St Lucia citizenship by investment

No, citizenship of Saint Lucia, or any other country, cannot be bought. However, one may take part in Saint Lucia’s citizenship by investment program and obtain a passport in as little as 10 months.

Pros include easier travel and global mobility, flexible residence requirements, and potential tax advantages. Possible downsides are the program costs and the strict Due Diligence. Each case is unique, so it is worth consulting investment‑migration experts.

No. A Saudi Arabian investor cannot include several spouses in one St Lucia citizenship by investment application. The program allows the main applicant to include one spouse as a qualifying dependant, but it does not provide for multiple spouses within the same application.

St Lucia’s Citizenship by Investment Act defines a qualifying dependant as “a spouse of the applicant”, as well as eligible children, parents, and unmarried siblings who meet the program requirements. It does not recognise several spouses as dependants for one main applicant.

The investor may still include other eligible family members, such as dependent children, parents over 55 who are fully supported by the applicant, and unmarried siblings under 18 with parental or guardian consent.

Yes. A UAE investor can include a brother or sister in a St Lucia citizenship by investment application only if the sibling is unmarried, under 18 years old, and has the consent of a parent or legal guardian to apply for citizenship. Full financial support by the investor alone is not enough.

In addition to an investment starting at $240,000, an investor pays extra costs. These include a Due Diligence fee of at least $8,000, government fees of at least $8,500, and expenses for translation, certification, and document delivery of at least $1,350. The amounts increase if family members are included in the application.

The cost of participating in the St Lucia citizenship programme for a family of four, a couple and two children under 16, is:

1. Under the non-refundable contribution option — $267,390+, including government fees.
2. Under the investment in significant projects option — $307,390+.
3. Under the government bond option — $377,390+.
4. Under the property purchase option — $382,390+.
5. Under the business investment option — $1,077,390+.

St Lucia allows investors to obtain second citizenship by investing at least $240,000. Investors do not need to renounce their other passports.

On average, investors receive a St Lucia passport within 10 months. The longest stage is Due Diligence, which takes at least three months.

Applicants over 16 are interviewed online in English right after Due Diligence.

Under the Citizenship by Investment Act, an application may be refused if the person:

• provides false information;
• has been convicted of a crime or is under criminal investigation;
• is deemed a potential threat to national security or engages in activity that could damage St Lucia’s reputation;
• has been refused a visa to a country that has a visa‑waiver arrangement with Saint Lucia.

Citizenship may be revoked if it was obtained by misrepresentation, fraud, or wilful concealment of material facts. It may also be revoked if the person is convicted of an offence or commits any other act that, in the Prime Minister’s opinion, could harm St Lucia’s reputation.

Investment migration rules are updated from time to time. In summer 2025, St Lucia and four other Caribbean countries agreed to tighten requirements to improve transparency and security. Potential changes include:

1. Requirement to reside in the country for 30 days within the first five years;
2. Integration program covering the country’s laws, history and system;
3. Annual caps on the number of passports issued.

Holders of a St Lucia passport can open accounts in international banks under standard terms for foreigners. In St Lucia, investors may also register a company, which helps when opening business accounts abroad and settling with international partners.

Investors do not pay taxes in St Lucia unless they become tax residents. One becomes a tax resident by spending at least 183 days a year in the country. Tax residents pay personal income tax on a progressive scale up to 30%. Those earning under EC$ 18,400 are exempt. 

There is no tax on capital gains or inheritances for residents.

St Lucia passport is valid for 10 years and must then be replaced. The process is remote, and travel to the island is not required. Apply for a replacement no later than three months before expiry.

Passportivity assists investors with renewal and delivers the document to the specified address.

No. The St Lucia CBI Unit does not publish lists of investors who obtained status. The Ministry of Finance periodically releases statistics showing investment amounts, the number of applications, and the countries from which they were submitted.