National Assembly passes Citizenship Amendment Bill for diaspora descendants
The new law creates a route for eligible descendants of Kittitians and Nevisians born abroad to register as citizens.
BASSETERRE, St Kitts. The National Assembly has passed the St Christopher and Nevis Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2026, opening a pathway for eligible descendants of Kittitians and Nevisians living overseas to apply for registration as citizens.
The bill was piloted on Friday by Attorney General Garth Wilkin, who is also acting minister with responsibility for citizenship and immigration. It received its first reading on 18 September.
According to the government, the legislation closes a longstanding gap that created barriers for some descendants born abroad after Independence in 1983. People with qualifying parental or grandparental links to St Kitts and Nevis will be able to apply.
Rather than amending the Constitution, the bill uses the registration mechanism already provided under Section 92(1)(h).
"The spirit (of the law) was right. The letter was narrower than anyone had supposed," the Attorney General told the House.
Mr Wilkin noted that generations of nationals had migrated to the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada and Bermuda while keeping close ties with home.
Speaking during the debate, Acting Prime Minister Dr Geoffrey Hanley urged young professionals and entrepreneurs in the diaspora to use the new route to contribute to national development.
Detailed eligibility rules, documentation requirements and a start date have not yet been published. Officials said implementation arrangements will set out how applicants can access the pathway.
