Last updated: 23 Oct 2025
St Vincent and the Grenadines
About
| Geography: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is an island country in the Lesser Antilles chain in the southern portion of the Windward Islands. It consists of the main island of Saint Vincent and the northern two-thirds of the Grenadines, which are a chain of smaller islands stretching south from Saint Vincent Island to Grenada. Visit the lively port and market town of Kingstown; the capital of St Vincent. The town contains 12 small blocks with a variety of shops and a busy dock area, which is the centre of commerce for the islands. The Saturday morning market, comprising many stalls piled high with fresh fruit and vegetables, brings everyone to town. Head to the centre of Kingstown where you will find St Mary's Roman Catholic Cathedral. Take in the oldest Botanical Gardens in the western hemisphere, Head to the fishing villages of Questelles, Layou, Barrouallie and Châteaubelair, all of which have charming pastel-coloured cottages and excellent black-sand beaches from which fishermen set out daily in small brightly painted boats. Watch men building their boats by hand in Admiralty Bay, the island's natural harbour and a favourite anchoring spot for yachtsmen from all over the world. The attractive region around Lower Bay has good opportunities for swimming and other watersports. |
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| Capital: | Kingstown (SVD) |
| Currency: | Eastern Caribbean Dollar (XCD) |
| Language: | English. Creole is spoken locally. |
| Dialling code from SA: | + 1 784 |
| Time Zones: | UTC / GMT -4 (6 hours behind South Africa) |
| Side of the Road: | Left. |
| Best Time to go: | Year-round destination, but hurricane season is July-October. The best time to go is May – June and November. Peak season is December – April. |
| Best For: | Island relaxation |
| Plugs: | 220/240 volts AC, 50Hz (except Petit St Vincent and Palm Island which use 110 volts AC, 60Hz). British-style plugs with three square pins are used. |
| Drinking Water: | Mains water in hotels and towns is safe to drink. Outside of the main towns, water may be contaminated. Bottled water is available. |
| Health: | Comprehensive health insurance is recommended and it should include emergency air evacuation coverage. Doctors will require cash payment regardless of whether you have health insurance. |
| Customs: | Beachwear should be reserved for the beach/poolside. |
| Local Offences / Laws: | It is illegal to wear camouflage clothing. Homosexuality is illegal. |
| Duty Free: | The following items may be imported into St Vincent & the Grenadines without incurring customs duty: • 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 225g of tobacco. • 0.95L of wine or spirits. |
| Prohibited Imports: | Drugs, firearms and ammunition, and spear fishing equipment are all restricted imports. |
Issuing Authorities
Public Holidays 2025: Jan 1; Mar 14; Apr 18, 21; May 1, 21; Jun 9; Jul 7-8; Aug 1; Oct 27; Dec 25-26
Public Holidays 2026: Jan 1; Mar 14; Apr 3, 6; May 1, 21, 25; Jul 6-7; Aug 1; Oct 27; Dec 25-26
Visa Requirements
Visas are not required for South African passport holders for stays of up to 30 days.
- Passport should be valid for at least 6 months with 2 blank pages
- Return air ticket
- Proof of sufficient funds
For visa information visit: foreign.gov.vc
SA Representative
Representation accredited from Kingston, Jamaica
Travel Health
| Compulsory: | Yellow Fever (Dependant on Country of Origin/Stopover) |
| Recommended Travel Vaccines: | Hepatitis B, Tetanus, Polio |
