Citizenship Bill For Overseas Descendants Heads To Parliament
BASSETERRE — A bill that could open a new path to citizenship for some descendants of St. Kitts and Nevis nationals living overseas goes before Parliament on Friday.
Acting Prime Minister Dr. Geoffrey Hanley will introduce the Citizenship Amendment Bill 2026 for its first reading. The proposed amendment would allow certain people born overseas to apply for citizenship through a parent or grandparent who became a citizen at independence.
Two other bills further along in the legislative process are also due for debate at Friday’s sitting. The Payment Systems and Services Bill 2026 deals with the legal framework governing payment services, while the Liquor Licence Amendment Bill proposes changes to the country’s licensing laws. Both received their first reading in July and are scheduled for second reading on Friday.
The National Assembly sitting begins at 10 a.m. at Government Headquarters.
In related news, the St. Kitts and Nevis government has commenced passport production as of Sept. 1, 2026, as part of the biometric enrolment process. Citizens who have not completed the mandatory biometric enrolment by the July 31, 2027 deadline will be considered non-compliant, and their passports will be deactivated, rendering them non-operational for travel.
