Explore: St. Kitts & Nevis - Formalities
Clearance
COVID-19 coronavirus: New procedures are in place for arriving yachts – see Biosecurity for details.
St. Kitts & Nevis have ceased using SailClear.com in favor of eAPIS. APIS dates from 2007 and is much more onerous than SailClear, as well as being mandatory.
It is important that the eAPIS Immigration forms are completed in advance of arrival or skippers may face a large fine. This is in addition to clearance paperwork that has to be completed on arrival.
Complete the online form prior to visiting Immigration and Customs at the eAPIS Website. Note, this does require you to have ExCel installed in order to complete the form.
Expect to also fill in plenty of forms, in triplicate, on arrival.
Nevis
All vessels approaching Nevis are required to contact the Nevis Air and Sea Ports Authority (NASPA) on VHF Channel 16 in order to be assigned a mooring within the first 24 hours upon arrival.
Customs, Immigration and the Port Authority are all located in the one building in Charlestown.
St. Kitts
There is a Customs office at Zante Marina and this is reported to be the most convenient place to berth the boat and complete formalities (although prices are a little higher).
Immigration and the Port Authority will have to be visited at the cruise ship terminal in Basseterre.
Domestic Clearance
If moving between Nevis and St Kitts – clearance is not required.
Arrangements can also be made to visit anchorages outside the Ports of Entry after clearance for another country has been granted.
Last updated: March 2019
Immigration
All visitors require a passport valid for 6 months.
Visa is not required for citizens of many countries including most western and northern European countries, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the USA for stays of up to 90 days. Check this official St Kitts and Nevis website for a complete list of nationals which require a visa.
Regional and international aircraft and vessels are required to submit Advance Passenger Information prior to arrival in and upon departure from any of the CARICOM Member States. Complete the online form prior to visiting Immigration at the eAPIS Website.
It is likely you will be able to clear in and out with Immigration at the same time.
Last updated: July 2018
Related Businesses
Christophe Harbor
To the south of Basseterre, this is St Kitts newest marina, and opened in 2015. It is primarily a superyacht facility with on-site customs and... Read More
Customs
Firearms must be declared and usually are bonded on board.
Last updated:Â July 2018
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Christophe Harbor
To the south of Basseterre, this is St Kitts newest marina, and opened in 2015. It is primarily a superyacht facility with on-site customs and... Read More
Customs – Basseterre
Address: Marina Office, Port Zante Marina, Basseterre, St Kitts, St Kitts & Nevis,
Customs now has an office at the marina.... Read More
BioSecurity
While the protocols below are as accurate as per the last date recorded, the situation is constantly changing with regards to Covid-19 protocols for yacht arrivals and skippers should always check with their intended port of arrival before getting underway to be 100% certain of what is required.
COVID-19: OPEN
Yachting Protocols:
22 February, 2021:
- All vessels should register with SailClear prior to arrival to assist with documentation and proof of transit time.
- Vessels wishing to visit must complete a Travel Authorization form prior to arrival (knatravelform.kn) and upload proof of a negative Covid-19 PCR test taken 72 hours prior to departure from last port for all crew members, or prior to departure if at sea longer than 3 days.
- Forms must be submitted no later than 24 hours prior to travel.
- Have all original documentation and test results available on arrival.
- The vessel will be required to dock at one of six ports, submit the Maritime Declaration of Health to the port health officer and interact with other border agencies. The six ports are: The Deepwater Port, Port Zante, Christophe Harbour, New Guinea (St. Kitts Marine Works), Charlestown Pier and Long Point Port.
- The prescribed quarantine time (14 days minus the transit time) will be determined by the vessels or ships transit time from the last port of call to their arrival to the Federation. Transit time must be supported by official documentation and Sail Clear – Caribbean Advanced Notification System.
- Yachts and pleasure vessels over 80 feet must quarantine at Christophe Harbor in St. Kitts. Yachts and pleasure vessels less than 80 feet must quarantine at the following locations: Ballast Bay in St. Kitts, Pinney’s Beach and Gallows in Nevis. There is a fee to monitor yachts and pleasure vessels that are less than 80 feet that are in quarantine.
- Cruisers advise that 3 days prior to the expiry of quarantine, an agent must be appointed to organise a Covid test for all crew on day 14.
- See full details at the Tourist Board Website.
Notes:
Cruisers also report that clearance fees must be paid in cash (be sure to have small notes as change not given) and Customs will want to take clearance paperwork from your last port.
History:
- March 26, 2020, the Federation of St. Kitts & Nevis closed its borders.
- Curfew measures were imposed at the start of April as part of the state of emergency.
- From 7 July, 2020, three vessels per day were allowed to enter St. Kitts Boatyard (SKWM) for hurricane season.
- St. Kitts and Nevis were part of the CARICOM travel bubble.
- October 31st, 2020, borders re-opened for sea and air travel.
Resources:
Reports:
Contacts:
Customs: 1-869-762-8291, or, [email protected]
Immigration registration for vessel and crew: https://caricomeapis.org
SKWM Office: 1-869-667-8930 / 662-8930
Related Businesses
St. Kitts & Nevis Government
Address: Government House, P.O. Box 41, Springfield, Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis,
Documents
Fees
Customs:
$30 USD (Zante Marina) – 2016
30 EC (Nevis)
Port Authorities:Â
$20 USD (Zante Marina) – 2016
130 EC (Nevis – up to 20 tons)
There is no charge for Immigration.
There is no charge for outbound clearance.
There is an overtime fee on both islands for clearance outside of working hours.
Last updated:Â December 2018
Restrictions
Nevis Air and Sea Ports Authority (NASPA) installed 40 yacht moorings along the western or Caribbean coast of Nevis from Oualie Beach to Charlestown to provide safe anchorage for mariners visiting the island. See the Napsa Website for full details.
Be aware that Black coral and most other corals, whether in chunks or in jewellery may not be purchased or collected.
No jet-skis or similar craft may be used by visiting yachts.
Scuba diving may only be done with a local dive shop.
It is an offence to dress in camouflage clothing (including children).
Local Customs
Pets
An Import Permit must be obtained from the Chief Veterinary Officer before arrival (see below for website link to form). There is a processing fee of US$20 (postal order only).
Once the permit is obtained in advance, inform the vet 72 hours before arrival (by email). On arrival, go ashore without your pet and clear in, informing the customs authorities how many animals you have on board. They will call the vet and make an appointment, who will come to the customs office, normally within 24 hours. They will inspect the animal/s and clear it/them in.
If you can be reasonably certain of your arrival time, then the vet can come at the same time as you clear in, saving two trips to customs. The vet fee for clearing in is EC$200.
On departure, if the next island to be visited requires a health certificate (not the case if you are going to Guadeloupe, for example), then call the vet directly a few days in advance and make an appointment. They will come to the same customs office and inspect your pet and issue a health certificate.
Fees for this are reported to be similar to the clearing-in fee.
Last updated May 2016.
Related Businesses
The Chief Veterinary Officer
Address: P. O. Box 39, Department of Agriculture, Basseterre, St Kitts, St Kitts & Nevis,
Veterinary Services
Download an import permit application form from this web link. Put "import permit application" into the search function to find the form.... Read More
