Basseterre — The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis is modernising its passport system with the launch of a national biometric enrollment programme.
The initiative, led by the Ministry of National Security in partnership with the Citizenship by Investment Unit, requires all citizens to submit biometric data including fingerprints, facial scans, and digital signatures. Once captured, the data will be embedded into the passport for its lifetime.
Enrollment appointments open on Monday, April 20, 2026, with international locations available from May 1. All citizens must complete the process by July 31, 2027. After that date, non-compliant passports will be deactivated, preventing holders from travelling.
The entire enrollment process takes between 15 and 30 minutes. Officials say the move brings St. Kitts and Nevis in line with global security standards already adopted by many countries.
Fees apply only to those who obtained citizenship through the Citizenship by Investment programme: US$2,500 for the first adult, with reduced rates for additional family members and children. Ordinary citizens will not pay these biometric fees.
The government has assured the public that the programme does not affect citizenship status and that all personal data will be protected under strict international security standards.
This upgrade aims to strengthen passport security, reduce fraud, and make travel smoother for Kittitians and Nevisians in the years ahead.
Citizens are encouraged to book appointments early when the system opens on April 20 to avoid last-minute rushes before the 2027 deadline.