- St. Kitts and Nevis opened biometric enrolment on 14 April 2026 under the National Biometric Enrolment and Passport Modernisation Programme.
- Every citizen who joined through the Citizenship Programme, plus dependants and children, must enrol by 31 July 2027.
- You book through an Authorised Agent on the official Government platform and attend a 15 to 30 minute appointment.
- Fees run from US$2,500 for the main adult applicant and cover both enrolment and the passport upgrade.
- Enrolment does not affect citizenship status, but unenrolled passports stop being accepted for travel after 31 July 2027.
St. Kitts and Nevis has opened biometric enrolment for its passport, and every citizen who holds a passport issued through the Citizenship Programme must complete the process by 31 July 2027.
Quick answer
- Programme: National Biometric Enrolment and Passport Modernisation Programme
- Launched: 14 April 2026
- Deadline for Citizenship Programme citizens: 31 July 2027
- Who it applies to: all citizens who obtained citizenship through the Citizenship Programme, including dependants and children
- What you do: book through an Authorised Agent on the official Government platform, attend a collection centre, and provide your biometrics in a 15 to 30 minute appointment
- After 31 July 2027: passports issued before 14 April 2026 stop being accepted for international travel until you enrol
- Your citizenship status: unaffected
What is the National Biometric Enrolment and Passport Modernisation Programme? What is the National Biometric Enrolment and Passport Modernisation Programme?
The Ministry of National Security, Citizenship and Immigration, with the St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship Unit, launched the National Biometric Enrolment and Passport Modernisation Programme on 14 April 2026. The programme brings the Federation’s travel document into line with the identity verification and border security standards already in use across the European Union, the United States and the United Kingdom.
This is a passport modernisation initiative. It does not change your citizenship status. Its purpose is to protect citizens and reinforce the integrity of the St. Kitts and Nevis passport.
St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship Unit Chairman Calvin St. Juste said at the launch on 14 April 2026: “This modernisation aligns our passports with those of major nations and strengthens the security of the travel document for every citizen of St. Kitts and Nevis. The Government has built the programme around accessibility, with collection centres opening worldwide, and around data protection, with full Government control of all biometric information.”
Key dates
- 14 April 2026: programme launch (live)
- 20 April 2026: appointment booking opened (live)
- 1 May 2026: first wave of collection centres opened (live)
- 1 June 2026: second phase of collection centres opens
- 31 July 2027: enrolment deadline for Citizenship Programme citizens, and the date passports issued before the launch stop being accepted for travel
All passports issued through the Citizenship Programme before 14 April 2026 remain valid for international travel during the transition period. After 31 July 2027, only biometric passports will be accepted for travel, so complete your enrolment well before the deadline.
Who needs to enrol? Who needs to enrol?
Required by 31 July 2027: all citizens who obtained citizenship through the St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship Programme, including all dependants and children, in accordance with international standards appropriate to their age.
New applicants: biometric enrolment is a mandatory part of every citizenship application submitted from 14 April 2026 onwards. You can book your appointment once your application reaches the Approval in Principle stage.
Where can you enrol? Where can you enrol?
You book and complete enrolment exclusively at officially designated locations through the official Government of St. Kitts and Nevis Biometric Enrolment Platform. The network spans the Federation and consular offices and approved service providers worldwide.
Centres now operating:
- St. Kitts
- Dubai
- Hong Kong
- Istanbul
- Embassies and high commissions
Appointments now live in the portal:
- Ottawa
- Toronto
- London
- Abu Dhabi
The portal lists your nearest available locations at the point of booking.
What does it cost?
The fees cover both biometric enrolment and the passport upgrade:
- Main adult applicant aged 16 and over: US$2,500
- Second adult applicant: US$2,000
- Children under 16: US$1,300
You pay through the official Government platform at the point of booking.
IGS fee waiver: the Government has waived biometric enrolment fees for citizens who attended the Investment Gateway Summit from 17 to 20 June 2026. Eligible citizens pay nothing for enrolment itself, though Authorised Agent fees still apply. Confirm your attendance with your Authorised Agent at the point of booking so the waiver applies correctly at payment. The Government cannot transfer or extend this offer.
How the enrolment process works for existing citizens
The whole process, including payment, runs through the official Government of St. Kitts and Nevis Biometric Enrolment Platform only. Enrolment through any other platform or provider is strictly prohibited. The appointment takes between 15 and 30 minutes.
- Appoint an Authorised Agent. Your Agent shares a personalised registration link and a unique Authorised Agent Code, which links your profile to them automatically on the official platform.
- Register and book. Create your account using your Certificate of Registration number and personal details, complete the application form, select your nearest approved collection centre, choose a date and time, and pay. Your appointment then moves to Waiting for Agent Confirmation.
- Your Agent confirms. Your Authorised Agent reviews and confirms the appointment in their administrative portal, which finalises the booking.
- Attend and enrol. You attend the appointment, where staff collect your fingerprints, a digital facial image and a digital signature, and an iris scan where applicable. You present your passport for identification only and do not surrender it. The Government sends confirmation to you and your Agent, and your passport application then begins.
What biometric data is collected and how it is protected
Staff collect your fingerprints, a digital facial image and a digital signature, plus an iris scan where applicable. The Government encrypts and stores all biometric data in systems that meet International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) requirements and international data protection standards. Access stays limited to authorised personnel, and the data serves identity verification and border security only. The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis owns and controls all biometric information.
Renewals
The system captures your biometric data once, and it remains valid for the lifetime of the passport. Adults do not enrol again at every renewal, and no separate biometric fee applies at renewal. Biometric validation forms part of the standard passport renewal process.
For Authorised Agents
The Citizenship Unit onboarded Authorised Agents to the biometrics portal at the 14 April 2026 launch and continues to provide guidance and briefing materials throughout the transition. Agents must make sure their clients know about the enrolment requirement and the 31 July 2027 deadline, and must support them in completing the process promptly. For client queries, email biometrics@sknciu.com.
Frequently asked questions
Will completing biometric enrolment affect my citizenship? No. This is a passport modernisation programme only. It does not affect your citizenship status in any way.
What happens if I miss the 31 July 2027 deadline? Border officials will no longer accept your existing passport for international travel after that date. You remain a citizen, but you need to complete biometric enrolment to obtain a valid travel document.
Can I enrol through a third party provider? No. You must appoint an Authorised Agent, who guides you through the process. You schedule and complete all enrolment through the official Government of St. Kitts and Nevis Biometric Enrolment Platform.
What biometric data will you collect? Fingerprints, a digital facial image and a digital signature. The appointment takes between 15 and 30 minutes.
How will you store and use my data? The Government encrypts and stores all data in compliance with ICAO requirements and international data protection standards, and uses it solely for identity verification and border security.
I have dependants, including children. Do they need to enrol? Yes. All dependants who obtained citizenship through the Citizenship Programme must enrol in accordance with international standards appropriate to their age, before the 31 July 2027 deadline.
What does enrolment cost? US$2,500 for the main adult applicant aged 16 and over, US$2,000 for a second adult applicant, and US$1,300 for children under 16. The fees cover both biometric enrolment and the passport upgrade, and you pay through the official Government platform.
I attended IGS. Do I still pay? No. The Government has waived biometric enrolment fees for IGS attendees. Authorised Agent fees still apply. Confirm your attendance with your Authorised Agent at booking so the waiver applies at payment.
Will I need to enrol again when my passport is renewed? No. The system captures your biometric data once, and it stays valid for the lifetime of the document. No separate biometric fee applies at renewal.
Do I need to surrender my passport at the appointment? No. You present your passport for identification only. The standard passport application and renewal process continues until further notice.
I have a specific query about my clients. Who can I contact? Email biometrics@sknciu.com.
What to do now
- Appoint an Authorised Agent, ideally the Agent who handled your original application.
- Gather your Certificate of Registration number and personal details for every family member who needs to enrol.
- Register on the official Government platform using your Agent’s link and code, select your nearest collection centre, and book a date and time.
- Attend your appointment with your passport for identification, and provide your biometrics.
- Book early and complete enrolment well before 31 July 2027, as appointment availability will tighten as the deadline approaches.