The St. Kitts visitor’s driving permit, explained – SKN Transit Skip to content

The St. Kitts visitor's driving permit, explained

Every visitor who drives in St. Kitts and Nevis needs a local temporary driving permit as well as their own licence. It is quick, it is cheap, and it catches people out at the rental counter. Here is exactly what it is and how to get one.

What it is

A St. Kitts and Nevis visitor's temporary driving permit is a local licence issued to visitors. You carry it with your own licence from home; it does not replace it. Without it you are not licensed to drive here, whatever your own licence says and whatever an International Driving Permit might suggest.

How to get one

Before you travel

Apply online at eservices.police.kn, the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force e-services portal. Doing it in advance means you collect your car and go.

At the rental counter

Ask the rental company to arrange it when you collect the vehicle. This is what most visitors do. Bring your physical licence, not a photograph of it, and allow a few extra minutes at pickup.

What you need to bring

  • Your own valid driving licence, held for at least two years
  • Your passport
  • A credit card in the driver's name, for the rental deposit

Driving here once you have it

Traffic drives on the left. Most rental cars are left hand drive, so you sit where you would at home and drive on the opposite side. Roundabouts turn clockwise and you give way to the right. Take the first few junctions slowly and it stops feeling strange quickly.

Main roads are good. Roads into the hills and around the peninsula are narrower, and livestock genuinely does wander onto them, so drive for the road you are on rather than the one you are used to.

It covers both islands

The permit is federal, so it is valid in Nevis as well as St. Kitts. Your car usually is not: rentals are collected and returned on the same island, so if you are crossing for the day, leave it and travel as a foot passenger.

Ready to book?

See current rates, the full fee list and every collection branch. Not sure a car is right for your trip? Read whether you need one at all, or skip the driving entirely with a guided island tour. For every other way around both islands, see getting around St. Kitts and Nevis.

The visitor's driving permit: questions people ask

Do I need a driving permit to drive in St. Kitts?
Yes. Every visitor who drives in St. Kitts and Nevis needs a local visitor's temporary driving permit, carried alongside your own valid licence from home. Your home licence on its own is not enough, and neither is an International Driving Permit.
How do I get a St. Kitts visitor's driving permit?
Two ways. Apply online before you travel at eservices.police.kn, or ask the rental company to arrange it when you collect the car. Most people let the counter do it, because it takes a few minutes and they do it every day.
What do I need to apply?
Your own valid driving licence, held for at least two years, and a passport. If the counter is arranging it, bring the licence with you rather than a photo of it on your phone.
How long is the permit valid?
It is issued as a temporary permit for visitors, long enough to cover a normal holiday. If you are staying for an extended period, say so when you apply so you are issued the right duration.
Is an International Driving Permit enough?
No. An IDP does not replace the local visitor's permit in St. Kitts and Nevis. You still need the local one, so do not rely on an IDP you arranged at home.
Does the permit cover Nevis too?
Yes. It is a St. Kitts and Nevis permit, so it is valid on both islands. Your rental car, on the other hand, usually is not: most companies want the vehicle left on the island you hired it on.
What happens if I drive without one?
You are driving without a valid licence for the Federation, which is an offence, and your insurance position after any incident would be poor. It takes a few minutes to do properly, so do it properly.