The Caribbean island of Saint Lucia offers one of the most cost-effective programmes in the region. The country lies in the eastern Caribbean Sea and consists of a volcanic island mainly covered in rainforest. It is mostly known for its sandy beaches and its twin mountain peaks. The country is a member of the CARICOM and the Commonwealth. 

The benefits of obtaining citizenship through the Saint Lucia citizenship programme include a swift processing time of 3-6 months for the in-principle approval to be issued, after which the certificate of naturalisation is expressed.

St Lucian citizenship also comes with the ability to include dependents, and more than 148 visa-free travel destinations which include the Schengen Zone, UK, Singapore and Hong Kong. 

There are also no physical presence requirements and no requirement to travel to Saint Lucia during the application process. Applicants are also not subject to tax on worldwide income and, furthermore, no education or managerial experience are required.

For one to become a citizen of Saint Lucia through  Citizenship by Investment, the main applicant must be at least 18 years of age. Eligible dependents include the spouse, dependent children up to the age of 30 and dependent parents above 55, under certain conditions.

Applicants must also pass a ‘Fit and Proper’ test to demonstrate that they are of good standing, have a clean health record and make a substantial investment in the economy.

The applicant must also provide details of the proposed qualifying investment and pass a due diligence background check, along with their qualifying dependents over the age of 16, to ensure transparency.

Prospective citizens must also provide complete disclosure on all matters pertaining to the application and pay the required non-refundable administrative fees upon application.

The Saint Lucia Citizenship Programme provides a number of investment options within which the applicant may choose from; a contribution, real estate investment or investment in government bonds. These options are laid down by Act no 14 of 2015 – the Citizenship by Investment Act. 

The first investment option is a non-refundable contribution of US$100,000 to the St Lucia’s National Economic Fund (NEF)which go to national projects to further strengthen the economy of the country. A contribution of US $140,000 apply for a main applicant and a spouse, whilst a contribution of US $150,000 applies for a family of four. Additional dependents come at an additional cost of $15,000. 

An applicant may also invest a minimum of US$ 200,000 in real estate which must be kept for a minimum of 5 years. 

The third option is an investment of US$ 300,000 in government bonds which must also be kept for 5 years. An administrative fee of US $50,000 is also applicable.