Local Laws

CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While you are traveling in another country, you are subject to its laws. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different from our own. Persons violating St. Kitts and Nevis laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. Penalties for possession,using, or trafficking in illegal drugs or firearms in St. Kitts and Nevis are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines.

It is important to note that the prison on St. Kitts was built in the 1800s. As a result, the facility is outdated and conditions are not on par with those found in U.S. prisons. In St. Kitts and Nevis, driving under the influence could land you immediately in jail. If you break local laws in St. Kitts and Nevis, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution.

There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States. You can be prosecuted in the United States for engaging in sexual conduct with children or for using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country regardless of the legality of these activities under that country’s laws. Counterfeit and pirated goods are illegal in the United States and if you purchase them in a foreign country, you may be breaking local law as well.

Arrest notifications in host country: While some countries will automatically notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate if a U.S. citizen is detained or arrested in that country, others may not. To ensure that the United States is aware of your circumstances, request that the police and prison officials notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate as soon as you are arrested or detained overseas.

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: There is no U.S. Embassy or Consulate in St. Kitts and Nevis. The U.S. Embassy in Bridgetown, Barbados is responsible for consular issues on St. Kitts and Nevis, including U.S. citizen services.

WOMEN TRAVELER INFORMATION: If you are a woman traveling abroad, please review our travel tips for Women Travelers.

LGBT RIGHTS: The law criminalizes consensual same-sex sexual activity between men, which carries a penalty up to 10 years in prison, but there is relaxed enforcement of this law. The law does not prohibit sexual activity between women. There are no laws that prohibit discrimination against a person on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. Societal attitudes towards the LGBT community impede the operation of LGBT organizations and the free association of LGBT persons. The government asserts that it does not regularly receive reports of violence or discrimination based on sexual orientation; however, unofficial reports indicate that violence and discrimination remain a problem. Anecdotal evidence suggests that LGBT persons are reluctant to report incidents of violence or abuse out of fear of retribution or reprisal due to their sexual orientation. In August 2013, the prime minister publicly called for tolerance toward LGBT persons and an end to discrimination and stigmatization as a way to combat the spread of HIV. He argued that discrimination against LGBT persons affected their willingness and ability to seek medical treatment or counseling on disease prevention. For more detailed information about LGBT rights in St. Kitts and Nevis, you may review the State Department’s Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2013. For further information on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) travel, please read our LGBT Travel Information page.

All Caribbean countries can be affected by hurricanes. The hurricane season normally runs from early June to the end of November, but there have been hurricanes in December in recent years. General information about natural disaster preparedness is available via the Internet from the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Information on hurricane preparedness abroad is provided at, Hurricane Season: Know Before You Go.

St. Kitts and Nevis use eminent domain laws that allow the government to legally expropriate private property for the betterment of the public. The concept of eminent domain and the expropriation of private property is typically governed by laws that require governments to adequately compensate owners of the expropriated property at the time of its expropriation or soon thereafter. The government of St. Kitts and Nevis uses eminent domain to acquire private property, and the law in St. Kitts and Nevis requires the government to compensate owners. However, in practice, the government of St. Kitts and Nevis has often not paid compensation for private property expropriated under its eminent domain laws. Currently the U.S. Embassy in Bridgetown is aware of several cases involving the seizure of private land by the government. One such case has been under litigation since 1987 and is yet to be resolved, despite a favorable court ruling for the property owner. The U.S. Embassy therefore recommends caution when investing in real estate in St. Kitts and Nevis.

U.S. citizens are encouraged to carry a copy of their citizenship documents with them at all times so, if questioned by local officials, proof of identity and U.S. citizenship are readily available.