Bridgetown, Barbados – Citizens of St Kitts and Nevis will now require a visa to travel to Canada.
Canada is implementing the visa requirement on visitors travelling from St Kitts and Nevis due to concerns about the issuance of passports and identity management practices with its Citizenship by Investment programme.
Canada is acting to protect the safety and security of Canadians and the integrity of the Canadian immigration system. The visa requirement will ensure that Canada will be able to properly determine the true identity of St Kitts and Nevis passport holders and to deny entry to those who would otherwise be inadmissible to Canada.
Canada continues to welcome genuine visitors and has a number of programmes, including a multiple-entry visa, to make it easy for those genuine visitors to travel to Canada.
Canada remains committed to facilitating visa processing for legitimate travellers.
St Kitts and Nevis citizens can apply online for a visitor visa to travel to Canada, or submit a paper application in person or by mail or courier to any Visa Application Centre (VAC), including the VAC in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.
In 2013, 960 residents from St Kitts and Nevis visited Canada.
In February 2014, Canada adopted the multiple-entry visa – which is valid for up to ten years – as its default visa for most visitors.
As a result, the overwhelming majority of visitors to Canada – over 90 per cent – are now enjoying the ease and convenience of this visa.
It currently takes 14 days or fewer to process a visitor’s visa at the visa office in Port of Spain. (PR)
