St Kitts and Nevis signs full visa waiver agreement with African Nation São Tomé and Príncipe

St Kitts and Nevis signed a full visa waiver agreement with African Nation São Tomé and Principe through high representatives of both countries in New York on Wednesday.

With the new signing with São Tomé and Principe, St Kitts and Nevis passport now allow visa-free or visa upon arrival access to 161 countries worldwide. It moved St Kitts and Nevis ahead of Mexico and Israel and drew us level with Barbados for the number one passport in the Caribbean region and number 24 globally.

The Henley and Partners Passport Index published in 2021 placed St Kitts and Nevis passport ranking as 2nd in the Caribbean and 26th globally. The Index, considered authoritative globally, said that St Kitts and Nevis passports allowed visa-free or visa upon arrival access to some 157 countries worldwide.

Ahead of St Kitts and Nevis were Mexico and Israel, whose passports allowed visa-free access or visa upon arrival to 158 countries worldwide. Mexico and Israel were tied for 25th in the world.

In the Caribbean, Barbados occupied the number 1 ranking and 24th in the world with visa-free or visa upon arrival access to 161 countries worldwide.

A few months ago, Foreign Minister Mark Brantley travelled to Belgrade, Serbia and signed visa waiver agreements with Palestine and with African Nations Burkina Faso and Gabon. Those signings brought St Kitts and Nevis’ passports to accessing 160 countries worldwide visa-free or visa upon arrival.

In Serbia, Brantley also started discussions on visa waiver arrangements with the Foreign Minister of São Tomé, and Principe HE Edite do Ramos da Costa Ten Jua.

"I thank PS Kay Bass and our ambassadors and diplomatic staff at our various Embassies and High Commissions globally for making this milestone possible," wrote Brantley.