Benefits

St. Lucia citizenship has many benefits including:

• A St. Lucian passport provides visa-free or visa-on-arrival travel to 147 destinations, including Europe’s Schengen Area, Hong Kong, Singapore, the UK, and many others.
• No residence or visitation is required.
• A range of options are available.
• The program has attractive investment and processing costs.
• St. Lucia recognizes dual citizenship.

Qualification Criteria and Requirements

The program requires applicants to make a significant economic contribution to the country. In exchange, and subject to a stringent application process and due diligence checks, the applicants and their families are granted full citizenship.

The main applicant must be at least 18 years of age to qualify, meet the application requirements, and select one of the following investment options:

1. An investment in an approved real estate development with a minimum value of USD$300,000 which must be held for a minimum period of five years. Additional costs may also be incurred depending on the real estate developer.
2. An investment in an approved enterprise project (as set out in the regulations) with a minimum investment of USD$3.5 million, plus the creation of no less than three permanent jobs. Alternatively, a joint contribution of USD$6 million (with each applicant contributing a minimum of USD 1 million), plus the creation of no fewer than six permanent jobs.

For the above two options, the following government administration fees will also apply:

• Main applicant — USD$30,000
• Main applicant with Spouse — USD$45,000
• Each Dependent under 18 years — USD$5,000
• Each Dependent 18 years and older — USD$10,000
• Each family member after sixth — USD$10,000

1. A non-refundable contribution to the NEF of USD$100,000 (for a single applicant). An applicant may make the contribution under one of the four following categories:

• Main applicant — USD$100,000
• Main applicant and spouse — USD$140,000
• Main applicant, spouse, and up to two other qualifying dependents — USD$150,000
• Each additional qualifying dependent of any age — USD$15,000
• Each additional qualifying dependent — USD$25,000

1. Investment in non-interest-bearing government bonds, which must be held for five years:

• Main applicant — USD$500,000
• Main applicant and spouse — USD$535,000
• Main applicant, spouse, and up to two other qualifying dependents — USD$550,000
• Each additional qualifying dependent of any age — USD$25,000
• Government administration fee — USD$50,000

Already approved citizens may add dependents within five years of their application being approved. A donation of USD$35,000 applies to spouses, while a donation of USD$25,000 applies to each additional qualifying dependent of any age.

In addition, there is a USD$5,000 due diligence fee for each qualifying dependent aged 16 and older. The government processing fee is USD$1,000 for each qualifying dependent. All qualifying dependents must have a clean personal background with no criminal record and not be under any criminal investigation (other than in respect of a minor offense). A person that is deemed a potential security risk or who is or has been involved in any activity that is likely to bring disrepute to St. Lucia shall not be approved for citizenship.

Procedures and Timeline

The application process should take no longer than four months from submission of the application to issuance of the certificate of citizenship, assuming there are no areas of concern with the application. Where, in exceptional cases, it is expected that the processing time will be longer than three months, we will inform the applicant of the reason for the anticipated delay.

The Citizenship by Investment Board, which provides oversight to a dedicated citizenship by investment unit (CIU), will consider an application for citizenship and its outcome may be to either grant, deny, or delay for cause. A citizenship by investment application will be submitted in electronic and printed form by us on behalf of the applicant. All applications must be completed in English.

All requisite supporting documents must be attached to an application before it can be processed by the CIU. All applications must be accompanied by the relevant non-refundable processing and due diligence fees for the principal applicant, their spouse, and each qualifying dependent. Where an application has been approved in principle, the CIU will notify us that the qualifying funds and requisite government administration fees must be paid before the certificate of citizenship can be granted.

The main applicant must remit the required funds for the qualifying option within 90 calendar days after notice of approval of their application. A successful applicant shall sign the oath or affirmation of allegiance before an attorney-at-law, notary royal, or notary public. The minister may, by order, revoke a grant of citizenship in exceptional circumstances as may be deemed necessary.