Marrying and Sponsoring a Kittian or Nevisian Citizen
Listen to this articleUsing the Government Directly
Please be aware that if you are filing your application yourself, you should do an extensive amount of research before proceeding. Please call Citizenship and Immigration Canada to learn more and visit the Sponsorship pages to learn about everything you need to do to get your spouse to Canada. The information can be found on Citizenship Immigration Canada’s website.
Marriage to a Kittian and Nevisian Citizen
Every country has laws that apply to its citizens marrying a person from a different country. Getting married to a Kittitian and Nevisian citizen with the goal of eventually bringing them to Canada to live is a process with many steps.
If you want to bring your Kittitian and Nevisian spouse or partner to live in Canada, you must file a sponsorship application for them to become a permanent resident. If they would like to visit you in Canada while their application is in process, they must also apply for a visitor visa. For more information, please see our family sponsorship page and our visitor visa page.
How We Can Help You Marry Your Kittian and Nevisian Fiance
To discuss the process to marry a citizen of Kittian and Nevisian, contact us for a consultation. We can determine your eligibility to apply for permission to marry a Kittian and Nevisian as well as advise you how you can prove you meet the requirements.
Immigroup will assist you throughout the entire application process from start to finish, including:
- Determining your eligibility to apply;
- Determining the likelihood of success for your particular case;
- Ensuring your forms are complete and accurately reflect the details of your case for maximum chance of success;
- Ensuring you have the necessary and appropriate documents to support your application;
- Providing guidance on the best method to submit your application to the Kittian and Nevisian government for your circumstances;
- Offering Top Priority service for extremely urgent cases;
- Determining the best way to proceed once the outcome of your case is reached (applying for family sponsorship, applying for a visitor visa for your Kittian and Nevisian partner, re-application if necessary, etc.)
Contact us for a consultation to assist you with the Kittian and Nevisian marriage process.
Processing Time
If you file a Canadian sponsorship application for your Kittian and Nevisian spouse or partner, this application takes an average of 10-12 months.
A visitor visa application for your spouse or partner to visit you in Canada while the sponsorship applications are processing takes an average of 3 –14 days.
Please see our pages on family sponsorship and Canadian visitor visa for more information on the processing times of these applications.
Costs of the Process
Government Fees
To learn about the costs of the sponsorship process, click here.
Other Fees – Disbursement Fees
Because the only language recognized in Saint Kitts and Nevis is English, documents must all be translated into English to be included in an application. Documents are also sent to Saint Kitts and Nevis and Kittian and Nevisian embassies by courier to ensure security, confidentiality, and confirmation of delivery. These costs are known as disbursement fees and are unique to each case; however the totalis typically less than $500 Canadian dollars.
Kittian and Nevisian Marriage Basic Requirements
In order to marry a citizen of Saint Kitts and Nevis, you must demonstrate to the Kittian and Nevisian government that you are eligible to do so. This includes:
- Proof of country of birth
- Proof of single status
- Proof of age requirement
Kittian and Nevisian Marriage Ceremony
The marriage ceremony to a Kittian and Nevisian citizen can legally take place in Saint Kitts and Nevis, Canada, or any other country as long as both parties have the necessary visas to enter this country legally. This marriage can then be recognized when applying for a permanent residence or a visitor visa for your Kittian and Nevisian spouse. To learn more about cereomny customs, see below.
Family Members
If your Kittian and Nevisian spouse has dependent children, this does not affect the Kittian and Nevisian Marriage document application.
If you have dependent children, they have no effect on the application to marry a Kittian and Nevisian citizen.
List of Kittian and Nevisian Consulates in Canada
Calling Saint Kitts and Nevis from Canada
To make a direct call to St. Kitts and Nevis from Canada, you need to follow the international dialing format given below. The dialing format is the same when calling St. Kitts and Nevis mobile or land line from Canada.
1 – 869 – local number
Canada and Saint Kitts and Nevis are part of the North American Numbering Plan (NANP). All NANP countries have country code 1. It is a normal long distance call.
Calling Canada from Saint Kitts and Nevis
To make a direct call to Canada from Saint Kitts and Nevis, you need to follow the international dialing format given below. The dialing format is the same when calling Canada mobile or land line from Saint Kitts and Nevis.
1 – Area Code – TEL #
Saint Kitts and Nevis and Canada are part of the North American Numbering Plan (NANP). This means your call is a normal long distance call.
List of area codes in Canada
| Province | Code | Province | Code |
| Alberta | 403 / 587 (southern Alberta)
587 / 780 (central and northern Alberta) |
Nunavut | 867 |
| BC | 236 / 250 / 778 (majority of BC)
236 / 604 / 778 (Metro Vancouver) |
Ontario | 226 / 519 (southwestern Ontario)
249 / 705 (northeastern Ontario) 289 / 365 / 905 (Greater Toronto Area) 343 / 613 (eastern Ontario) 416 / 647 (Toronto) 807 (northwestern Ontario) |
| Manitoba | 204 / 431 | PEI | 782 / 902 |
| New Brunswick | 506 | Quebec | 418 / 581 (eastern Quebec)
438 / 514 (Montreal) 450 / 579 (Greater Montreal) 819 / 873 (remainder of Quebec) |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 709 | Saskatchewan | 306 / 639 |
| Northwest Territories | 867 | Yukon | 867 |
| Nova Scotia | 782 / 902 |
Time Difference
Saint Kitts and Nevis are on Atlantic Standard Time. Due to their proximity to the equator, they do not observe Daylight Saving Time.
| Canadian Time Zone | # of Hours Saint Kitts and Nevis are Ahead or Behind | # of Hours during DST |
| Pacific (BC, Yukon) | 4 hours | 3 hours |
| Mountain (Alberta, western Nunvaut, Lloydminster, Saskatchewan) | 3 hours | 2 hours |
| Saskatchewan | 2 hours | 2 hours |
| Central (Manitoba, Northwest Territories, central Nunavut, northwestern Ontario) | 2 hours | 1 hour |
| Eastern (most of Ontario, most of Quebec) | 1 hour | Same Time |
| Atlantic (Labrador, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI, eastern Quebec) | Same Time | 1 hour behind |
| Newfoundland | 30 minutes behind | 90 minutes behind |
Emergency Information for Canadians in Saint Kitts and Nevis
There is no Canadian diplomatic mission in Saint Kitts or in Nevis. For assistance, contact the High Commission in Barbados.
High Commission of Canada in BridgetownBishop’s Court Hill, St. Michael Telephone: (246) 629-3550 |
View Larger Map |
The Government of Canada’s Travel Alerts for Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Kitts and Nevis Money
The East Caribbean dollar is the official currency of Saint Kitts and Nevis. It is also the currency of eight of the nine members of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (the one exception being the British Virgin Islands. It has existed since 1965, being the successor to the British West Indies dollar, and it is normally abbreviated with the dollar sign $ or, alternatively, EC$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies. The EC$ is subdivided into 100 cents.
Source: ExchangeRates.org.uk
Banknotes
The Banknotes come in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 dollar bills
$5
$10
$20
$50
$100
Coins
The coins come in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10 and 25 cents and 1 dollar
$1 coin
1 cent
2 cent
5 cents
10 cents
25 cents
Kittian and Nevisian Wedding Traditions
Marriage is undertaken in St. Kitts and Nevis as both a social responsibility and a sign of adulthood. The reasons given for marriage emphasize love, though parents pressure children, especially females, who are old enough to marry but are not involved in socializing. Sexual experimentation before marriage is reluctantly accepted, and that has resulted in many children on Saint Kitts/Nevis being born out of wedlock.
It is expected that in St. Kitts and Nevus, when one gets married that the whole family on both side are invited. However, the cost is born by the bride and groom or if the parents want to chip in they can. Most of the weddings in St. Kitts and Nevis are normally carried out either in church or at the beaches.
A newly married couple may reside with either set of parents at first but will prefer to live in their own domicile, though usually close to other relatives. With the high percentage of different people from different walks of life, there are an increasing number of mixed marriages. However, the kinship ties between off-islanders and residents continue to be strong.
Religion in St. Kitts and Nevis
The constitution of St. Kitts and Nevis provides for freedom of religion, and other laws and policies contributed to the generally free practice of religion in the country.
The government generally respects religious freedom in practice. There is respect for religious freedom by the government.
There have not been any reports of societal abuses or discrimination based on religious affiliation, belief, or practice recently, and prominent societal leaders are taking positive steps to promote religious freedom.
The country has an area of 104 square miles and a population of 46,000. Christianity is the dominant religion. An estimated 50 percent of the population adheres to Anglican beliefs, and 25 percent is Roman Catholic. There are Methodists, Moravians, Seventh-day Adventists, Jehovah’s Witnesses, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), Rastafarians, Muslims, Hindus, and members of the Baha’i Faith. Evangelical Christian groups are gaining followers. There is no organized Jewish community.
The constitution provides for freedom of religion, and other laws and policies contributed to the generally free practice of religion. The government is secular and does not interfere with an individual’s right to worship.
The government observes the following religious holidays as national holidays: Good Friday, Easter, Whit Monday, and Christmas.
The Ministry of Social Development is responsible for registering religious groups in the country.
There were two Catholic schools and a Seventh-day Adventist school. The government does not contribute financially to these schools. The government required all schools to conduct morning Christian prayers and hymns.
Rastafarians complained that the government prohibited the use of marijuana, which they claimed was integral to their religious rituals.
The local leader of the Muslim community runs the Community Cohesion Office, a government program to promote civil society in Nevis.
The government generally respects religious freedom in practice in the country and there have never been reports of any religious prisoners or detainees in the country like many countries worldwide. There have never been any reports of forced religious conversion either.
There have never been reports of societal abuses or discrimination based on religious affiliation, belief, or practice, and prominent societal leaders have also taken positive steps to promote religious freedom. Rastafarians, however, complained of discrimination, especially in hiring and in schools.
The Saint Kitts Christian Council, which includes Anglican, Catholic, Methodist, and other traditional Christian religious groups, are conducting activities to promote greater mutual understanding and respect among different Christian denominations. The Evangelical Association united 11 churches in the evangelical community and promotes their interests.
Churches in Saint Kitts and Nevis
Immaculate Conception Church – Basseterre, St. Kitts
St. Landry Catholic Church – Basseterre, St. Kitts
St. Georges Anglican Church – Basseterre, St. Kitts
Saint George’s Church
Saint Thomas Anglican Church – Cotton Ground, Nevis
Cottle Church – Rawlins, Nevis
Romantic, Scenic and Historic Places in Saint Kitts and Nevis
Hotels
Four Seasons – Charlestown, Nevis
This Charlestown resort is located on an island, nestled on the beach a short distance from Four Seasons Golf Course, Pinney’s Beach, and Museum of Nevis History. Nearby attractions also include Fort Charles. It has a full-service spa and 4 restaurants
The Hermitage – Charlestown, Nevis
The Hermitage is located in Charlestown. This spa cottage is close to Nevis Botanical Garden, Museum of Nevis History, and Fort Charles. Other area attractions also include Four Seasons Golf Course and Pinney’s Beach. In addition to a restaurant, The Hermitage also has an outdoor pool, a coffee shop/café and a bar/lounge. Televisions come with cable/satellite channels. Guestrooms also feature balconies, kitchenettes, and refrigerators.
Montpelier Plantation & Beach – Charlestown, Nevis
It is located near the beach in Charlestown; this resort is close to Nevis Botanical Garden, Museum of Nevis History and Fort Charles. Area attractions also include Four Seasons Golf Course and Pinney’s Beach. Montpelier Plantation & Beach offers a complimentary English breakfast. Other amenities include a beach shuttle, a full-service spa, and a beach bar. Guestrooms open to patios with sea views and feature premium bedding and air conditioning.
Nelson Spring Beach Villas Spa – Charlestown, Nevis
Nelson Spring Beach Villas Spa is situated near the beach in Charlestown; this villa is close to Four Season Golf Courses, Pinney’s Beach and Museum of Nevis History. Area attractions also include Fort Charles and Nevis Botanical Garden. It also has an outdoor pool and a fitness facility. The villa also features a full-service spa and massage/treatment rooms. Flat-panel televisions come with satellite channels. Guestrooms also feature balconies, washers/dryers, and wireless Internet access.
Timothy Beach Resort – Frigate Bay, St. Kitts
Located on a slender peninsula between the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, this resort faces golden sands and clear waters, and is a mile from the Royal St Kitts Golf Club. Timothy Beach Resort rooms have balconies or patios with views of the Caribbean Sea or Timothy Hill, a steep green slope behind the resort.
Mount Nevis Hotel and Beach Club – Newcastle, Nevis
This beach condo property is situated in Newcastle. It is located near four Seasons Golf Course and Pinney’s Beach. Recreational amenities at Mount Nevis Hotel and Beach Club include an outdoor pool and a fitness facility. The condo property also features a restaurant and a bar/lounge.
Nisbet Plantation Beach Club – Newcastle, Nevis
It is located on 30 acres fronting the Atlantic. Nisbet Plantation Beach Club was originally built as a sugar plantation in 1778. It is 13 km away from historic Charlestown, Nevis’ capital. It has yellow cottages which hold 36 guestrooms with vaulted ceilings. Patios or balconies provide partial-ocean views.
Oualie Beach Resort – Newcastle, Nevis
Oualie Beach Resort is nestled right on Oualie Beach, Oualie Bay, on the sheltered Leeward coast of Nevis. The swimming is shallow, calm and safe. It has a tiny Chill Spa. The rooms are scattered along the beach in one and two storey gingerbread cottages all with free Wifi, access fridge, private bathrooms, coffee maker, phone, hairdryer, shower, screened porch and in-room safe.
Beaches
Cockleshell Bay Beach – Basseterre, St. Kitts
Cockleshell Bay Beach is a long stretch of golden sand beach located next to Banana Bay at the tip of the Southeast Peninsula. It is a great beach for swimming and is fast becoming a popular spot for beach picnics on public holidays. This Caribbean beach was once home to the Cockleshell Hotel.
Major’s Bay Beach – Basseterre, St. Kitts
Majors Bay has a long stretch of golden sand beach. The beach at Majors Bay is lovely, the waters warm and calm. It is perfect for those who are looking to get away from the crowds.
South Friar’s Bay Beach – Basseterre, St. Kitts
It is located on the Southeast Peninsula; South Friar’s Bay Beach is a great swimming beach with a long stretch of golden sand and calm waters. This Caribbean beach which is a favorite for both tourists and locals is perfect for water sports, especially snorkeling.
South Beach – Frigate Bay, St. Kitts
Frigate Bay South Beach is the most popular and amazing beach in St Kitts. It is located in the Southeast Peninsula. This Caribbean beach has a long stretch of golden sand and the waters are mostly calm. There are beach bars and restaurants that sell a variety of cold drinks and mouthwatering foods. This beach is ideal for swimming, windsurfing, and water skiing.
Pump Bay Beach – Sandy Point Town, St. Kitts
Pump Bay Beach is an intriguing black/grey beach located in the town of Sandy Point. Sandy Point lies on the south western coast of St. Kitts some 10 miles west of the capital city of Basseterre. Pump Bay is a popular beach among the residents of the Sandy Point, Fig Tree and La Valle communities.
Sponsoring Your Kittian or Nevisian Spouse to Canada
The sponsorship process is complicated and lengthy. To learn more about applying, click the button below:
