Saint Lucia
COUNTRY PROFILE
Capital and Largest City: Castries
Official Language: English
Time Zone: UTC-4
WHY SAINT LUCIA?
St. Lucia is located in the eastern Caribbean Sea, south of Martinique and northwest of Barbados. An island made of volcanic lava that is primarily covered in rainforest is known for its twin peaks, known as the Pitons, and its enchanted beaches. St. Lucia has great air connections to Europe and North America and is a member of the Commonwealth and CARICOM.
One of the Windward Islands, with Mount Gimie at 950 meters above sea level as its highest point, is more mountainous than most Caribbean islands. The island is well-known as a travel destination because of its stunning natural surroundings, which include a rain forest, national parks, botanical gardens, a world heritage site, beautiful Caribbean beaches, and even a drive-in volcano. Particularly in its worldwide banking and tourist industries, the island nation draws in business and investment from elsewhere. St. Lucia's primary source of employment, foreign exchange profits, and revenue is tourism, which accounts for 65% of all jobs, income
SAINT LUCIA CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT PROGRAM CONDITIONS
Since 2015, the Saint Lucian Citizenship by Investment program has been running. The Citizenship by Investment Act regulates the policies and procedures.
Saint Lucia citizenship is available for an investment of $100,000 or more. Candidates have a choice between three main options:
- Payment made to a government fund.
- Payment made to a government.
- Government bond purchases.
Citizenship is granted through a streamlined process to investors. They are not required to submit a residency application, live in the nation, or pass a language exam. Couples, kids, parents, and siblings also become citizens together with the investor.
Key Benefits Of Obtaining A Saint Lucia Citizenship By Investment Passport
- Visa-free travel to 145 countries including the UK, Singapore, Hong Kong and China.
- Full citizenship with passport granted to main applicant, spouse, children, and parents or grandparents.
- Required donation is from USD 100,000.
- Offers citizenship by descent for future children.
- Lowest capital outlay for a single applicant across all Caribbean Program.
- No minimum presence requirement.
- A genuine, natural landscape of gorgeous palm-fringed beaches, miles of unspoiled rainforest and the majestic Piton Mountains are sure to indulge every taste.
- It allows you to spend up to 6 months per year in the USA. With this visa you can enter US for business, for tourism or medical treatments.
- Rapid Citizenship: A passport is issued in approximately three to six months.
- No taxes on income, wealth, or inheritance make the tax system attractive.
- There are no residency requirements, therefore it is possible to obtain a Saint Lucia passport online.
- Whether you invest in real estate or government bonds, you have a 5-year short investment time.
- Investors may establish a company in St. Lucia under the laws of another country.
- Opening accounts for business purposes abroad and settling payments with international partners are made simpler as a result.
- You may stay in the US for up to 6 months each year with a 10-year tourist passport. You are able to travel, do business, or receive medical care in the US with this visa.
- 3-4 months time frame for obtaining a passport.
REQUIREMENTS/ INVESTMENT OPTIONS
In order to qualify for citizenship for the applicant and his or her family under the St. Lucia Citizenship-by-Investment Program, the applicant must spend a sizeable sum of money in the nation.
The primary applicant must be over 18 years old, satisfy the due diligence requirements, and choose one of the following choices in order to be eligible for citizenship:
- Purchasing government bonds without income starting at USD 250,000.
- Make a qualifying real estate purchase in a project that the government has authorized for at least USD $300,000.
- An investment of at least US$3.5 million in an authorized enterprise initiative, along with the establishment of at least three permanent jobs.
- A non-refundable contribution to the National Economic Fund beginning at $100,000 USD.
Donation / contribution to the government fund
The National Economic Fund (NEF) is a special fund created in accordance with Section 33 of the Citizenship by Investment Act with the single objective of collecting donations for financing government sponsors.
Children under the age of 21 or adult children between the ages of 21 and 30 who are completely supported by the applicant may be included as the main applicant. Additionally, parents or grandparents who are over 55 and residing with and being supported in full by the primary applicant may be included.
DONATION
Two cost possibilities are summarized in the table below:
| ST LUCIA | Single Applicant | Family of Four |
|---|---|---|
|
Contribution to NEF |
100,000 |
150,000 |
|
Government Processing fees |
2,000 |
5,000 |
|
Due Diligence Fees |
7,500 |
12,500 |
|
Passport(s) |
300 |
1,200 |
Sub - Total
|
USD 109,800 |
USD 168,700 |
Please note, additional charges may apply.
REAL ESTATE
Additionally, applicants have the option of purchasing real estate from an authorized real estate initiative for a minimum of USD $300,000. Before the proposed real estate endeavor is substantially finished or after a five-year period, the real estate cannot be sold.
For the same two situations as before, this choice would entail the following government fees and due diligence fees:
| ST LUCIA | Single Applicant | Family of Four |
|---|---|---|
|
Minimum price |
300,000 |
300,000 |
|
Government Processing fees |
50,000 |
140,000 |
|
Due Diligence Fees |
7,500 |
12,500 |
|
Passport(s) |
300 |
1,200 |
Sub - Total |
USD 357,800 |
USD 453,700
|
Please note, additional charges may apply.
Government Bond
A household of up to four must pay USD 250.000. A bond must be held for five years by a single applicant, six years by a married pair, and seven years by a family of four. If a family of four buys USD $300,000 worth of bonds, the hold time can be shortened to just five years. Additionally, there is a USD 30,000 administrative charge that is not refundable. Passport costs and standard due diligence also apply.
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible, an investor must be:
- over the age of 18.
- without a history of crime.
- with a regular income.
- backed by a financial reference.
- Without serious medical conditions.
For Investor’s siblings, they must be:
- less than 18 years old.
- Unmarried, with an adult or guardian approval in order to take part in the program.
For Investor’s children up to the age of 30 years, they must be:
- Fully dependent on the investor financially.
For Investor’s Parents, they must be:
- more than 55 years old.
- under financial reliance on the investor.
Application Process
Initial due diligence.
Sign client agreement, complete government
forms and provide supporting documentation.
Application submitted.
Government process and
complete due diligence.
On approval, government contribution is made or real estate completed. Passports are issued.
