Shipping From Canada
to Saint Kitts and Nevis.

Documents Only

The following items are considered to be document shipments to St. Kitts and Nevis:

• Advertising literature
• Airline tickets
• Blueprints and drawings
• Books, manuscripts, and publications
• Brochures and pamphlets
• Business cards
• Calendars
• Cash letters, negotiable bonds, and drafts
• Catalogues and price lists
• Cheques
• Computer print-outs
• Driver's licence
• Graphs
• Invitations and greeting cards
• Intercompany mail and annual reports
• Magazines, newspapers, and periodicals
• Maps
• Passports
• Photographs
• Specifications sheets
• Transparencies
• Visa applications

Customs officials of St. Kitts and Nevis will allow the following items into their country as a document shipment provided they abide by the restriction shown.

Sources:
https://www.ups.com/ga/CountryRegs?loc=en_CA

Shipping Gifts

Gift shipments up to a value of $200 USD (about $250 CAD) are allowed a duty- and tax-free entry into St. Kitts and Nevis.

Shipments from Individual-to-Individual

Gifts sent from an individual in Canada to an individual in St. Kitts and Nevis will be exempt from duties and taxes up to a value of $200 USD (about $250 CAD).

Shipments from Business-to-Business

Gift shipments entering the islands of St. Kitts and Nevis may enter exempt from VAT and duty if the parcel's value is no more than $200 USD (about $250 CAD).

Shipments from Business-to-Individual

Customs officials of St. Kitts and Nevis allow gifts to enter duty and tax free if their value does not exceed $200 USD (about $250).

Gift Checklist

• A commercial invoice must be included with your shipment
• The words 'Gift Shipment' or 'Unsolicited Gift' are included on the commercial invoice, even if the shipment is sent at Christmas time (see sample)
• List the items in the parcel and write the value of each
• Sending more than one gift in the parcel? Wrap and tag each one individually.

Multiple Gifts in One Shipment

If your parcel contains multiple gifts, we recommend that you wrap and tag each one separately.

Sources:
https://www.fedex.com/en-us/ancillary-clearance-service.html

Shipping Personal Effects

For citizens of St. Kitts and Nevis who are returning permanently to their country, they will be allowed to ship their personal effects exempt from duties provided:

• He or she has lived overseas continuously for a minimum of 10 years
• The goods will not be sold or gifted
• All of the goods will be used by the shipper or his or her family
• The claimant DOES NOT live abroad for more than 3 continuous months during the first 3 years after returning home
• The shipment enters: a) From 3 months before or 3 months after the claimant's arrival; or b) 6 months after he or she has returned to St. Kitts and Nevis

Moving Temporarily

Students

Students returning to St. Kitts and Nevis from their studies overseas may import their personal effects exempt from customs duties* if:

• They have been away for no more than 10 years
• They can provide documentary proof of having been studying at a college or university

*This will be at the discretion of the Controller of Customs

Non-students

There is no information at this time concerning non-students moving temporarily to St. Kitts and Nevis.

Moving Permanently

St. Kitts and Nevis nationals who return to the country to live permanently may ship their personal effects without payment of duty fees as long as:

• The items are for the use of the claimant and will remain in his or her possession, i.e. they are not to be given away or sold
• The claimant has lived abroad continuously for at least 10 years
• The goods enter the country from 3 months before to 3 months after the applicant OR within 6 months of the owner's arrival in the country
• Within the first 3 years of returning home, the individual does not live any longer than 3 months continuously abroad

Personal Effects Checklist

• A commercial invoice must be included with your shipment
• Commercial invoice must clearly indicate 'Personal Effects' (see sample)
• A detailed description of each item is provided

Sources:
https://www.skncustoms.com/Show-Page.aspx?PageID=277

Food, Chocolate, Candies

Foodstuffs may enter St. Kitts and Nevis duty-free provided the shipment weighs no more than 30 kg.

You May Ship

• Chocolate
• Candy

Do Not Ship

• Perishable goods - meat, fish, produce

Food, Chocolate, Candies Checklist

• Clearly indicate 'Food' on the commercial invoice in the General Description or Remarks section (see sample)
• Ensure that your food, chocolate, or candies may be imported into the country
• You are not shipping commercial quantities (for any duty & tax exemption)
• Check with your carrier that they will accept food shipments

Sources:
https://skncustoms.com/pdfs/Statutory_Rules_And_Orders_1974_No22.pdf
https://www.fda.gov/food/importing-food-products-united-states/prior-notice-policy-sending-gifts-your-friends-and-family

Samples

Samples of products for display to potential buyers may enter St. Kitts and Nevis duty-free provided they do not have commercial value, i.e. cannot be exchanged for money. (This can be done by marking or mutilating the samples.)

Commercial Sample Checklist

• A Commercial Invoice must be included with your shipment
• Clearly indicate 'Commercial Samples' on the commercial invoice in the General Description & Detailed Description of Goods (see sample)
• The item shipped has tearing, perforation, slashing, defacing, or has permanent marking clearing indicating the item as commercial sample

Sources:
https://skncustoms.com/pdfs/Statutory_Rules_And_Orders_1974_No22.pdf

Advertising Material

Advertising materials that are imported into St. Kitts and Nevis with the intention of being exhibited will be allowed a duty-free entry into the country.

Advertising Material Checklist

• Commercial invoice must clearly indicate 'Promotional Material - Not for Resale' (see sample)
• A detailed description of each item is provided

Sources:
https://skncustoms.com/pdfs/Statutory_Rules_And_Orders_1974_No22.pdf[38. SAMPLES]

Repairs

Goods shipped to St. Kitts and Nevis for repairs may enter the country exempt from import duties as long as it can be shown to customs that this is the intent of the importation.

Items Under Warranty

Whether items are under warranty or not, they may be repaired in St. Kitts and Nevis without payment of duty fees, provided customs agents are satisfied that this is the true purpose of the shipment.

Items No Longer Under Warranty

Items from St. Kitts and Nevis that are no longer under warranty and repaired in Canada will incur Canadian duty and GST. However, these goods will be allowed a duty-free re-entry into St. Kitts and Nevis.

Sending Product for Repair to Saint Kitts and Nevis

Provided the Comptroller of Customs approves, equipment and machinery shipped to St. Kitts and Nevis for repairs will be allowed a duty-free entry

Returning Repaired Product to Saint Kitts and Nevis

Products - machinery, equipment, etc. - repaired in Canada may re-enter St. Kitts and Nevis exempt from duty charges. (However, Canadian customs will apply duty and GST fees to this transaction.)

Repair Checklist

• Commercial invoice must clearly indicate 'REPAIR & RETURN' under the General Description or Remarks, and include the estimated time of return(see sample)
• Include repair contract with shipment
• Serial or product number and the cost of repairs should be indicated under the Detailed Description of Goods section
• Include the original shipping documents or tracking number from when the item was first exported to Saint Kitts and Nevis or exported to Canada (depending on which case applies)
• A commercial invoice must be included with your shipment

Sources:
https://skncustoms.com/pdfs/Statutory_Rules_And_Orders_1974_No22.pdf

Temporary Imports

Temporary imports may enter St. Kitts and Nevis exempt from customs duties as long as the goods stay no longer than 12 months in the country. (A longer time period may be allowed by the Comptroller of Customs on a case-by-case basis.)

NOTE:
Customs may require a security deposit equal to duties owed, which will be refunded when officials are satisfied that the items have been returned to Canada.

ATA Carnets

The government of St. Kitts and Nevis does not accept ATA Carnets for the temporary importation of goods.

Temporary Imports Checklist

• Commercial Invoice clearly stating 'Temporary Import'. This must be written in the General Description section and the Detailed Description of Goods. (see sample)
• The goods arrive and leave in the same condition, i.e. they undergo no repairs nor are they used in manufacturing
• Stay no longer than the period listed above
• Include your ATA Carnet with your shipment (if applicable)
• Include the expected return date or the date that it was originally received within the country (whichever applies)
• Any above listed items not listed in this checklist

Sources:
https://skncustoms.com/Customs%20Act%202014/Duties,%20Refund%20and%20Drawbacks.pdf
https://www.atacarnet.com/carnet-countries

Permanent/Sold Goods

All sold goods entering St. Kitts and Nevis will incur duty fees and VAT regardless of their value. There are no de minimis values below which no duties or taxes are collected.

Occasional Shipper

Even if you only occasionally ship sold goods to St. Kitts and Nevis from Canada, for e.g. Through eBay, your parcel will have duties and taxes applied to it.

Regular shipper

If you regularly ship sold goods to St. Kitts and Nevis, we recommend that you use the services of a local licenced customs broker. This will ensure that all paperwork is completed (C100 entry forms) and submitted correctly and in a timely fashion.

Sources:
https://docs.wto.org/dol2fe/Pages/SS/directdoc.aspx?filename=q:/WT/TPR/S299R1-05.pdf&Open=True