Saint Lucia Citizenship by Investment

The Saint Lucia Citizenship by Investment Program grants citizenship to applicants who make an approved investment. It is not a visa or a residence permit. The program is active and is run by the Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU).

What it gives: Grants Saint Lucia citizenship directly; no residence phase.

The CIU's program page lists four routes:

• National Economic Fund: a contribution of $240,000 for an applicant alone or with up to three other qualifying dependents.
• National Action Bond: $300,000 in government bonds for an applicant with any number of dependents, held for 5 years, plus a non-refundable administration fee.
• Real Estate Project: $300,000 in an approved development, plus an administration fee.
• Enterprise Project: $250,000 in an approved enterprise for an applicant alone or with up to three qualifying dependents, plus administration fees.

The program suits investors who want a second citizenship. Remote workers who want a long stay without investing use visitor entry instead: see long stays in Saint Lucia without a nomad visa.

There is no income test and no requirement to live in Saint Lucia. Eligibility turns on making a qualifying investment and clearing the CIU's checks.

• Main applicant: chooses one of the four routes and pays the processing and due diligence fees.
• Family: Yes. A spouse and qualifying dependents can be included. The base National Economic Fund amount covers the applicant and up to three dependents; each further dependent adds $10,000 if under 18 or $20,000 if 18 or older.
• Interview: the CIU has interviewed applicants and verified identity on every application received since Sept. 4, 2023.
• Due diligence: carried out on every applicant above the age of 16.

Which children and parents count as qualifying dependents is set by the CIU's rules, so families should confirm their case before paying fees.

The CIU publishes the application forms and document checklist on its website. The file has to prove identity and family relationships and show that the investment money comes from a lawful source.

• Fees with the application: the non-refundable processing and due diligence fees are the only fees due on submission.
• Due diligence: for every applicant above 16.
• Interview and identity check: part of every application since Sept. 4, 2023.

The CIU's checklist sets the order, certification and translation rules for documents. Applicants should work from the current version on the CIU site rather than from lists copied onto agent pages.

Fees are set in US dollars on the CIU program page.

• Processing fee: $2,000 for the main applicant and $1,000 for each qualifying dependent.
• Due diligence fee: $8,000 for the main applicant and $5,000 for each qualifying dependent above 16.
• National Economic Fund: $240,000 one-time for up to four people, plus $10,000 or $20,000 for each extra dependent.
• National Action Bond: $300,000 plus a non-refundable administration fee of $50,000.
• Real Estate Project: $300,000 plus an administration fee of $30,000 for an applicant alone, higher with a spouse or dependents.
• Enterprise Project: $250,000 plus administration fees that rise with family size.

Agent, legal and translation costs are set privately and come on top.

• Choose a route: National Economic Fund, National Action Bond, Real Estate Project or Enterprise Project.
• Prepare the file: complete the CIU forms and gather the documents on its checklist.
• Submit and pay: the processing and due diligence fees are paid when the application goes in.
• Checks: due diligence on applicants over 16, plus the interview and identity verification.
• Approval and investment: after approval the applicant makes the investment and pays the route's administration fees, then citizenship is granted.

The official pages read for this update do not publish a processing time or set out who may file the application, so both should be confirmed with the CIU before starting.

Citizenship has no expiry date and no renewal, and there is no requirement to live in Saint Lucia to keep it. Grants Saint Lucia citizenship directly; no residence phase.

• Status: citizenship for life.
• Renewal: none for the citizenship; the passport is renewed as a travel document when it expires.
• Bond route: the bonds must stay registered in the applicant's name for 5 years from first issue.
• Real estate route: the CIU sets a minimum holding period for approved property, which investors should confirm before buying.

Citizenship by investment does not come with a special tax regime. Tax depends on residence, not passport.

Under the Income Tax Act, an individual is resident in a year of income after 183 days of physical presence, or with a permanent place of abode in Saint Lucia and some time there that year (Saint Lucia residency sheet for the OECD). A citizen who lives elsewhere and visits briefly does not meet either test.

• Pensions: the Act exempts foreign pensions paid to retirees who were not resident in Saint Lucia before they retired.
• Bank interest: interest on deposits in Saint Lucia banks is exempt.
• Rates and filing: the Inland Revenue Department sets rates and filing rules for residents.

Most investors keep their main tax home elsewhere, and its rules matter more than Saint Lucia's.