Turkey has suspended the visa exemption for citizens of Saint Kitts and Nevis with effect from May 1, 2025.
The two countries had signed the “Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Turkey and the Government of Saint Christopher (St. Kitts) and Nevis on Mutual Visa Exemption” on April 19, 2012, with the decision having been approved by the Council of Ministers.
Nationals of Saint Kitts and Nevis who hold ordinary passports could previously travel to Turkey without a visa for a stay of up to 90 days. Individuals holding diplomatic or official passports are still exempt from obtaining a visa and can stay in Turkey for up to 90 days.
This move by Turkey comes on the heels of the vote to approve amendments to the European Union visa regulations by the European Parliament’s Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice, and Home Affairs (LIBE) on March 19, 2025. The proposed amendments target third countries offering citizenship by investment programs.
The dual-island nation in the Caribbean offers a citizenship by investment program, with a minimum investment of US$250,000 in exchange for citizenship. Currently, citizens of Saint Kitts and Nevis can travel to over 150 countries without a visa, offering a high degree of international mobility.
The approval of the LIBE proposal means that Saint Kitts and Nevis, along with several other Caribbean countries offering similar programs, such as Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, and Saint Lucia, may lose their visa-free access to the EU.
