St. Kitts and Nevis shorten ‘vacation in place’ quarantine to 24 hours

TORONTO — St. Kitts and Nevis have shortened their mandatory ‘vacation in place’ quarantine down to 24 hours for fully vaccinated international air travellers.

Previously the quarantine was four days.

Within 24 hours upon arrival into St. Kitts and Nevis, travellers staying at their ‘Travel Approved’ accommodation will be tested for COVID-19. Upon receipt of a negative RT PCR test, travellers are free to explore the islands.

As announced on May 29, 2021 only fully vaccinated travellers are allowed into St. Kitts and Nevis. Children under the age of 18 accompanying their fully vaccinated parents or guardians are exempt.

St. Kitts and Nevis consider a traveller to be fully vaccinated when two weeks have passed since receiving their second dose of a two dose vaccine series (Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca/Oxford, Sinopharm or Sinovac), or two weeks after they have received a single dose vaccine (Johnson & Johnson). Mixed dose vaccination using the above approved vaccines is accepted.

All travellers must still submit proof of negative test results from an RT PCR test 72 hours prior to arrival on St. Kitts and Nevis.

Here’s a checklist of travel requirements …

Proof of vaccination is a scanned copy of the traveller’s official COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card. Upon submission of their vaccination card and completion of their travel authorization form, once verified, international travellers will receive authorization of their vaccination card and a KN number.
Travellers must complete the Travel Authorization Form on the national website (www.knatravelform.kn), including uploading their proof of vaccination and proof of booking at a ‘Travel Approved’ hotel.
Upon submission of a completed KNA travel form, the traveler must upload their official COVID-19 RT-PCR negative test result from a CLIA/CDC/UKAS approved lab accredited with ISO/IEC 17025 standard taken 72 hours prior to travel. There are no exceptions to the 72-hour timeframe, say the islands.
Upon submission of the copy of their official vaccination card and copy of their COVID-19 RT-PCR test negative result, the traveller’s information will be reviewed and they will receive an approval letter to enter the Federation.
For their trip, the traveller should bring a copy of their COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card and their negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test. Acceptable COVID-19 RT-PCR tests must be taken by nasopharyngeal sample. Self-samples, rapid tests, or home tests will be considered invalid.
International travellers will undergo a health screening at the airport which includes a temperature check and a health questionnaire. Upon arrival, if a fully vaccinated traveler is exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 during the health screening, they can be required to undergo a RT- PCR test at the airport at their own cost (US$150).
Fully vaccinated international travellers arriving by air will be asked to Vacation in Place at a ‘Travel Approved’ hotel for 24 hours. Fully vaccinated international travellers arriving by air will be tested within the first 24 hours of their stay (US$150).
Since May 1, 2021 fully vaccinated international travellers arriving by air have been required to submit an exit RT-PCR test ($150).
Here’s the list of ‘Travel Approved’ hotels and resorts: Four Seasons Resort Nevis; Golden Rock Inn; Marriott Beach Club; Montpelier Plantation & Beach; Paradise Beach; Park Hyatt; and Royal St. Kitts Hotel

All the details are at https://www.stkittstourism.kn/travel-requirements. And click here for Travelweek’s in-depth Sept. 2021 interview with Racquel Brown, CEO of the St. Kitts Tourism Authority.