News Americas, Basseterre, St. Kitts, Mon. Nov. 21, 2022: The sister federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis has a long and successful relationship with Canada and the two nations continue to develop initiatives that strengthen the relationship.
From December 5 to 7, 2022, the Government of Canada will provide biometric processing of visa applications in Saint Kitts and Nevis. This is positive news as nationals of Saint Kitts and Nevis are normally required to travel overseas to centers in Barbados, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, or even in Trinidad and Tobago, to have their biometric information collected for Canadian visa applications. .
Processing will be carried out by Canadian officials and this special arrangement is for visa applicants who fall into one of the following categories:
- nationals of Saint Kitts and Nevis planning to travel to Canada;
- People who have already applied online or by mail for a visa, work or study permit or for
permanent residence in Canada and have received their biometric instruction letter; and - Nationals of other countries residing in St. Kitts and Nevis are also required to provide their biometric information for intended travel to Canada.
When applying for a Canadian visa, whether for visit, work, study or residence purposes, nationals of Saint Kitts and Nevis, as well as nationals of other countries, must provide biometric information such as fingerprints and photo ID.
Visa applicants are encouraged to complete an online visa application as soon as possible, in order to take advantage of this December opportunity. This could be beneficial for applicants who plan to travel for education, business, tourism, family reunification, etc.
Monday November 28, 2022 is the last day to make an appointment for the period available in December. Appointment requests received after this date will not be considered unless appointments already booked are canceled and a reservation space becomes available.
Visa applicants must have an appointment and must bring the required biometric instruction letter to their appointment. Officials will not collect applications or biometric information from applicants who have not received this letter.
The biometric information collection schedule will be from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, December 5-7, 2022, at the St Kitts Marriott Resort. Directions to the exact location within the hotel will be provided upon arrival.
To make an appointment for the collection of biometric data, please write to [email protected]
The governments of Canada and Saint Kitts and Nevis are partnering on a number of important issues, with a focus on economic resilience and climate issues. Saint Kitts and Nevis has a High Commission in Ottawa and a Consulate in Toronto, while Canada is represented in Saint Kitts and Nevis by the Canadian High Commission in Barbados, all of which help strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries.
According to government of canadamerchandise exports from Canada to St. Kitts and Nevis totaled C$5.2 million and merchandise imports from St. Kitts and Nevis totaled C$2.9 million in 2021. During during this period, Canada’s main exports to St. Kitts and Nevis included live animals and animal products, foodstuffs, and metals.
Even before the recent COP27, Canada announced the commitment of C$100 million for Caribbean Reconstruction and Economic and Climate Resilience to support Saint Kitts and Nevis and the region in reconstruction and climate resilience. , following the disastrous 2017 hurricane season in the Caribbean. According to the Canadian government, this included strengthening natural disaster planning and response through organizations such as the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency.
At CARICOM Intersessional Meeting in February 2020, Canada announced an additional C$61.5 million in new commitments for resilience, technical assistance and educational exchanges for the Caribbean. This includes, for example, the Canada-CARICOM Expert Deployment Mechanism, which provides technical assistance to CARICOM governments, including Saint Kitts and Nevis, to help diversify and strengthen the economy, build climate-resilient communities and reduce gender and economic inequalities.
Canada is the largest contributor to the International Monetary Fund’s Caribbean Regional Technical Assistance Center, which has provided technical assistance to St. Kitts and Nevis on internal audit and tax and customs administration.
Saint Kitts and Nevis also works closely with Canada in multilateral areas such as Commonwealththe Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), organization of american states (OAS), the world trade organization (WTO), and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).
Saint Kitts and Nevis also benefits from the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives and Canada’s partnership with non-governmental organizations and regional institutions, such as the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank based in Saint Kitts and Nevis and the Caribbean Development Bank. Canada represents Saint Kitts and Nevis and other Caribbean countries in Board of Governors of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.
Many investors from Canada and other wealthy countries participated in citizenship by investment program offered by the government of Saint Kitts and Nevis. This program is the oldest and one of the most trusted programs of its kind in the world. Since 1984, it has enabled investors and their families to legally obtain citizenship in one of the most idyllic locations in the Caribbean. Through this program, foreign investors in Saint Kitts and Nevis can obtain citizenship for life, with the right to live and work in the island country, the opportunity to share citizenship with future generations and enjoy greater global mobility. St. Kitts and Nevis also offers investors a fair tax regime, with no worldwide income, inheritance or gift taxes for tax residents.
An applicant can apply for citizenship through the Saint Kitts and Nevis Citizenship Investment Program: by donating to the country’s Sustainable Growth Fund or by investing in pre-approved real estate.
The country The CBI program is also undergoing an upgrade under the new Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, Dr. Terrance Drew. The new changes will provide stronger legislative and administrative oversight of the program to ensure it meets the needs of a changing investor while benefiting local citizens. Prime Minister Drew is determined to maintain the country’s CBI status – which is one of the best in the world.
