St Lucia has published its annual report covering the 2024—2025 fiscal year.
Lyle Julien, an investment programmes expert, assessed the figures and explained how the number of citizenship applications changed.
Trends of the reporting period
St Lucia approved 2,278 applications for citizenship by investment in the 2024—2025 fiscal year[1]Annual report 2024—2025, St Lucia CIP department.. A year earlier, 1,171 applicants received a positive decision.
The refusal rate increased from 6.2 to 13.5%. In the 2024—2025 fiscal year, 355 applications were refused. In the previous reporting period, there were 77 such applications.
In total, the CBI Unit processed 2,633 applications. This is 111% more than a year earlier, when 1,248 applications were processed.
Fewer new applications
St Lucia received 2,957 new applications for citizenship by investment. This is 47.6% fewer than a year earlier. Demand for St Lucia citizenship had previously grown: the number of applications has increased more than fivefold since 2020.
Most investors chose the real estate purchase option. It became the most popular way to participate in the citizenship by investment programme.
Investment revenue almost doubled
The programme brought the country $149 million over the period. This is about 67% more than a year earlier. The main sources of revenue were:
- $74 million in Due Diligence fees;
- $67.5 million in administrative fees.
St Lucia did not disclose applicants’ citizenship
The report for the 2024—2025 fiscal year does not include a breakdown of applicants by citizenship or data on countries from Due Diligence providers.
According to the previous report, most applicants were from China. They were followed by citizens of the UAE and Iraq.
How to obtain St Lucia citizenship by investment
St Lucia citizenship is obtained in 6+ months. Investors are not required to live in the country. A spouse, children, and parents can be included in the application.
Investment options:
- non-refundable contribution to the National Economic Fund — $240,000;
- purchase of government bonds — $300,000;
- purchase of approved real estate — $300,000;
- investment in infrastructure projects — $250,000;
- investment in business — $1,000,000.
Investments in bonds or real estate can be returned after 5 years.
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