St Lucia offers investors to obtain citizenship under the government program. Four investment options are available:
- $100,000+ as a contribution to a state fund;
- $200,000+ as a purchase of real estate;
- $300,000+ as a purchase of bonds;
- $1,000,000+ as investments in a local business.
Investor's family members can obtain citizenship, too: a spouse, children under 30 years old, parents over 55 years old and siblings under 18 years old.
How St Lucia citizenship can become a powerful tool for convenient travelling and business expansion
The term for obtaining St Lucia citizenship is about three months. Passports and naturalisation certificates are issued four weeks after the applicant invests. Immigrant Invest sends the documents to an address convenient for the investor.
Participation of relatives in the citizenship program is paid additionally. The total expenses depend on the number and age of family members.
We calculate the cost of participation in the citizenship program individually for each family. The calculation includes the investment amount, additional fees, a payment schedule, and the cost of support services.
Head of the Legal Department, a lawyer, Candidate of Juridical Sciences, Judicial Counselor of the 3rd Class
Non-refundable contribution
At least $100,000 one needs to contribute to a St Lucia state fund to get the country’s passport. The investment can not be returned.
A smaller investment is the main advantage of the option. Even though the investment can not be returned, the costs are two to three times lower than under other investment options.
If the investor participates in the program alone, their expenses will amount to $110,350+. If you add relatives to the citizenship application, the fund contribution and additional costs will increase depending on the number of participants and their age. Sometimes, the participation with a family may be more beneficial under options with purchasing bonds or real estate.
Minimum expenses on obtaining St Lucia citizenship
| Expenses | Amount |
| Fund investment | $100,000 for the investor + $40,000 for a spouse + $50,000 for a family of four + $15,000 for each participant from 5 + $25,000 for each family member if there is no spouse on the application |
| Due Diligence | $7,500 for the investor + $5,000 per spouse and participants 16 years old and over |
| Application processing fee | $2,000 for the investor + $1,000 per participant |
| Passport fee | $500 per participant |
| Other state fees | $250 as a fee for the forwarding of documents $100 as a bank fee for all participants |
| Total | $110,350+ |
Investors' money goes to the St Lucia National Economic Fund and pay off the public debt, finance tourism, and build urban and transport infrastructure. The country's parliament annually approves projects to which the fund will allocate money.
Purchase of government bonds
$300,000 is the minimum price of government bonds for investors. The investment return is the main advantage of the option. The investor has the right to redeem the bonds in 5 years.
Minimum expenses on obtaining St Lucia citizenship
| Expenses | Amount |
| Purchase of bonds | $300,000+ |
| Administration fee | $50,000 |
| Due Diligence | $7,500 for the investor + $5,000 per spouse and participants 16 years old and over |
| Application processing fee | $2,000 for the investor + $1,000 per participant |
| Passport fee | $500 per participant |
| Other state fees | $250 as a fee for the forwarding of documents $100 as a bank fee for all participants |
| Total | $360,350+ |
Investments in real estate
Buying real estate costs an investor more than the contribution to the state fund or buying bonds. If the investor participates in the program alone, their expenses will start at $240,350.
Minimum expenses on obtaining St Lucia citizenship
| Expenses | Amount |
| Property purchase | $200,000+ |
| Government fee | $30,000 for the investor + $15,000 for a spouse + $5,000 per child under 18 + $10,000 per participant over 18 + $10,000 per additional participant over 18 if there are more than four people in the family, excluding the investor and their spouse |
| Due Diligence | $7,500 for the investor + $5,000 per spouse and participants 16 years old and over |
| Application processing fee | $2,000 for the investor + $1,000 per participant |
| Passport fee | $500 per participant |
| Other state fees | $250 as a fee for the forwarding of documents + $100 as a bank fee for all participants |
| Total | $240,350+ |
The investment return is the main advantage of buying real estate. An investor can sell a share or a property 5 years after obtaining citizenship. Another option advantage is an additional income from renting out real estate. When the construction of the chosen hotel is completed, the investor will be able to receive 2 to 5% per annum.
Investors can buy properties in full ownership or participate in the construction of hotels, villas, or urban infrastructure. A share may be in an object, securities, or a trust.
Example of a St Lucia investment property
Investors can buy properties in a hotel in Micoud. It is located on the first coastline of the island.
Business investments
Applicants rarely invest in St Lucian businesses, as the option cost is much higher than other options. For example, if compared with the costs with the contribution, the investor has to pay 10—30 times more.
To obtain a passport, an applicant invests in a government-approved business project. If the investor finances the project alone, the minimum investment amount is $3,500,000. Collective investments in the amount of at least $6,000,000 are possible; each participant's share starts at $1,000,000.
The administration fee is $50,000. Additional payment for each family member is $25,000.
What to choose — the fund contribution, real estate purchase or bonds?
Let's compare the minimum cost of participation under the three popular options of the St Lucia citizenship program for a family of four. The calculation includes the main investment and additional expenses.
Expenses for a family of 4 with two children aged 12 and 17
| Expenses | Fund contribution | Purchase of bonds | Real estate purchase |
| Investments | $150,000 Contribution amount | $300,000+ Bonds price | $200,000+ Real estate price |
| Government fee | $0 Government fee isn’t charged when contributing to the state fund | $50,000 Government fee when purchasing bonds | $55,000 Government fee when purchasing real estate |
| Due Diligence | $17,500 Due Diligence fee for the investor and two applicants over 16 | $17,500 Due Diligence fee for the investor and two applicants over 16 | $17,500 Due Diligence fee for the investor and two applicants over 16 |
| Other fees | $7,350+ Application processing, banking commission and fees for issuance of documents | $7,350+ Application processing, banking commission and fees for issuance of documents | $7,350+ Application processing, banking commission and fees for issuance of documents |
| Total | $174,850+ Total expenses for a family of four when contributing | $374,850+ Total expenses for a family of four when purchasing bonds | $279,850+ Total expenses for a family of four when purchasing bonds |
Investors pay twice as much for St Lucia passports for families of four if they choose the purchase of government bonds or real estate. However, thus they can return the money in 5 years, while the contribution is a non-refundable option.
Opportunities for new St Lucia citizens
Second passports for the whole family. St Lucia allows investors to participate in the CBI program with their families. The applicant has the right to add to the citizenship application:
- a spouse;
- children under 30;
- parents over 55;
- siblings under 18.
Visa-free travel to 146 countries, including the Schengen states: a St Lucia citizen can stay there for 90 days within six months. In addition, St Lucia citizens can stay for 180 days in a row in the UK. The list of visa‑free destinations also includes Hong Kong and Singapore.
Tax optimisation. St Lucia tax residents do not pay taxes on capital gains, dividends and inheritance. Legal entities do not pay tax on capital gains, dividends, and VAT in some cases.
Opportunity to educate children in UK universities. St Lucia is part of the British Commonwealth of Nations. Therefore, the country’s citizens can get education on preferential terms at the best British universities, for example, under scholarships from the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission or CSC. They can also apply for the Chevening Scholarships.
