Taxi Operators

Tour Operators / Tour Companies are required to submit an official letter to the Ministry of Tourism when making a request for a driver, a translator, or a tour guide to be trained. This only applies to tour operators/companies with a valid business license and three or more vehicles. Tour Operators need not make a request for certification for individuals who possess a taxi operator permit. The following are the steps for certifying drivers, translators, or tour guides:

Step 1: Tour Operator or Tour Company completes the relevant application form at the Ministry of Tourism requesting for drivers, translators, or tour guides to be trained.

Step 2: The Ministry of Tourism compiles a list of candidates approved for training and submits this list to the St. Kitts Tourism Authority.

Step 3: The St. Kitts Tourism Authority will contact the list of candidates approved by the Ministry of Tourism for training and will require the tour operators / company to submit the following documents for the candidate(s):

• Driver’s License – Class A license required (Certified Driver)
• Police Record- a record of violence, gun violence or drug related charges will not be considered.
• Proof of citizenship (if not a national)- non-nationals without citizenship will not be considered
• Birth Certificate- individual must be 21 years old or older.
• Proof of pre-booked or online bookings by your company for at least three months.

Step 4: The St. Kitts Tourism Authority reviews the tour operator’s documents to ensure compliance. The following must be verified:

• Number of drivers, translators or tour guides requested does not exceed number of registered vehicles. For example, if the company has 3 vehicles, they can have 3 drivers/translators/tour guides (including themselves if necessary).
• Tour Operator possesses a valid tour operator business license.
• Tour Operator taxi and tour bus permit is valid.

Step 5: The St. Kitts Tourism Authority submits a document to the Ministry of Tourism with the list of candidates for approval. This document will include status of their police record, class of driver’s license and citizenship. The document will also indicate which candidates meet the minimum standards and which candidates do not. Upon receipt and review of all the required documents from the selected candidates, the St. Kitts Tourism Authority will submit to the Ministry of Tourism a list of all candidates, indicating the individuals who have met the minimum requirements and the individuals who have not met the minimum requirements. Should the Ministry of Tourism wish to grant an exception to any of the individuals who have not met the minimum requirements, the Ministry will return the name(s) of the exempted individual(s) with an approved signature.

Step 6: Once the documents submitted meet the requirements and the Ministry validates the candidates, the Tour Operator or Tour Company will receive an official letter and a call from the St. Kitts Tourism Authority stating that their employee has met the requirements and has been selected for the St. Kitts Ambassador Training Program. The letter will include the date, time, and location for training. Attached to the letter will be the Registration Form for Training and the required additional documents to pay the registration fee of $100 XCD.

Step 7: Candidates complete the St. Kitts Ambassador training in the following modules:

• Customer Service
• Destination History
• Conflict Resolution
• Tourism Awareness
• Legislation
• Code of Conduct

Step 8: Candidates complete a quiz at the end the training. Candidates must achieve a grade of seventy percent (70%) to be considered successful. Candidates who are unsuccessful the first time sitting the exam will be given a second opportunity to sit the exam.

Step 9: After individual(s) successfully completes the training, companies are notified of the status of the individual(s) via letter (approved or not approved).

Step 10: The Company is given a Certified Driver / Certified Translator / Certified Tour Guide form and Code of Conduct to give to the individual(s) to complete and submit to the St. Kitts Tourism Authority along with a fee of 150 XCD to process their permit.

Step 11: Before permit is issued to the candidate, Management must sign on Approved by on the Certified Driver / Certified Translator / Certified Tour Guide Form. The individual’s permit is created and must include the following:

• Name of Certified Individual
• Company Name
• Identification Number
• Expiration date which is one year after issued date
• Medical certificate (including results of eye and ear examination)

Permits are valid for one year. Candidates will read and sign the code of conduct prior to receiving the permit.

Step 12: Candidates who are successful and submitted all their documents will be issued a Temporary Probation Permit. This permit is for three months. After the three months, if the St. Kitts Tourism Authority has not received any reports of noncompliance, the individual will be issued their permit.