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Passport Comparison

Comparison of Antigua and Barbuda & St Lucia passports

Government citizenship programs for investors operate in both countries. Their passports allow participants to visit 140+ states visa‑free. The programs differ in the conditions: investment options, costs and timeframes.

Explore the second citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda or St Lucia and choose the most convenient option.

Antigua and Barbuda and St Lucia passports allow visa-free access to at least 140 states

How to compare passports of St Lucia and Antigua and Barbuda

Investors choose the second passport by evaluating the opportunities the documents provide. First, there are the main visa-free destinations.

Visa-free destinations. Citizens of St Lucia and Antigua and Barbuda travel to the Schengen Area and the UK visa-free. Also, they can get B-1/B-2 visitor visas to the US.

We marked different entry conditions in the tables below with icons:

  • ❌ means that citizens of Antigua and Barbuda need a visa, and St Lucia’s don't, or the other way round;
  • ⚠️ means that the entry conditions are slightly different. For example, Antigua and Barbuda citizens have visa-free entry, while St Lucia’s get visas on arrival.

Europe

No.Entry countryFor St Lucia citizensFor Antigua and Barbuda citizens
1❌ AlbaniaVisa requiredVisa-free
2AndorraVisa-freeVisa-free
3AustriaVisa-freeVisa-free
4❌ BelarusVisa requiredVisa-free
5BelgiumVisa-freeVisa-free
6Bosnia and HerzegovinaVisa-freeVisa-free
7BulgariaVisa-freeVisa-free
8CroatiaVisa-freeVisa-free
9CyprusVisa-freeVisa-free
10Czech RepublicVisa-freeVisa-free
11DenmarkVisa-freeVisa-free
12EstoniaVisa-freeVisa-free
13Faroe IslandsVisa-freeVisa-free
14FinlandVisa-freeVisa-free
15FranceVisa-freeVisa-free
16GermanyVisa-freeVisa-free
17GibraltarVisa-freeVisa-free
18GreeceVisa-freeVisa-free
19GreenlandVisa-freeVisa-free
20HungaryVisa-freeVisa-free
21IcelandVisa-freeVisa-free
22IrelandVisa-freeVisa-free
23ItalyVisa-freeVisa-free
24KosovoVisa-freeVisa-free
25LatviaVisa-freeVisa-free
26LiechtensteinVisa-freeVisa-free
27LithuaniaVisa-freeVisa-free
28LuxembourgVisa-freeVisa-free
29MaltaVisa-freeVisa-free
30MoldovaVisa-freeVisa-free
31MonacoVisa-freeVisa-free
32MontenegroVisa-freeVisa-free
33NetherlandsVisa-freeVisa-free
34❌ North MacedoniaVisa requiredVisa-free
35NorwayVisa-freeVisa-free
36PolandVisa-freeVisa-free
37PortugalVisa-freeVisa-free
38RomaniaVisa-freeVisa-free
39❌ RussiaVisa requiredVisa-free
40San MarinoVisa-freeVisa-free
41❌ SerbiaVisa requiredVisa-free
42SlovakiaVisa-freeVisa-free
43Slovenia Visa-freeVisa-free
44SpainVisa-freeVisa-free
45SwedenVisa-freeVisa-free
46SwitzerlandVisa-freeVisa-free
47❌ UkraineVisa requiredVisa-free
48United KingdomVisa-freeVisa-free
49Vatican CityVisa-freeVisa-free

North America

No.Entry countryFor St Lucia citizensFor Antigua and Barbuda citizens
1AnguillaVisa-freeVisa-free
2Antigua and BarbudaVisa-freeVisa-free
3BahamasVisa-freeVisa-free
4BarbadosVisa-freeVisa-free
5BelizeVisa-freeVisa-free
6BermudaVisa-freeVisa-free
7British Virgin IslandsVisa-freeVisa-free
8Cayman IslandsVisa-freeVisa-free
9Costa RicaVisa-freeVisa-free
10CubaVisa-freeVisa-free
11DominicaVisa-freeVisa-free
12Dominican Republic Visa-freeVisa-free
13El SalvadorVisa-freeVisa-free
14French West IndiesVisa-freeVisa-free
15GreenlandVisa-freeVisa-free
16GrenadaVisa-freeVisa-free
17GuatemalaVisa-freeVisa-free
18HaitiVisa-freeVisa-free
19HondurasVisa-freeVisa-free
20JamaicaVisa-freeVisa-free
21MontserratVisa-freeVisa-free
22NicaraguaVisa-freeVisa-free
23PanamaVisa-freeVisa-free
24Sint MaartenVisa-freeVisa-free
25St Kitts and NevisVisa-freeVisa-free
26St LuciaVisa-freeVisa-free
27St Vincent and the GrenadinesVisa-freeVisa-free
28Trinidad and TobagoVisa-freeVisa-free
29Turks and Caicos IslandsVisa-freeVisa-free

South America

No.Entry countryFor St Lucia citizensFor Antigua and Barbuda citizens
1❌ ArgentinaVisa-freeVisa required
2ArubaVisa-freeVisa-free
3BoliviaVisa on arrivalVisa on arrival
4Bonaire, St Eustatius and SabaVisa-freeVisa-free
5❌ BrazilVisa requiredVisa-free
6ChileVisa-freeVisa-free
7ColombiaVisa-freeVisa-free
8CuracaoVisa-freeVisa-free
9EcuadorVisa-freeVisa-free
10French GuianaVisa-freeVisa-free
11GuyanaVisa-freeVisa-free
12PeruVisa-freeVisa-free
13SurinameVisa-freeVisa-free
14VenezuelaVisa-freeVisa-free

Asia

No.Entry countryFor St Lucia citizensFor Antigua and Barbuda citizens
1ArmeniaVisa on arrivalVisa on arrival
2BangladeshVisa on arrivalVisa on arrival
3CambodiaVisa on arrivalVisa on arrival
4❌ GeorgiaVisa requiredVisa-free
5Hong KongVisa-freeVisa-free
6❌ IndonesiaVisa requiredVisa required
7IranVisa on arrivalVisa on arrival
8❌ IsraelVisa-freeVisa required
9JordanVisa on arrivalVisa on arrival
10LaosVisa on arrivalVisa on arrival
11❌ LebanonVisa requiredVisa on arrival
12MacaoVisa on arrivalVisa on arrival
13MalaysiaVisa-freeVisa-free
14MaldivesVisa on arrivalVisa on arrival
15NepalVisa on arrivalVisa on arrival
16PakistanElectronic entry permitElectronic entry permit
17Palestinian TerritoryVisa-freeVisa-free
18PhilippinesVisa-freeVisa-free
19❌ QatarVisa requiredVisa-free
20SingaporeVisa-freeVisa-free
21South KoreaVisa-freeVisa-free
22Sri LankaElectronic entry permitElectronic entry permit
23❌ TaiwanVisa-freeVisa required
24Timor-LesteVisa on arrivalVisa on arrival
25UzbekistanVisa-freeVisa-free

Oceania

No.Entry countryFor St Lucia citizensFor Antigua and Barbuda citizens
1Cook IslandsVisa-freeVisa-free
2FijiVisa-freeVisa-free
3French PolynesiaVisa-freeVisa-free
4KiribatiVisa-freeVisa-free
5MicronesiaVisa-freeVisa-free
6New CaledoniaVisa-freeVisa-free
7NiueVisa-freeVisa-free
8PalauVisa on arrivalVisa on arrival
9SamoaVisa on arrivalVisa on arrival
10Solomon IslandsVisa on arrivalVisa on arrival
11❌ TongaVisa on arrivalVisa required
12TuvaluVisa on arrivalVisa on arrival
13VanuatuVisa-freeVisa-free

Africa

No.Entry countryFor St Lucia citizensFor Antigua and Barbuda citizens
1BotswanaVisa-freeVisa-free
2BurundiVisa on arrivalVisa on arrival
3Cape Verde IslandsVisa on arrivalVisa on arrival
4Comoro IslandsVisa on arrivalVisa on arrival
5EgyptVisa on arrivalVisa on arrival
6EswatiniVisa-freeVisa-free
7GambiaVisa-freeVisa-free
8Guinea-BissauVisa on arrivalVisa on arrival
9❌ KenyaVisa-freeVisa required
10LesothoVisa-freeVisa-free
11MadagascarVisa on arrivalVisa on arrival
12MalawiVisa-freeVisa-free
13MauritaniaVisa on arrivalVisa on arrival
14MauritiusVisa-freeVisa-free
15MayotteVisa-freeVisa-free
16MozambiqueVisa on arrivalVisa on arrival
17ReunionVisa-freeVisa-free
18RwandaVisa on arrivalVisa on arrival
19Saint HelenaVisa on arrivalVisa on arrival
20⚠️ SenegalVisa-freeVisa on arrival
21SeychellesVisa on arrivalVisa on arrival
22Sierra LeoneVisa on arrivalVisa on arrival
23SomaliaVisa on arrivalVisa on arrival
24❌ South AfricaVisa requiredVisa-free
25TanzaniaVisa-freeVisa-free
26TogoVisa on arrivalVisa on arrival
27❌ TunisiaVisa-freeVisa-free
28UgandaVisa on arrivalVisa on arrival
28ZambiaVisa-freeVisa-free
29ZimbabweVisa-freeVisa-free

General program conditions. Each program offers four investment options, which differ in their conditions. 

Both programs offer two similar options: a contribution to a government fund and buying real estate. The contribution is non-refundable and requires minimum investments. Purchasing a property is a refundable option: an investor can sell investment real estate after 5 years of ownership.

Usually, getting St Lucia's second passport is faster than Antigua and Barbuda's. Participation in the St Lucia program takes 3 to 4 months and 3 to 6 months in Antigua and Barbuda.

Caribbean passport comparison: visa-free countries, investments and time frames of citizenship programs of Antigua and Barbuda and St Lucia

Investment options of the Antigua and Barbuda CBI program:

  1. A non-refundable contribution to the National Development Fund is $100,000 for single investors and families of up to five. If the family includes six members or more, the contribution is $125,000. Also, a single investor pays fees of $37,500, and families of up to five members pay $67,000.
  2. Refundable buying of real estate worth at least $200,000. The government of Antigua and Barbuda approves real estate projects for participating in the citizenship program. Thus, investors can’t buy any property but can sell the investment one 5 years after the purchase. Government-approved facilities may be hotels, resorts, and marinas. Associated fees are at least $30,000.
  3. A non-refundable contribution to the University of the West Indies Fund is $150,000. The option is for families of 6 or more only. One family member can study at the university for one year for free. 
  4. Business investments are at least $400,000. It's the least popular option among CBI program participants.

Investment options under the St Lucia citizenship program are the following:

  1. A non-refundable contribution to the National Economic Fund is $100,000 for single investors, $140,000 for married couples, and $150,000 for families of up to four. Also, a single investor pays fees of $10,000, and families of up to four members pay $30,000.
  2. Refundable buying of real estate worth at least $200,000. Properties are selected from a list of government-approved projects. Five years after the purchase, the property can be sold. Associated fees are at least $30,000.
  3. Refundable purchase of government bonds implies investments of at least $300,000. The option attracts about 30% of investors because they can return the invested money in 5 years, and there are no maintenance costs and hassles of owning real estate.
  4. Business investments start at $1,000,000. It's the least popular option among participants of the CBI program.

Terms for relatives. Family members can get second citizenship through a government program with the investor: obtain passports at the same time as the investor or after the investor has got their passport. 

Adding relatives after the investor’s participation is more expensive. For example, there is no processing fee for a spouse if they participate in the Antigua and Barbuda program with the investor. On the other hand, the processing fee for the spouse is $50,000 after the investor obtains Antigua and Barbuda passport. 

Adult relatives other than the spouse must depend financially on the investor or the spouse.

Age limits for relatives

Family member Antigua and Barbuda St Lucia
SpouseUnlimitedUnlimited
ChildrenUnder 30Under 30
Parents and grandparentsOver 55Over 55
SiblingsNo age limit, unmarriedUnder 18

Validity of Antigua and Barbuda and St Lucia passports

Program participants get naturalisation certificates and passports. The сertificates are indefinite, but passports must be renewed every 5 or 10 years.

Antigua and Barbuda passports are renewed every 10 years. But CBI program participants can’t renew their passports without proof of visiting the country. Under the program conditions, investors and their adult relatives must take the oath and spend 5 days within the first 5 years in Antigua and Barbuda.

St Lucia passports are renewed every 5 years. Program participants are not required to visit the country and take the oath.

To renew a passport, you submit documents 2 months before the expiration:

  • an expiring passport;
  • a naturalisation certificate;
  • a birth certificate;
  • a certificate of no criminal record;
  • photos for a new passport;
  • receipt of paying the passport fee 一 $1,000 in Antigua and Barbuda and about $100 in St Lucia.

To renew their passport, investors can contact the licensed agent of the program. For example, Immigrant Invest.

Taxes in St Lucia and Antigua and Barbuda

Antigua and Barbuda or St Lucia residency by investment is an opportunity for passport holders to relocate to the country and change their tax residence. Thus, if you live in a country for at least 183 days a year, you must get a tax ID and become a tax resident.

St Lucia tax rates on income, interest, and royalties are higher than in Antigua and Barbuda. For example, there is no personal income tax in Antigua and Barbuda. The St Lucia personal income tax is levied on the income earned in the country. Income received outside of St Lucia is not taxable.

St Lucia income tax rates are the following:

  • up to EC$18,400 一 0%;
  • EC$18,401 to EC$28,400 一 10%;
  • EC$28,401 to EC$38,400 一 15%;
  • EC$38,401 to EC$48,400 一 20%;
  • EC$48,401 and over 一 30%.

Comparison of taxes in Antigua and Barbuda and St Lucia for individual tax resident

Taxes Antigua and Barbuda St Lucia
Income tax0%0 to 30%
Tax on dividends, interest, royalties0%0% on dividends
10% on interest, royalties
Social contributions5.5%5%
Real estate purchase tax2.5%2%
Tax for property owners0.1一0.5%0.25%
Real estate sale tax7.5%2.5一5%

How to get Antigua and Barbuda or St Lucia citizenship

There isn’t the easiest Caribbean island to get citizenship by investment, but the procedures of all programs are similar. Due Diligence is the main stage of any citizenship by investment program. Lawyers who work for a particular licensed company prepare investor’s documents for the check and submit them to the CBI unit, program’s department. It is only possible to apply for participation in the program through a licensed agent.

1 day
Preliminary Due Diligence
Preliminary Due Diligence

The investor contacts the licensed agent of the program, Immigrant Invest. An Anti‑Money Laundering Officer of the company conducts a preliminary Due Diligence. It’s a mandatory step that allows lawyers to identify rejection risks.

2 to 4 weeks
Preparation of documents
Preparation of documents

The lawyers prepare investor’s documents: collect, translate and notarise them. Also, lawyers fill out government forms and file affidavits. The affidavit helps avoid additional inquiries and clarifications and get through the Due Diligence of the CBI unit faster.

Lawyers submit the application and investor’s documents to the CBI unit of the chosen country.

At least 3 months
Due Diligence
Due Diligence

The CBI unit conducts Due Diligence of investors and their family members aged over 12 in Antigua and Barbuda and over 16 in St Lucia.

If information about the investor and the relatives is incomplete, the CBI unit makes additional inquiries, which prolongs Due Diligence.

Up to 30 days
Investment terms fulfilment
Investment terms fulfilment

The agent gets approval of the investor’s application from the CBI unit. The applicant fulfils investment conditions within 30 days of the Antigua and Barbuda program and 90 days of the St Lucia’s.

Up to 4 weeks
Getting passport
Getting passport

The agent confirms fulfilling the financial conditions of a citizenship program, and then the naturalisation certificates and passports are issued within 4 weeks.

Investors obtain naturalisation certificates and passports at the agent’s office or by delivery service.

1 day
Oath of allegiance
Oath of allegiance

Participants of the Antigua and Barbuda program take the oath of allegiance. Investors can visit the state, or the procedure can take place by videoconference or at the nearest national consulate.

St Lucia program participants don’t have to take the oath and visit the country.

Which island is better: Antigua or St Lucia

Investors with second passports can have residency in St Lucia or Antigua and Barbuda; for example, they buy villas to live near the warm sea and enjoy good service and quality medicine. St Lucia is also acknowledged as one of the safest countries in the Caribbean.

Investors’ children can study at international schools and major universities; for example, the University of the West Indies is one of the most popular ones in the Caribbean. Its campuses operate in Antigua and Barbuda, St Lucia and three more countries.

+28℃
Minimal water and air temperatures in the Caribbean
There are two-hour flights from St Lucia to Antigua, excluding the transfer time in Barbados

St Lucia and Antigua and Barbuda are members of CARICOM, a commonwealth of 15 Caribbean states. If you have a St Lucia or Antigua and Barbuda passport, you can live, study, and work in these 15 countries without a special residence permit. 

Caribbean states of CARICOM:

  1. Antigua and Barbuda.
  2. The Bahamas.
  3. Barbados.
  4. Belize.
  5. Dominica.
  6. Grenada.
  7. Guyana.
  8. Haiti.
  9. Jamaica.
  10. Montserrat.
  11. St Kitts and Nevis.
  12. St Lucia.
  13. St Vincent and the Grenadines.
  14. Suriname.
  15. Trinidad and Tobago.

Checklist for investors who decide to obtain Antigua and Barbuda or St Lucia passports

Passports of both countries allow investors to visit the same popular destinations visa‑free, so we recommend choosing the program by cost.

  1. If you are a single investor ready to contribute non-refundably, choose St Lucia’s program: the cost will be approximately $110,000 against $138,100 for Antigua and Barbuda citizenship.
  2. If you are an investor with a family of 4 or 5, choose Antigua and Barbuda’s program with a non-refundable contribution to a state fund 一 the costs will be minimal.
  3. If your family includes 6 or more members, choose Antigua and Barbuda’s program with a non-refundable contribution to the university fund 一 the costs will be minimal.
  4. If you plan to come to the country of second citizenship for vacation, choose to buy real estate. Usually, real estate purchasing is buying a share in a hotel. You will be able to stay at the hotel for 1 to 2 weeks a year for free.
  5. If you want to refund the investment, choose buying state bonds under St Lucia’s program. You can return invested money in 5 years, and there are no maintenance costs and hassles of owning real estate.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I go in the Caribbean without a passport?

You can visit any country of CARICOM, a commonwealth of 15 Caribbean states. This commonwealth is similar to the European Union 一 there is no passport control on the borders, and a single national currency is in all 15 countries.

Which is a better country 一 Antigua or St Lucia?

Both countries are similar in climate and quality of life. Their passports allow the holders to travel visa-free to at least 140 identical destinations, including the Schengen Area and the UK. Citizens of Antigua and Barbuda and St Lucia can get B-1/B-2 visitor visas to the US. 

But the conditions of their citizenship programs by investment are different. Thus, investors choose the passport according to their goals.

Which Caribbean country is the easiest to get citizenship?

Five Caribbean countries have citizenship programs for investors, and St Lucia’s program is one of the easiest. Due Diligence is faster, and program participants don’t have to take the oath and visit the country.

How much are property taxes in Antigua and Barbuda?

A property owner pays a tax of 0.1 to 0.5% in Antigua and Barbuda. Real estate buyers pay a tax of 2.5% of the transaction value. Sellers pay a 7.5% tax.

How to get St Lucia residency?

You can get a St Lucia residence permit for studying, working in the country or through marriage. Wealthy people participate in St Lucia’s citizenship program and obtain a passport of the country by investing at least $100,000.

Investors can live, do business, and work in the country for an unlimited time.

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Comparison of Antigua and Barbuda & St Lucia passports