouflage material.
Customs authorities may enforce strict regulations concerning temporary import or export of various items.
Canadians interested in purchasing property or making other investments should seek legal advice from appropriate professionals in Canada and in the Caribbean before making commitments. Disputes arising from such activities could be prolonged and costly to resolve.
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7. LOCAL TRAVEL AND CURRENCY
Traffic drives on the left. Road conditions are good. Roadside assistance is not widely available. Information on roads and traffic safety can be obtained from the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Environment, Bay Road, Pelican Mall, P.O. Box 132, Basseterre, Saint Kitts (tel.: 869-647-8970).
Public transportation is available on Saint Kitts. Buses and minivans are inexpensive, but service is irregular since there is no fixed schedule. Bus services are more sporadic on Nevis. Taxis are plentiful on both islands. A ferry operates regularly between the two islands.
A local driving permit is required and can be obtained from the fire station in Basseterre, Saint Kitts, or from any police station in Nevis upon presentation of a valid Canadian driver's licence. A fee is required.
The currency is the Eastern Caribbean dollar (EC$). U.S. currency, traveller's checks, and major credit cards are accepted.
Check with your bank for information on Automated Banking Machine (ABM) services in other countries. You can also check the VISA ATM locator page or the MasterCard ATM locator page for the addresses of ABMs around the world. Your bank can advise if you need a new personal identification number (PIN) for overseas access to your account. Credit cards and debit cards should be used with caution due to the potential for fraud and other criminal activity. ABMs should be used during business hours inside a bank, supermarket, or large commercial building. Leave copies of your card numbers with a family member in case of emergency.
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8. NATURAL DISASTERS AND CLIMATE
The hurricane season extends from June to the end of November. You are advised to visit the Web site of the National Hurricane Center for information on weather conditions.
Flooding may occur during this period. Transportation, utilities, emergency and medical care, as well as food, fuel and water supplies, may be disrupted. Canadians should monitor local weather reports, avoid disaster areas, and contact the nearest Canadian High Commission in Bridgetown, Barbados (see below). Travellers should check with their travel agent or tour operator to confirm their travel plans prior to departure.
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9. TRAVEL MEDICINE PROGRAM
The Public Health Agency of Canada and the World Health Organization (WHO) report on disease outbreaks that occur throughout the world. For the latest travel health advisories and related information, visit the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Travel Medicine Program Web site.
The Public Health Agency of Canada strongly recommends that your travel plans include contacting a travel medicine clinic or physician six to eight weeks before departure. Based on your individual risk assessment, a health care professional can determine your need for immunizations and/or preventive medication and advise you on precautions to avoid disease. Travellers are reminded to ensure that their routine (childhood) immunizations (e.g., tetanus, diphtheria, polio, and measles) are up to date.
Standards of medical care may differ from those in Canada. Treatment may be expensive, and payment in advance may be required. Travellers are advised to arrange for medical insurance prior to departure. Prescription medications should be kept in the original container and packed in carry-on luggage.
The Public Health Agency of Canada also recommends that travellers who become sick or feel unwell on their return to Canada seek a medical assessment with their personal physician. Travellers should inform their physician that they have been travelling or living outside of Canada.
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10. ADDITIONAL HEALTH INFORMATION
As in many other areas of the Caribbean and Latin America, travellers are advised to take appropriate precautions to protect themselves against water-borne and mosquito-borne diseases by using mosquito repellent (DEET), and avoiding swampy or low lying areas where mosquitoes are more prevalent. Using physical barriers such as mosquito nets and long sleeved shirts is also recommended.
Medical care is limited. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services. Serious cases may have to be referred to Guadeloupe. There is no CAT scan equipment on the island and, as such, all cases requiring CAT scans need medical air evacuations to other locations, normally Antigua or Miami.
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11. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Returning to Canada
Traveller's Checklist
Health and Travel Insurance: Do not rely on your provincial health plan to cover all expenses if you get sick or are injured while abroad. It may cover nothing or only a portion of the costs. Understand the terms of your supplementary insurance policy. Some credit cards offer their holders health and travel insurance. Do not assume the card alone provides adequate coverage. Carry details of your insurance with you. Also, tell your travel agent, a friend or relative, and/or travelling companion how to contact your insurer. Get a detailed invoice from the doctor or hospital before you return to Canada. Always submit original receipts for any medical services or prescriptions received abroad. Most insurance companies will not accept copies or faxes. See Canada's Health Portal.
Cancelling a scheduled trip abroad could cost you money. Before cancelling a scheduled trip, you should discuss the matter with your travel agent, your travel insurer, or the airline. The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller.
Adoption: Provincial and territorial authorities in Canada are responsible for authorizing international adoptions. If you are thinking of adopting a child from another country, you must first obtain information about the adoption regulations of the province or territory in which the child will reside. While adoption is a provincial/territorial responsibility, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) is responsible for allowing an adopted child entry into Canada. Entry can be refused if the child does not hold the appropriate immigrant visa. A visa may be denied, even if the adoption has already been completed. For more information contact CIC at 1 888 242-2100 (in Canada only), check the CIC Web site or contact your provincial or territorial government.
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12. ANNEX
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