St. Kitts and Nevis has upgraded its passport to meet the highest international standards in biometric security. Enrolment is now live, with collection centres operating across the Federation and at consular offices and approved service providers worldwide.
Whether you are a new applicant or an existing citizen who acquired citizenship through the Citizenship Programme, here is everything you need to know.
What is the National Biometric Enrolment and Passport Modernisation Programme?
The Ministry of National Security, Citizenship and Immigration, in partnership with the St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship Unit, launched the National Biometric Enrolment and Passport Modernisation Programme on 14 April 2026.
The initiative brings the Federation’s travel documents into full alignment with global best practice in identity verification and border security.
The programme adopts the same standard already in use across the European Union, the United States and the United Kingdom. As the birthplace of citizenship by investment, St. Kitts and Nevis is once again leading the way.
This is a passport modernisation initiative. It does not affect your citizenship status. Its purpose is to protect citizens and reinforce the integrity of the St. Kitts and Nevis passport.
“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,” said H.E. Calvin St. Juste, Chairman of the St. Kitts and Nevis Citizenship Unit, at the official launch on 14 April 2026.
For further information, contact a member of the team at biometrics@sknciu.com
Key Dates
Programme Launch
14 April 2026 (Live)
Appointment Booking Opened
20 April 2026 (Live)
First Wave of Collection Centres Opened
1 May 2026 (Live)
Second Phase of Collection Centres to Open
1 June 2026
Enrolment Deadline
(Citizenship Programme Citizens) -
31 July 2027
Passports Issued Pre-Launch
Expire for Travel -
31 July 2027
What this means for you:
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-enabled passports will be accepted for travel.
We strongly encourage all eligible citizens to complete enrolment well in advance of this deadline.
For further information, email biometrics@sknciu.com
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 age-appropriate international standards.
New applicants: Biometric enrolment is a mandatory component of all new citizenship applications submitted from 14 April 2026 onwards. You can book your appointment once your application reaches the Approval in Principle stage.
Collection Centres
Enrolment takes place exclusively at officially designated locations through the official Government of St. Kitts and Nevis Biometric Enrolment Platform.
Appointments for the following locations are now in operation.
- St. Kitts
- Dubai
- Hong Kong
- Investment Gateway Summit
Embassies / High Commissions
Appointments may be scheduled starting 1 June for the following consular locations:
- Ottawa
- Toronto
- London
- Abu Dhabi
In addition, biometric collection services will also be available in Istanbul.
The nearest available locations will be listed on the official government portal at the point of booking.
Fees
Standard fees are all-inclusive, covering 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
Payment is processed exclusively through the official Government platform at the point of booking.
IGS event fee waiver
The Government has waived biometric enrolment fees exclusively for citizens who attend the Investment Gateway Summit (IGS) from 17-20 June 2026.
Eligible citizens pay nothing for enrolment itself, although Authorised Agent fees still apply.
Register for IGS here, then send a copy of your attendance to your Authorised Agent before booking so the waiver is applied correctly at the payment stage. This offer cannot be transferred or extended.
How the process works (Existing Citizens)
Enrolment is straightforward and takes between 15 and 30 minutes. The entire process, including payment, must be completed exclusively through the official Government of St. Kitts and Nevis Biometric Enrolment Platform. Enrolment through any other platform or third-party provider is strictly prohibited.
Step 1 – Appoint an Authorised Agent (AA):
All existing citizens must appoint an Authorised Agent. Your Agent shares a personalised registration link and unique Authorised Agent Code, which links your profile to them automatically on the official platform.
Step 2 – 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 proceed to payment. Your appointment then moves to Waiting for Agent Confirmation status.
Step 3 – Confirm, Attend and Enrol:
Your Authorised Agent reviews and confirms the appointment in their administrative portal. Once confirmed, the booking is finalised. You attend the appointment, where standard biometric data is collected, comprising fingerprints, a digital facial image and a digital signature. Confirmation is sent to both you and your Agent. Your passport is presented at the appointment for identification only and is not surrendered.
Step 4 – Attend & Enrol:
Attend your appointment. Standard biometric data will be collected, including fingerprints, a digital facial image, and, where applicable, an iris scan. Appointments typically take 15-30 minutes. Your data will be shared with the Government of St Kitts and Nevis. Confirmation that the process has been completed successfully will be sent to you and your Authorised Agent.
Following successful enrolment, the passport application process begins.
Your data is protected. All biometric data is securely stored in encrypted systems, in full compliance with international data protection standards and International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) requirements. Access is strictly limited to authorised personnel for legitimate identity verification and border security purposes only.
Renewal
Biometric data is captured once and remains valid for the lifetime of the passport. Adults do not need to re-enrol at every renewal, and there is no separate biometric fee at renewal. Biometric validation occurs as 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 comprehensive guidance and briefing materials throughout the transition period.
Agents are responsible for ensuring their clients are aware of the enrolment requirement and the 31 July 2027 deadline, and for supporting them in completing the process promptly.
For further information, or for specific client queries email biometrics@sknciu.com
FAQs
No. This is a passport modernisation programme only. Your citizenship status is not affected in any way.
Your existing passport will no longer be accepted for international travel after this date. You will still be a citizen, but you will need to complete biometric enrolment to obtain a valid travel document.
No. All citizens must appoint an Authorised Agent who will guide them through the process. All biometric enrolment must be scheduled and completed through the official Government of St. Kitts and Nevis Biometric Enrolment Platform.
Fingerprints, a digital facial image and a digital signature. The appointment takes between 15 and 30 minutes.
All data is encrypted and stored in compliance with ICAO requirements and international data protection standards. It is used solely for identity verification and border security purposes.
Yes. All dependants who obtained citizenship through the Citizenship Programme must enrol in accordance with age-appropriate international standards and before the 31 July 2027 deadline.
Standard fees are 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. Fees are all-inclusive, covering both biometric enrolment and the passport upgrade. Payment is processed through the official Government platform.
No. Biometric enrolment fees have been waived for IGS attendees. Authorised Agent fees still apply. Confirm attendance with your Authorised Agent at the time of booking so the waiver is applied at payment.
No. Biometric data is captured once and remains valid for the lifetime of the document. There is no separate biometric fee at renewal.
No. Your passport is presented at the appointment for identification only. The standard passport application and renewal process continues until further notice.
For specific queries, please email biometrics@sknciu.com
