Citizenship by Investment passport holders must complete enrolment by July 31, 2027.
St Kitts and Nevis passport holders living in the Gulf no longer need to travel abroad to complete enrolment in the country’s new biometric system. Five collection centres now serve the region, with Dubai becoming operational in May 2026, followed by Abu Dhabi and a mobile unit in Istanbul in June. Jeddah opened in July, while Sulaymaniyah in Iraq was added in September.
All individuals who obtained citizenship through the Citizenship by Investment Programme must complete enrolment by July 31, 2027. The requirement also applies to dependants, including children aged five and above.
Since September 1, 2026, biometric enrolment and passport applications have been combined into a single process. Fingerprints and photographs captured during appointments are transferred directly to the passport application, allowing citizens to move to the production stage once their applications are processed.
The initiative is part of the National Biometric Enrolment and Passport Modernisation Programme, which is being rolled out through biometric collection centres worldwide.
The updated passport system also introduces a more digital application process, allowing applicants to submit notarised supporting documents online. Photographs taken during biometric appointments are sent directly to the Passport Office along with the rest of the application.
Passport production will remain centralised in Basseterre. Once an application is approved, the Passport Office produces and dispatches the document, with applicants and their agents notified when it is ready. Passports cannot be collected from other locations in the biometric network, including high commissions and embassies.
The Citizenship Unit has indicated an initial processing time of four to six weeks, calculated from September 1, 2026, or the date of enrolment, whichever is later.
What the new process does not change
The biometric programme does not affect citizenship status. Calvin St Juste, executive chairman of the St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship Unit, has described the initiative as a passport modernisation programme, stressing that citizenship cannot be revoked or suspended because of non-enrolment.
“This modernisation aligns our passports with those of major nations,” St Juste said at the programme’s launch on April 14, 2026. He described the initiative as one focused on accessibility, with collection centres being established worldwide, and data protection, with the Government retaining control of all biometric information.
The upgraded system brings St Kitts and Nevis passports in line with standards already adopted across the European Union, the United States and the United Kingdom. Biometric information is encrypted, with access limited to authorised personnel for identity verification and border security. The system follows international data protection rules and requirements set by the International Civil Aviation Organization.
What should applicants bring to their biometric appointment?
Applicants must bring their original valid passport, Certificate of Registration, documents showing their file reference number and appointment confirmation notice. Previous passports should also be presented, where applicable.
Additional documents may be required in certain circumstances, including proof of a name change, a marriage certificate where relevant to identity verification, or guardianship documents for minors.
Applicants do not have to surrender their passports. The document is checked for identification and returned after the appointment. Each appointment takes between 15 and 30 minutes, allowing family members to complete enrolment during a single visit.
Biometric enrolment, passport renewals and fees
Government fees cover both biometric enrolment and the passport upgrade. A 10 per cent discount is available for appointments booked and completed between July 20 and December 31, 2026, after which standard fees will apply.
The fee structure is as follows:
- Main applicant aged 16 and above: $2,500, reduced to $2,250
- Second adult applicant: $2,000, reduced to $1,800
- Children under 16: $1,300, reduced to $1,170
Biometric enrolment must be completed through the official Government of St Kitts and Nevis Biometric Enrolment Platform.
Fees charged by authorised agents are separate. The Citizenship Unit has warned applicants against using third parties offering enrolment or payment services outside the official government platform.
Biometric information is captured once and remains valid for the lifetime of the passport. Adults will not need to repeat enrolment when renewing their passports or pay a separate biometric fee.
