The ocean from above during a sunrise with an airplane wing shown in frame
Airplane wing perspective flying in the sky

TRAVELING AND MOVING TO ST. KITTS

If you have been accepted as a student and will be joining the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine family, you will need to take care of a few things before packing up and heading to St. Kitts.

St. Kitts is located in the Leeward Islands at the northern end of the Lesser Antilles, about 220 miles southeast of San Juan, Puerto Rico. International flights arrive at Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport (SKB) northeast of the capital, Basseterre. Passenger carriers include American Airlines, British Airways, Delta Air Lines, and LIAT. The airport also provides facilities for cargo and private jets.
 
Vet orientation leaders and staff greet new students at the airport. Students receive a welcome packet and are transported to their new island residence. You will receive additional St. Kitts information as we lead tours of the island and take you to grocery stores and other businesses for essentials.
 
Traveling to St. Kitts

You should keep the St. Kitts Campus Living Office advised of your travel plans so that greeting and housing arrangements can be made in advance. For more information, contact the Housing Team.

Arrival Dates

You should arrive on the dates specified in your Ross Vet admissions enrollment letters. Arriving before or after those dates could create problems with available on-campus accommodations. You should book your flights as early as possible to allow time for the housing staff to prepare flight rosters.

If your travel plans change at the last minute, you must notify the Ross Vet  Campus Living Office to ensure that school representatives are able to greet you at the airport. Please email the Housing Office with flight changes.

Flights

Delta Airlines, British Airways, and American Airlines are the primary carriers with flights to St. Kitts. Delta Airlines flies from Atlanta, and American Airlines provides direct flights for individuals traveling from Miami, New York, Charlotte, and other locations.  British Airways flies from London Gatwick airport.  Seaborne Airlines and LIAT fly from Puerto Rico and St. Maarten.

Passport and Student Visa

As with all international destinations,  a valid passport is required to enter St. Kitts and Nevis. Upon arrival at the airport, you should present your passport, and a return-trip airline ticket or printout. 

Ross Vet helps students get their student visas after acceptance into the veterinary program.  Family members living with students in St. Kitts will obtain a VIP visa with the help of the Ross Vet administrative staff as well.

Customs

Ross Vet orientation leaders and staff await students outside the customs area at the airport. The area is often crowded, so you should take a few minutes to find a Ross Vet representative wearing a logoed shirt and holding a Ross Vet sign. You should not leave the airport on your own—the Ross Vet representative is there to help you get to your new island home. Ross Vet staff encourages students to travel with food/snacks. Students often arrive hungry and thirsty after long flights, and late-night arrivals may find most shops and stores closed.

Transport

Should you arrive during the suggested arrival window for orientation, orientation leaders can help transport you to your new accommodations. Ross Vet transportation has prearranged and limited seating for students and any immediate family (a spouse, partner, or children) who will be living with them. Accompanying friends and family who are staying in hotels or other lodging should arrange their own transportation. Taxi services and rental vehicles are available for this purpose.

To properly arrange transportation from the airport, incoming students must inform Ross Vet of their travel plans.  You should also give the names of family members who will be living with you in St. Kitts. 

Orientation Week

After you have settled into your residence, you will begin a week of orientation. You will attend sessions to familiarize yourself with the campus and your fellow students. A number of orientation programs are designed to help students get to know one another, and those programs continue through Vet Prep and the first semester to help you create strong relationships. You  will also get to know more about the island of St. Kitts that first week. Tours will cover necessities like cafes, shops, and restaurants, but you will also be shown the beaches, hiking trails, and other recreational areas for when you need a break from studying. 

Hotels

Ross Vet family and visitors receive discount rates at a number of partnered hotels. Rooms must be booked directly through the hotels, however, and not through a travel agency or website.

Private Lodgings
Shipping and Mailing

As a service to Ross Vet students, regular postage stamps for purchase are available at Student Services in the Student Union building. Incoming and outgoing student mail can also be picked up from Student Services  Monday – Friday 9:45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. If the mail or package(s) is destined for your spouse/partner, please be sure it is sent care of (c/o) your name. Find out more.

PREPARING TO MOVE TO ST. KITTS

Ross Vet students preparing to move to St. Kitts should pack as they would for any extended trip abroad. Packing can be stressful—what do I bring, what did I forget? But it can also be exciting picturing yourself in a far away place and imaging what you might use or need on a tropical island like St. Kitts.

What To Bring

St. Kitts is a small island, and most products for sale are imported. This means many products—particularly such larger ticket items as computers or televisions—cost more than they do in the United States and Canada. For more expensive items, it is generally cheaper to bring them with you or ship them instead of waiting to buy them on the island. Everyday and household things, however, can be had at minor extra cost in shops and stores in Basseterre and elsewhere. Household items such as fans, Rubbermaid products, cooking items, hangers, shower curtains, linens, and towels are readily available. Still, it is wise to pack as many personal and favorite hygiene products or toiletries as possible. Specific items students may want to bring include:

  • Bedding (sheets, comforters, blankets, mattress pad, foam top, etc.)
  • Pillows
  • Bath mats
  • Towels and washcloths
  • Shower caddy
  • Multiple outlet surge protectors power strips
  • Alarm clock
  • Toilet paper
  • Screwdriver kit
  • Flashlight w/ extra batteries
  • Mini sewing kit and safety pins
  • Laptop computer and/ or tablet
  • Padlock for locker
  • Corkscrew
  • Strainer
  • Dish towels and rags
  • Self-adhesive mounting squares or hooks
  • Calendar
  • Games and playing cards
  • Sports equipment
  • Small rug or carpet remnant (apartment units are not carpeted)
  • Radio with batteries for use in the event of a hurricane or tropical storm
What Not To Bring
  • Extension cords (use UL-approved power safety strips instead)
  • Fire hazards such as halogen lamps or octopus plugs or outlets
  • Wall or ceiling-mounted shelving (affixing furniture to the walls and ceilings in apartments is prohibited).
  • Nails, masking/ duct tape, double self-adhesive tape, and similar products for hanging things on walls and doors are prohibited. (use self-adhesive squares or hooks instead)
  • Military-style clothing such as camouflage pants, hats, shirts, bags, and jackets are restricted in St. Kitts and will be confiscated by customs.

MEDICAL AND PROPERTY INSURANCE

Medical Insurance

Ross Vet requires that students have personal medical insurance coverage. Ross Vet offers a health insurance plan, but if you choose an outside provider you must make sure the insurance is good outside the United States and specifically in St. Kitts.

The option to purchase the Ross Vet Insurance Coverage Package is included in the admissions welcome packet. Students who do not provide proof of coverage from another insurance carrier will be automatically enrolled in the school program.

Spouses and children who will accompany students to St. Kitts must also have health insurance. Students who decide not to include them in the Ross Vet Insurance Coverage Package must show proof of their alternative medical coverage.
 

Using Your Student Health Insurance in St. Kitts

The Ross Vet Insurance Coverage Package has a $500 yearly deductible. Students should submit all medical claims for visits to local doctors, hospitals, and pharmacies. You will have to pay out of pocket for medical visits, but all costs over $500 will be reimbursed by the insurance program. 

In St. Kitts, a doctor's office will require payment at the end of the visit. Laboratory tests, X-rays, and many other medical procedures must be paid for in advance. Elective hospital admissions require a deposit for a five-day stay (usually about EC $1,250). Hospitals also require payment for any extra costs related to labs or tests. Please contact Student Health Services for additional information on medical insurance or medical care in St. Kitts.

Personal Content Insurance

Ross Vet students may also want to insure themselves against theft or damages in their homes in St. Kitts. Personal home or renters insurance in the United States may cover possessions outside the country, but students should check to make sure. Students may get coverage locally through Ross Vet and the TDC Insurance Company (formerly the St. Kitts Nevis Insurance Company).

MOVING TO ST. KITTS WITH YOUR PETS

Bringing Your Pets To St. Kitts

You are welcome to bring your pets with you to St. Kitts, but the process is a bit complicated. Animals must meet all importation requirements, and students should be sure the animal—like the student—has a return airline ticket. Check with the Housing Department to see which units allow pets. Keep in mind that rodents and rabbits pose a biosafety risk to local rodent species. Students and colleagues working with these rodents are prohibited from housing and caring for pet rodents (e.g. mice/ rats/ hamsters/ guinea pigs) and rabbits.

American Airlines and Delta transport created pets up to 99 pounds. Amerijet transports live animals over 99 lbs. out of Miami International.
Pet Import Checklist (PDF)
Pet Importation Application (PDF)

Pets Returning To St. Kitts

Ross Vet students who plan to leave and return to St. Kitts with their pet(s) should read the information in the links below regarding reentry protocols for pets.

As a professional courtesy, 7th-semester Ross Vet students moving out of St. Kitts have priority in booking flights for their pets.

Re-Entry Pet Import Protocol (PDF)
Pet Details for Dr. Nisbett (PDF)
Re-Entry Import Application for Permit (PDF)

Student helps a sea turtle in the ocean
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