Citizenship
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Comparison of Dominica and St Lucia passports: opportunities and investment conditions

You will be able to visit over 140 countries visa-free if you get a Dominica or St Lucia passport by investing. Popular free destinations, excluding China, are the same for citizens of both states. This rare opportunity is available to Dominica passport holders but not to St Lucia’s.

Explore how investors compare and choose the program between Dominica and St Lucia and what opportunities they get.

Lyle Julien

Author •Lyle Julien

Compared both programs

Dominica and St. Lucia passports allow visa-free access to at least 140 states

Comparison of Dominica and St Lucia passports: opportunities and investment conditions

What Dominica and St Lucia passports give to investors

The foremost opportunity for wealthy people is to get travel freedom by investing in the countries’ economies.

To obtain passports of St Lucia or Dominica in 3 to 6 months, investors participate in state citizenship programs with a minimum investment of $100,000.

Investors can obtain second citizenship with their families, relocate to the country at any moment and stay there indefinitely. They may live, study, and get treatment like other St Lucia and Dominica citizens.

Investment comparison of Caribbean citizenship

The Dominica and St Lucia programs have similar conditions; for example, an investor contributes to a state fund over $100,000 or buys real estate for $200,000.

The St Lucia program has two additional options:

  • buying government bonds for at least $300,000;

  • business investment of over $1,000,000.

Contributions to government funds of Dominica and St Lucia are non-refundable, but investments in properties or state bonds can be returned after 5 years of ownership.

Investors who want to return their money often choose the St Lucia program and option with bond purchase.

Kiran and Dasya,

Founders of the portfolio investment fund

St Lucia citizenship by investment in government bonds

The brothers Kiran and Dasya obtained second citizenship for visa-free travelling. They chose St Lucia’s program because they wanted to return on investment and avoid buying real estate. So, they purchased state bonds of St Lucia.

Learn a case

Also, when investors select a program, they will calculate extra investments and fees for their relatives who will get Caribbean citizenship with the principal applicant.

If the investor adds to the application their big family, extra charges may increase to 1.5 times. For example, extra investment for spouses under contributions in government funds is the following:

  • +$50,000 under the Dominica program;

  • +$40,000 under the St Lucia program.

Individual cost calculation for Dominica citizenship

Individual cost calculation for Dominica citizenship

Passport validity for Dominica and St Lucia citizens

Comparing passports shows that Dominica citizens renew their documents less often than St Lucia’s.

Passport expiration dates are the following:

To renew the document, investors apply at the nearest country’s consulate. We recommend contacting the consulate two months before the passport expiration.

If investors get passports with government licensed agent Immigrant Invest, our lawyers will obligatorily remind them about the passport renewal. Lawyers help to obtain a new passport quickly, and investors don’t contact the consulate personally.

Individual cost calculation for St Lucia citizenship

Individual cost calculation for St Lucia citizenship

Rights of Dominica and St Lucia citizens

Visa-free travelling is the most important benefit for investors with second passports of Dominica and St Lucia. Visa-free countries for citizens of both states are nearly the same, excluding two popular destinations, China and Taiwan.

From 2022, Dominica passport holders can stay in China for up to 30 days, and investors with St Lucia passports can’t. And inversely, St Lucia citizens enter Taiwan visa-free for up to 30 days, but Dominica’s have to get visas.

We recapitulate visa-free countries for both passports in the tables and highlighted different destinations with icons:

  • ❌ means visa-free countries for the Dominica passport with restricted entry for St Lucia citizens or the other way round;

  • ⚠️ means that the entry conditions are a little bit different. For example, visa-free countries for citizens of the first state require visas on arrival from holders of another state’s passports.

If an arrival country doesn’t list, St Lucia and Dominica citizens will have to get visas for entry.

Europe

No.

Country

1

Andorra

Visa-free

Visa-free

2

Austria

Visa-free

Visa-free

3

❌ Belarus

Visa-free

Visa required

4

Belgium

Visa-free

Visa-free

5

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Visa-free

Visa-free

6

Bulgaria

Visa-free

Visa-free

7

Croatia

Visa-free

Visa-free

8

Cyprus

Visa-free

Visa-free

9

Czech Republic

Visa-free

Visa-free

10

Denmark

Visa-free

Visa-free

11

Estonia

Visa-free

Visa-free

12

Faroe Islands

Visa-free

Visa-free

13

Finland

Visa-free

Visa-free

14

France

Visa-free

Visa-free

15

Germany

Visa-free

Visa-free

16

Gibraltar

Visa-free

Visa-free

17

Greece

Visa-free

Visa-free

18

Greenland

Visa-free

Visa-free

19

Hungary

Visa-free

Visa-free

20

Iceland

Visa-free

Visa-free

21

Ireland

Visa-free

Visa-free

22

Italy

Visa-free

Visa-free

23

Kosovo

Visa-free

Visa-free

24

Latvia

Visa-free

Visa-free

25

Liechtenstein

Visa-free

Visa-free

26

Lithuania

Visa-free

Visa-free

27

Luxembourg

Visa-free

Visa-free

28

Malta

Visa-free

Visa-free

29

Moldova

Visa-free

Visa-free

30

Monaco

Visa-free

Visa-free

31

Montenegro

Visa-free

Visa-free

32

Netherlands

Visa-free

Visa-free

33

Norway

Visa-free

Visa-free

34

Poland

Visa-free

Visa-free

35

Portugal

Visa-free

Visa-free

36

Romania

Visa-free

Visa-free

37

❌ Russia

Visa-free

Visa required

38

San Marino

Visa-free

Visa-free

39

❌ Serbia

Visa-free

Visa required

40

Slovakia

Visa-free

Visa-free

41

Slovenia

Visa-free

Visa-free

42

Spain

Visa-free

Visa-free

43

Sweden

Visa-free

Visa-free

44

Switzerland

Visa-free

Visa-free

45

❌ Ukraine

Visa-free

Visa required

46

⚠️ United Kingdom

Visa-free

Visa-free

47

Vatican City

Visa-free

Visa-free

Asia

No.

Country

Entry conditions for Dominica citizens

Entry conditions for St Lucia citizens

1

Armenia

Visa on arrival

Visa on arrival

2

⚠Bangladesh

Visa on arrival

Visa on arrival

3

Cambodia

Visa on arrival

Visa on arrival

4

❌ China

Visa-free

Visa required

5

Hong Kong

Visa-free

Visa-free

6

Indonesia

Visa-free

Visa-free

7

Iran

Visa on arrival

Visa on arrival

8

Israel

Visa-free

Visa-free

9

Jordan

Visa on arrival

Visa on arrival

10

Laos

Visa on arrival

Visa on arrival

11

⚠️ Macao

Visa-free

Visa on arrival

12

Malaysia

Visa-free

Visa-free

13

Maldives

Visa on arrival

Visa on arrival

14

Nepal

Visa on arrival

Visa on arrival

15

❌ Pakistan

Visa required

Electronic entry permit

16

Palestinian Territory

Visa-free

Visa-free

17

Philippines

Visa-free

Visa-free

18

Singapore

Visa-free

Visa-free

19

South Korea

Visa-free

Visa-free

20

Sri Lanka

Electronic entry permit

Electronic entry permit

21

❌ Taiwan

Visa required

Visa-free

22

Timor-Leste

Visa on arrival

Visa on arrival

23

Uzbekistan

Visa-free

Visa-free

Africa

No.

Country

Entry conditions for Dominica citizens

Entry conditions for St Lucia citizens

1

Botswana

Visa-free

Visa-free

2

Burundi

Visa on arrival

Visa on arrival

3

Cape Verde Islands

Visa on arrival

Visa on arrival

4

Comoro Islands

Visa on arrival

Visa on arrival

5

Egypt

Visa on arrival

Visa on arrival

6

Eswatini

Visa-free

Visa-free

7

Gambia

Visa-free

Visa-free

8

Guinea-Bissau

Visa on arrival

Visa on arrival

9

Kenya

Visa-free

Visa-free

10

Lesotho

Visa-free

Visa-free

11

Madagascar

Visa on arrival

Visa on arrival

12

Malawi

Visa-free

Visa-free

13

Mauritania

Visa on arrival

Visa on arrival

14

Mauritius

Visa-free

Visa-free

15

Mayotte

Visa-free

Visa-free

16

Mozambique

Visa on arrival

Visa on arrival

17

Reunion

Visa-free

Visa-free

18

Rwanda

Visa on arrival

Visa on arrival

19

Saint Helena

Visa on arrival

Visa on arrival

20

⚠️ Senegal

Visa on arrival

Visa-free

21

Seychelles

Visa on arrival

Visa on arrival

22

Sierra Leone

Visa on arrival

Visa on arrival

23

Somalia

Visa on arrival

Visa on arrival

24

Tanzania

Visa-free

Visa-free

25

Togo

Visa on arrival

Visa on arrival

26

❌ Tunisia

Visa required

Visa-free

27

Uganda

Visa on arrival

Visa on arrival

28

Zambia

Visa-free

Visa-free

29

⚠️ Zimbabwe

Electronic entry permit

Visa-free

Oceania

No.

Country

Entry conditions for Dominica citizens

Entry conditions for St Lucia citizens

1

Cook Islands

Visa-free

Visa-free

2

Fiji

Visa-free

Visa-free

3

French Polynesia

Visa-free

Visa-free

4

❌ Kiribati

Visa required

Visa-free

5

Micronesia

Visa-free

Visa-free

6

New Caledonia

Visa-free

Visa-free

7

Niue

Visa-free

Visa-free

8

Palau

Visa on arrival

Visa on arrival

9

Samoa

Visa on arrival

Visa on arrival

10

Solomon Islands

Visa on arrival

Visa on arrival

11

Tonga

Visa on arrival

Visa on arrival

12

Tuvalu

Visa on arrival

Visa on arrival

13

Vanuatu

Visa-free

Visa-free

North America

No.

Country

Entry conditions for Dominica citizens

Entry conditions for St Lucia citizens

1

Anguilla

Visa-free

Visa-free

2

Antigua and Barbuda

Visa-free

Visa-free

3

Bahamas

Visa-free

Visa-free

4

Barbados

Visa-free

Visa-free

5

Belize

Visa-free

Visa-free

6

Bermuda

Visa-free

Visa-free

7

British Virgin Islands

Visa-free

Visa-free

8

Cayman Islands

Visa-free

Visa-free

9

Costa Rica

Visa-free

Visa-free

10

Cuba

Visa-free

Visa-free

11

Dominica

Visa-free

Visa-free

12

Dominican Republic

Visa-free

Visa-free

13

❌ El Salvador

Visa required

Visa-free

14

French West Indies

Visa-free

Visa-free

14

Greenland

Visa-free

Visa-free

15

Grenada

Visa-free

Visa-free

16

❌ Guatemala

Visa required

Visa-free

17

Haiti

Visa-free

Visa-free

18

❌ Honduras

Visa required

Visa-free

19

Jamaica

Visa-free

Visa-free

20

Montserrat

Visa-free

Visa-free

21

Nicaragua

Visa-free

Visa-free

22

Panama

Visa-free

Visa-free

23

Sint Maarten

Visa-free

Visa-free

24

St Kitts and Nevis

Visa-free

Visa-free

25

St Lucia

Visa-free

Visa-free

26

St Vincent and the Grenadines

Visa-free

Visa-free

27

Trinidad and Tobago

Visa-free

Visa-free

28

Turks and Caicos Islands

Visa-free

Visa-free

South America

No.

Country

Entry conditions for Dominica citizens

Entry conditions for St Lucia citizens

1

Argentina

Visa-free

Visa-free

2

Aruba

Visa-free

Visa-free

3

Bolivia

Visa on arrival

Visa on arrival

4

Bonaire, St Eustatius and Saba

Visa-free

Visa-free

5

❌ Brazil

Visa-free

Visa required

6

❌ Chile

Visa required

Visa-free

7

Colombia

Visa-free

Visa-free

8

Curacao

Visa-free

Visa-free

9

Ecuador

Visa-free

Visa-free

10

French Guiana

Visa-free

Visa-free

11

Guyana

Visa-free

Visa-free

12

Peru

Visa-free

Visa-free

13

Suriname

Visa-free

Visa-free

14

❌ Uruguay

Visa-free

Visa required

15

Venezuela

Visa-free

Visa-free

Visa to the US. It is not a visa-free destination for St Lucia and Dominica citizens, but a 10-year B‑1/B‑2 visitor visa is available. Investors apply to the nearest consulate of the US, for example, in the Bahamas, and get visas in 2一3 weeks.

Under visa conditions, Dominica and St Lucia citizens stay in the US for up to 180 days a year and travel and attend business meetings, conferences, and events. Also, they get medical treatment in the country.

Benefits in the UK. After St Lucia and Dominica had gained independence from the UK in the 1980s, they became members of the Commonwealth of Nations. Today countries’ citizens study at some British universities on scholarships and get benefits for their businesses in Great Britain.

Right to retain first citizenship. Wealthy people who get Dominica or St Lucia passports by investing can retain their other citizenships, including the first one.

Relocation to the Caribbean. Investors with St Lucia and Dominica passports can move to these states or any country of CARICOM, the Caribbean commonwealth. They are eligible to live, work, do business, study, and get treatment there.

15 Caribbean countries of CARICOM are the following:

  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.

St Lucia and Dominica taxes

Investors who stay in Dominica or St Lucia 183 days a year or more become tax residents of the countries and must get tax IDs. They apply online on the Inland Revenue Department website and obtain the tax ID after 10一14 days.

We compare Dominica and St Lucia tax rates in the table below for your convenience.

Taxes in St Lucia and Dominica

Taxes

Income tax

0 to 30%
Excluding global income

15 to 25%
Including global income

Social contributions

5%

6%

Taxes on dividends, interest, royalties

0% on dividends
10% on interest, royalties

0%

Property tax and fees

2% for a buyer
2.5 to 5% for a seller

10,5%, including fees, for a buyer
2,5% for a seller

Systems of taxes in Dominica and St Lucia are comfortable for wealthy people. Thus, they often relocate to the Caribbean states to reduce their tax costs.

Mainly, St Lucia’s taxes are less than Dominica’s.

Bill, 37 years old

Online sales entrepreneur

St Lucia citizenship to reduce taxes

Bill has a network of intimate apparel online stores in the UK, France, Italy and Portugal. When his expenses doubled in 2021, Bill considered reducing the tax burden. So, he decided to relocate to St Lucia.

Learn a case

Basic facts about Dominica and St Lucia

Before deciding to move to the Caribbean, knowing about some moments is essential.

The national currency is the Eastern Caribbean dollar, costing 37 US cents. Interestingly enough, different state money transactions may be done in different currencies. For example, taxes are paid in Eastern Caribbean dollars, but participation in citizenship programs is paid in US dollars.

There is a middle-life level in St Lucia and Dominica, but investors’ children can study at the best schools, colleges, and universities. For example, alumni of the St George’s University and the University of the West Indies, where all CARICOM citizens can study, get international diplomas. They can work in the US, UK, and EU. Also, high-quality treatment is available for wealthy people.

St Lucia and Dominica are tropical countries; thus, the air and water are warm or hot there all year round. Wealthy people prefer to vacation in Dominica or St Lucia during winter, the best Caribbean season, including the New Year holidays. Air and water temperature at this time fluctuates from +25℃ to +30℃.

There is no Caribbean nationality. 90% of the population is of African descent, and only 10% are Caribbean Indians and Europeans. The main religion in the Caribbean is Christianity.

Caribbean citizenship by investment: St Lucia program

Castries is the capital of St Lucia, 60 000 people live there. One of the University of the West Indies campus is in Castries

How to get citizenship by investing

When investors plan to participate in a citizenship program, they enquire with a licensed agent of Caribbean CBI programs, for example, with Immigrant Invest. Our lawyers tell investors about the program’s demands, assist them in comparing conditions, and help them get a second passport of St Lucia or Dominica.

The main stage of every program is Due Diligence, which lasts over 3 months and is conducted by the CBI unit, the program department of the country’s government. Our lawyers perform preliminary Due Diligence to reduce the rejection risk from the CBI unit.

1

1 day

Preliminary Due Diligence

An Anti-Money Laundering Officer of the licensed agent Immigrant Invest conducts a preliminary Due Diligence of the investor. Our lawyers check for “red flags” in the investor’s biography that can prevent successful government Due Diligence.

We need only an investor’s passport at that point.

2

2 to 4 weeks

Preparation of documents

There are translating and notarising investor’s documents and filling out government forms and the investor’s application at this stage.

Also, our lawyers prepare affidavits for the CBI unit about the investor’s biography and financial history.

3

3 months

Due Diligence

Immigrant Invest applies to participate in the CBI program on behalf of the investor. The CBI unit checks investors and their adult relatives over 16. Due Diligence can last for 6 months.

4

30 to 90 days

Investment terms fulfilment

After ending Due Diligence, the CBI unit informs the agent about approving the application. The investor fulfils investment conditions: contributes to the fund or buys real estate. If they prefer the bond option, investors will pay for the bonds.

Investors participating in St Lucia’s program have 90 days for fulfilment in St Lucia and 30 days in Dominica.

5

Up to 4 weeks

Getting passport

The licensed agent confirms the fulfilment of the investment conditions. The naturalisation certificates and passports of the investor and the relatives are issued. The principal applicant gets the documents at the agent’s office or by delivery service.

Checklist for investors who decide to get second Caribbean passports

The Dominica and St Lucia programs are similar, so let’s highlight the main points.

Visa-free China. If the investor does business in the country, often meets with business partners from China, or needs to visit the state regularly, they get a Dominica passport.

Fast-track procedure. Dominica and St Lucia’s Due Diligence lasts at least 3 months; about a month is required to prepare documents and receive passports. It is one of the fastest ways to obtain second citizenship in the world. In comparison, getting citizenship in European countries takes 5 to 10 years by naturalisation.

Return investment. If the principal applicant decides to refund their investment, they choose to buy real estate or bonds. Although the bond costs 1.5 times higher than real estate, we recommend selecting a bond buy. The thing is, the investor will not have hassles as the property owner.

Immigrant Invest is a licensed agent for citizenship and residence by investment programs in the EU, the Caribbean, Asia, and the Middle East. Take advantage of our global 15-year expertise — schedule a meeting with our investment programs experts.

Compare the Caribbean and Vanuatu citizenship by investment programs

Practical Guide

Compare the Caribbean and Vanuatu citizenship by investment programs

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Frequently asked questions

  • Is a Dominica passport strong?

  • How strong is a St Lucia passport?

  • What Caribbean islands don't require a passport?

    It would help if you had a passport for coming to any country, excluding inland visa-free areas. If you have a passport of one of the CARICOM countries, you can visit all of them visa-free. For example, by ferry and not showing a passport at the boarding. CARICOM is like the Schengen Area and visa-free.

    15 Caribbean countries of CARICOM are the following:

    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.

    You don’t always need a visa. If your citizenship country has a visa waiver agreement with a Caribbean state, you can travel visa-free but with a passport. Citizens of nearly 100 states have to obtain visas to visit the Caribbean. For example, we specify countries where citizens get visas to enter Sl Lucia.

  • Where can I go in the Caribbean without a passport?

    If you hold a Dominica or St Lucia passport, you can visit any of them with the document. After that, you may travel inland to the Caribbean commonwealth and don’t show your passport, for example, at boarding the ferry.

  • What are income taxes in Dominica and St Lucia?

    Income taxes in the countries are differentiated:

    • 0 to 30% in St Lucia;

    • 15 to 25% in Dominica.

    The supreme rate of the income tax in St Lucia applies to income over 30,000 Eastern Caribbean dollars and over 50,000 Eastern Caribbean dollars in Dominica. 1 Eastern Caribbean dollar always costs 37 US cents.

  • How often do I have to renew my Caribbean passport?

    St Lucia and Dominica passports are renewed every 5 or 10 years.

    Their expiration dates are the following:

    • 10 years in Dominica if you are over 16;

    • 5 years in Dominica if you are under 16 and for all St Lucia citizens.