Saint Lucia

Summary

MINIMUM INVESTMENT

$240,000

DUAL CITIZENSHIP

OPTION AVAILABLE

PROCESSING TIME

180 DAYS

RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT

NONE

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About Saint Lucia

Saint Lucia is an island country located in the Caribbean Sea.

Also called the ‘Helen of the West Indies’, Saint Lucia is famous for its beautiful nature and year-round sunshine. Its best-known landmarks are two mountains known as the Pitons, which tower above the island’s western shore.

Saint Lucia obtained independence from the United Kingdom on 22 February 1979, but Queen Elizabeth II remained the Head of State until her demise in 2022, when King Charles III succeeded his mother as Head of State. Saint Lucia is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, the United Nations (UN), the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), the Organization of American States (OAS), and the International Organization of La Francophonie.

Saint Lucia’s economy is driven by tourism and offshore banking, and the island is a well-known producer of bananas and other agricultural goods. Saint Lucia is also an exporter of oil and malt beer. The island is also a cultural innovator, organising events such as the yearly Saint Lucia Jazz Festival.

Saint Lucia is located in the Caribbean Sea, just north of St Vincent and the Grenadines and south of the island of Martinique.

Saint Lucia’s capital city of Castries has an international airport that welcomes direct flights from multiple cities in the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States – as well as other Caribbean islands.

Saint Lucia is the last country in the Caribbean to establish it’s Citizenship by Investment Programme, having started to accept applications in January 2016. The Programme allows investors and their families to invest in the nation in exchange for citizenship. Applicants may choose to invest in government bonds to obtain citizenship. Once citizenship has been granted, investments in government bonds must be held in the applicant’s name for a fixed period of time. The bonds must not attract a rate of interest for the duration of this period. Due diligence, government administration and processing fees apply.

 

General Requirements

Applicants for the Saint Lucia Citizenship by Investment Programme must fulfil the following conditions:

  • Be at least 18 years old
  • Be of good character
  • Have no criminal record
  • Pass a detailed background check
  • Be able to provide proof of source of funds
  • Be healthy

Applicants under the Saint Lucia CIP are subject to an interview, either in person or virtually, and an identity verification procedure, as part of the due diligence process.

Investors may apply with their spouse and dependent children, and, in some cases, dependent elderly parents and minor siblings.

Benefits of Saint Lucia Citizenship

  • Citizenship for life, with the right to live and work in the country
  • No requirement to visit Saint Lucia before, during, or after application
  • No interview requirement
  • No English language requirement
  • Right to hold dual citizenship
  • Global mobility
  • No foreign income, capital gains, gift, and inheritance tax

Investors and their families may become citizens of Saint Lucia through its Citizenship by Investment Programme by choosing between one of four options:

  • A one-time contribution to the National Economic Fund (NEF)
  • An investment in an approved real estate project
  • An investment in an approved enterprise project
  • A purchase of government bonds

THE NATIONAL ECONOMIC FUND (NEF)

The National Economic Fund (NEF) was established to receive qualifying investments to fund Government-sponsored projects on the island. Applicants can obtain citizenship by making a monetary contribution to the NEF via one of the prescribed contribution levels. Due diligence and processing fees apply. The legally required minimum contribution amount to the NEF is as follows.

  • Main applicant: US$ 240,000
  • Main applicant, with up to three qualifying dependants: US$ 240,000
  • Each additional qualifying dependant (under 18 years of age): US$ 10,000
  • Each additional qualifying dependant (above 18 years of age): US$ 20,000

REAL ESTATE PROJECT OPTION

Applicants may obtain citizenship by executing a binding purchase and sale agreement for an investment in an approved real estate project valued at a minimum of US$ 300,000. This property must be owned and maintained for a minimum of 5 years after citizenship has been granted. The following Government administration fees are applicable:

  • Main applicant: US$ 30,000
  • Main applicant and spouse: US$ 45,000
  • Family member aged 18 years or above: US$ 10,000
  • Family member under 18 years: US$ 5,000
  • Each additional family member where the main applicant is applying with a spouse and four other family members: US$ 10,000 each

APPROVED ENTERPRISE PROJECT

Applicants can obtain citizenship by making an investment, either independent or joint, in an approved enterprise project. An Independent investment must be valued at US$ 3.5 million and create at least 3 permanent jobs. For joint investments, each investor must contribute at least US$ 1 million, resulting in a joint investment worth US$ 6 million and creating at least 6 permanent jobs.

  • Minimum independent investment: US$ 3,500,000 (and creating three permanent jobs)
  • Minimum joint investment: US$ 1,000,000 per main applicant (resulting in a joint investment worth US$6,000,000 and creating six permanent jobs
The following Government administration fees are applicable:
  • Main applicant: US$ 50,000
  • Each dependant under 18: US$ 25,000

Each dependant aged 18 or over: US$ 35,000

PURCHASE OF GOVERNMENT BONDS

The National Action Bonds (NAB) are a type of new non-interest-bearing government bond available from 1 January 2023 onwards.

  • Main applicant and any number of qualifying dependants: US$ 300,000(to be held for five years)
  • Administration fees: US$ 50,000 per application

THE FOLLOWING BASIC FEES APPLY TO ALL OPTIONS:

Due Diligence Fees.

All main applicants are required to attend a mandatory interview.

  • Main applicant: US$ 8,000
  • Other family member aged 16 or above: US$ 5,000 each

Processing fees: US$ 5,000

  • Main applicant: US$ 2,000
  • Other family member: US$ 1,000 each
  • Passport Fees
  • Professional Fees

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