CANADA TO PROVIDE BIOMETRIC PROCESSING FOR VISA APPLICATIONS IN ST. KITTS AND NEVIS

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (Friday, August 18, 2023) — The Government of Canada is pleased to announce that Canadian officials will be in St. Kitts and Nevis from Friday, September 15 to Saturday, September 16, 2023, to carry out biometric processing for persons wishing to obtain visas. 

As part of the visa application process, nationals from St. Kitts and Nevis must provide biometric information (fingerprints and a photo) when applying for a Canadian visitor visa, study, work, or temporary residence permit, or for permanent residence. During the upcoming September dates, visa applicants may take the opportunity to provide biometric information on St. Kitts rather than travelling abroad. Outside of this visit, standard procedures remain for St. Kitts and Nevis to travel to biometrics collection points in Barbados, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, or Trinidad and Tobago.

If you are planning to travel to Canada for study, business, tourism, family reunions or other reasons, please complete your online visa application as soon as possible in order to take advantage of this opportunity in September. This exercise is geared towards the following individuals: 

1. St. Kitts and Nevis nationals who anticipate travel to Canada and do not meet the eligibility criteria for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA); 

a. Visit Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada for full eTA eligibility requirements for St. Kitts and Nevis nationals: https://tinyurl.com/eTASKN. Please note that travellers with a passport from one of the eligible countries still need a valid visitor visa if driving to Canada from the U.S. by car or arriving by bus, train or boat, including a cruise ship (even if they are not leaving the ship). 

2. Persons who have already applied whether online or by mail for a visa, work or study permit or for permanent residence and have received their Biometric Instruction Letter; and 

3. Nationals of other biometric information-required countries residing in St. Kitts and Nevis planning to travel to Canada. 

In order to book an appointment for biometrics collection, please write to: [email protected] 

Please note the cut-off date for scheduling an appointment is Friday, September 8, 2023, and there are a limited number of appointments available for the two-day collection visit. Appointments will be scheduled on a first come, first served basis. We will not be able to accommodate appointment requests after that date unless cancellations are received. 

Canadian officials will be pleased to assist applicants who have appointments and the required Biometrics Instruction Letter and passport in hand during the hours listed below. Officials will not be collecting applications or biometric information from applicants who have not received this letter. 

The biometrics collection will take place from 08:30 to 16:30 on Friday, September 15 and Saturday, September 16 at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort, Frigate Bay, St. Kitts. 

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