St Lucia Citizenship by Investment: The Ultimate Guide

Legend has it that infamous pirates ‘Peg Leg’ and the feared ‘Blackbeard’ were enticed to the mystical land of Saint Lucia by its abundance of rum.

It’s said that the notorious Blackbeard buried several of his treasures in the town of Vieux Fort, a tale that only adds to the allure and excitement of the island’s adventurous spirit. 

That’s not the only treasure that lies hidden here, though.

This island paradise, cradled between Martinique and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, has become more than just a dream destination for many – it has become an opportunity for those seeking second citizenship, providing them greater freedom, asset protection and the ideal ‘Plan B’. 

St Lucia’s citizenship-by-investment (CBI) program is an exclusive pathway that allows individuals and families to gain St Lucian citizenship by making a significant investment in the country.

Whether you are a successful entrepreneur, an investor or a family seeking a sense of belonging in a tropical paradise close to both North and South America, St Lucia may hold the key to going where you are treated best. 

Not only is St Lucia a highly reputable option for obtaining a second passport in the Caribbean region, but it also offers plenty of investment routes to choose from to obtain its passport. 

Sure, there are already citizenship programs in each of the following countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, St Kitts and Nevis and Grenada.

But you can never have too many options and, anyway, each of these countries has distinct pros and cons, meaning one might suit you better than another.

While Antigua and Barbuda will work better for some people (e.g., larger families), St Lucia offers one of the lowest points of investment if you’re a solo applicant. 

In addition, from just US$240,000, you could get access to over 138 countries visa-free, as well as all the tropical benefits and enjoy your St Lucian passport for the rest of your life.

So, is Saint Lucia right for you? 

The Nomad Capitalist team has put together this complete guide to help you understand your options. If you do decide that St Lucia is where you’re going to be treated best, reach out to us to have us help you create your action plan.

Why Consider Citizenship by Investment?

Before getting into the nitty-gritty of St Lucia’s citizenship-by-investment program, we should establish some basics. 

What is a CBI program? How does one jurisdiction differ from another, and what should a high-net-worth investor pay attention to when obtaining his second passport?

In essence, a CBI program is set up and run by governments seeking additional investment capital that may not be obtained through other, more traditional avenues. 

CBI programs are typical of island states and nations that are otherwise overly reliant on one or two industries and have no other way to attract investment dollars or develop their economies.

Basically, countries sell passports and all the benefits they bring in exchange for cash. Depending on the country in question, you could be required to: 

• Donate to a development government fund
• Buy real estate (sometimes from a pre-approved list only)
• Purchase bonds or another financial instrument     
• Set up a local company and employ locals.

Usually, countries only ask you to do one of those things, but exceptions exist – for example, wanting a donation and a real estate investment. 

A donation will never be recouped, whereas the other forms of investment will be subject to a holding period, after which you could get your investment back.

The regulations and guidelines vary depending on the jurisdiction, with several rules to consider. Moreover, the pros and cons of each specific passport will also vary. 

Why a St Lucia Citizenship-by-Investment Passport?

You mean, apart from the chance to easily purchase citizenship for a country with zero inheritance, capital gains or dividends taxes? 

Or the chance to, for fairly little investment, purchase a passport that opens you up to visa-free travel to Europe and most of South America?

St Lucia is a safe and stable country that is a member of the United Nations (UN), the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), and various other Caribbean-based unions.  

It uses the Eastern Caribbean Dollar (XCD) that has been pegged to the US dollar for over four decades. 

The island paradise of St Lucia gained its independence from the United Kingdom in 1979 but remains part of the Commonwealth. 

Due to its past ties with the UK, English is the official language, colonial architecture is typical, the legal system is based on English common law and St Lucian citizens enjoy access to the UK and Ireland. 

With virtually no traffic and a tropical climate year-round, St Lucia certainly is inviting. However, bear in mind that hurricanes hit the island periodically and can sometimes be devastating. 

There are also direct links to East Coast hubs in North America, including Miami, Philadelphia, New York, Atlanta, Chicago and Toronto.  Europe is also directly connected with St Lucia through London.

As if that weren’t enough, you can proudly show off a nice passport to a country dripping in luxury and beaches rivalling those of the Cayman Islands. Let’s just put it this way: it has a much higher-end vibe than Dominica but for the same price tag. 

St Lucia Economy

Before you invest in any country, you should take a long and careful look at its economy. That’s especially true if you’re going the actual investment route. You’ll want to recoup your investment eventually, won’t you? 

Luckily, with a population of around 180,000 people and a GDP of US$2.5 billion, St Lucia’s economy is in good shape. In fact, it’s one of the top performers in the region.

However, the typical island-nation problems plague this volcanic paradise too.

First, it’s reliant on just a few significant industries: banana production and tourism. This is, of course, problematic for a country that wants to grow its GDP and improve the lives of its population. 

Banana production is on a terminal decline due to competition from Latin American countries with substantially lower production costs. Crop diversification has been encouraged to ensure that agriculture remains a substantial part of the country’s GDP. 

Meanwhile, travel and tourism account for nearly 10% of the St Lucian GDP. Nearly 1 million people visit the country annually and it’s one of the top destinations for opulent weddings and swanky honeymoons. 

St Lucia’s second problem is unemployment. Like its neighbours, the island suffers chronic youth unemployment rates, although that declined in 2024. 

Given that the population is highly educated and skilled, the real culprit here is the lack of economic activity, fuelled in particular by a lack of foreign investment. 

Every crisis brings opportunity. The St Lucian government created that opportunity by launching a citizenship-by-investment program. 

Benefits of Buying a St Lucian Passport

The power of a second passport cannot be underestimated, opening doors to greater travel opportunities and business and tax advantages. St Lucia is an attractive spot for investors seeking a second citizenship, thanks to the numerous benefits.

• Fast Citizenship: St Lucia will process your application in 3-6 months.
• Cheap Passport: St Lucia has one of the lowest donation amounts of any CBI program.
• No Residence Requirement: You never have to visit St Lucia to receive or renew your passport.
• Visa-Free Travel: Visit 138 countries, including the EU, the UK and Ireland. 
• Favourable Taxes: No tax on income from abroad and no wealth or inheritance taxes.
• Various Investment Options : St Lucia offers four different investment options to qualify for citizenship.

St Lucia’s Citizenship-by-Investment Program

No amount of tourism or crop diversification was ever going to propel St Lucia’s economy where it needed to be. 

So, not too long ago, the government promised to double the nation’s GDP in a decade, but this was perhaps a populistic over-promise despite being a laudable goal for a country suffering high unemployment. 

Doubling their GDP is probably their only way to pay off debt, diversify industries and employ people. 

The solution? Set up a citizenship-by-investment program that requires applicants to make a ‘significant economic contribution’ in exchange for a passport. 

Taking onboard the best practices of other citizenship-by-investment programs in the Caribbean, St Lucia launched its CBI program in December 2015. It came into full effect on January 1, 2016, based on the Citizenship by Investment Act (Act No. 14 of 2015).

Today, St Lucia’s CBI accounts for a healthy 4% of its GDP. Compare that to other jurisdictions like Dominica, where CBI income accounts for roughly 50% of GDP.

The St Lucian government has been careful and calculated with its approach to CBI and has ensured its program has high standards. Extensive due diligence has been the hallmark of the St Lucian CBI program.  

However, St Lucia has worked to remove multiple bureaucratic hurdles and shortened the total application to passport time to 3-6 months without decreasing the level of due diligence on applicants. 

In addition, the St Lucian government has run the program differently than its neighbours. For example, it has not gained visa-free access to Russia or China.

It has positioned itself as a somewhat ‘Western’ passport, which certainly holds great appeal for some. In fact, it has sided with Taiwan on the international scene, possibly delaying China’s visa-free access indefinitely. 

Daring and bold, St Lucia CBI has a solid reputation. Simply put – St Lucia doesn’t deal with people who have any ‘issues,’ no matter how minor.  

How Does the St Lucia Citizenship-by-Investment Program Compare to Other Caribbean CBI Programs?

You could be forgiven for thinking St Lucia is ‘yet another CBI program.’ In many respects, the Caribbean CBI programs are so similar that it’s hard to point out the differences and unique selling points. 

There are a few notable differences between St Lucia and its Caribbean neighbours.

Namely, St Lucia offers some of the more uncommon CBI routes for those who don’t want to go the donation path. If it floats your boat, you can invest in government bonds and even approved enterprise projects.

Additionally, St Lucia certainly has a different vibe than its closest CBI rival, Dominica. 

When you think of St Lucia, you think of opulence and exclusivity. The resorts and hotels on the island are geared toward the creme de la creme of society. 

Meanwhile, Dominica is much more pedestrian. We’re not saying that’s necessarily a bad thing, but it is a distinguishing factor between the two.

It’s up to you to decide which one you’d like to go for.

How To Obtain a St Lucian Passport by Investment

Here’s what it will take to get a St Lucian passport, with a thorough explanation of each option to follow.

• Make a Donation– Donate US$240,000 to the Saint Lucia National Economic Fund (SLNEF)
• Invest in Real Estate – Invest US$300,000 in pre-approved real estate (plus a non-refundable administration fee of US$30,000) 
• Invest in Government Bonds– Invest US$300,000 in government bonds and hold them for five years (plus a non-refundable administration fee of US$50,000) 
• Invest in a Local Business– Invest a minimum of US$3.5 million in an enterprise project (plus a non-refundable fee of US$50,000).

1. National Economic Fund Donation

Making a one-time, non-refundable donation to the St Lucia National Economic Fund is the most popular way to obtain St Lucia citizenship by investment. 

The Fund was established for the sole purpose of granting St Lucian citizenship by donation of foreign investments. However, to this day, there has been no public account of how the funds were and are being spent (which has caused considerable controversy). 

In any case:

• You’re expected to contribute at least US$240,000 if you’re a single applicant
• Each additional qualifying dependent under 18 years of age is an additional US$10,000
• Each additional qualifying dependent over 18 years of age is an additional US$20,000
• A family of four, in this case, with two parents and two minor children, would pay US$280,000.

Every application also comes with processing and administration fees:

• The principal applicant will pay US$2,000 in processing fees and US$1,000 per dependent.
• Due diligence fees are US$7,500 for the principal applicant and US$5,000 per dependent (over 16 years old).

The total St Lucia citizenship by donation required for a single person applying is thus US$249,500, excluding agency fees. 

Meanwhile, a family of four (two adults and two children 16+) will pay around US$307,500.

The government has also made a permanent change for newborn dependents. Now, instead of the US$25,000 administrative fee for additional dependents, it will cost US$5,000 to add a newborn to your application. 

This makes St Lucia much more competitive, especially for applicants with families.

2. Real Estate Investment

With CBI programs, there is nearly always a real estate investment option. St Lucia is no different. 

You may purchase a property worth a minimum investment of US$300,000, but only from the officially pre-approved list of real estate investment properties. 

Here is a complete list of approved real estate developments you can invest in. Given the newness of the program, there are currently only a handful of real estate properties on there. 

You can expect to invest in a high-end hotel or resort, and these will usually be slightly overpriced – a regular occurrence with CBI programs that require you to buy from a pre-approved list of real estate.

You will be required to hold the property for at least five years. 

In addition to the actual price, keep in mind that there are additional fees that are higher than for a donation:

• The principal applicant will have to pay US$30,000 in non-refundable administrative fees.
• Adding a spouse to the application requires an additional US$15,000 administrative fee.
• Each qualifying adult dependent will cost US$10,000 and US$5,000 if the dependent is under 18.
• Due diligence fees are US$7,500 for the principal applicant and US$5,000 per dependent (over 16 years old).

In total, a solo applicant going for the real estate option will shell out around US$337,500. Meanwhile, a family with two small kids would have to pay a total of US$377,500.

3. Government Bond Investment

The St Lucian government introduced sweeping changes to this particular investment option, making it the perfect opportunity for bond investors.

Previously, investors were required to invest at least US$500,000 in government-issued non-interest-bearing bonds and hold them for at least five years. 

However, applicants can now qualify for St Lucia citizenship by a minimum investment of U$300,000 in National Action Government Bonds (NAB) with a five-year hold period. 

While the application fees are considerably higher than if you were to go the donation route, they have also been discounted:

• A non-refundable administrative fee of US$50,000 for those buying government bonds. 
• Due diligence fees are US$7,500 for the principal applicant and US$5,000 per dependent (over 16 years old).

With this option, you can essentially donate US$50,000 and invest US$300,000 in government bonds with no interest for five years.

For people with cash sitting around, you can save US$50,000 in ‘sunk costs’ in exchange for parking US$300,000 for a time. As long as St Lucia doesn’t default on bonds, you will get that money back in five years. 

Money in the bank earns almost nothing nowadays, so if you have cash that you’re not investing, it’s a good deal.

4. Approved Enterprise Projects

Finally, the most exotic option of them all is investing in an approved enterprise project. 

This option comes as no surprise since the government of St Lucia is making a concerted effort not just to attract foreign capital but also to create jobs for its population.

If you’re a sole investor, you will need to spend a minimum of US$3,500,000, but if you’re investing together with partners, you will each need to contribute at least US$1,000,000 and a total of US$6,000,000. 

In addition, you’ve got the fees: 

• A non-refundable admin fee of US$15,000 for single applicants.
• You will pay an additional US$5,000 for each qualifying dependent (up until three total dependents; after that, each qualifying one is US$10,000).
• Due diligence fees are US$7,500 for the applicant and US$5,000 per dependent (if over 16 years old).

The caveat is that you can’t just dream up the investment projects. Each project is pre-approved by the government and featured on its official website. 

The projects can range from specialty restaurants, cruise ports, marinas, agro-processing plants, pharmaceutical products, ports, bridges, roads and highways, research institutions and facilities to offshore universities.

These are the most desirable community and infrastructure projects that you can expect to contribute to.

How to Apply for St Lucia Citizenship: Step-by-Step

Before applying for St Lucia citizenship, you’ll need to check your eligibility. The good news is that the eligibility requirements are pretty standard and don’t make it too difficult for an applicant to tick all the boxes.

To be considered for a St Lucia CBI and passport, you should:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Have no ‘issues’ with your character
• Hold no criminal record
• Be in good health
• Not be a potential security risk.

Good on the eligibility front? Here’s how you apply: 

• Do an initial due diligence check and gather your documents. You must work with a government-approved agency to do this and lodge an application. 
• Pay the due diligence-related fees. Then, lodge your application with the St Lucian Citizenship Unit. 
• The St Lucian government will take approximately 60 to 90 days to approve your application. Once approved, you’ll receive a Letter of Approval.
• At this point, the total investment amount will be fully paid. Payment must be made within 90 calendar days of the Letter of Approval being issued. 
• Once completed, the Citizenship Unit will issue a Certificate of Naturalisation to you (and your family members). Take an oath or affirmation of allegiance before an attorney-at-law or notary public. 
• You can then apply for and receive your St Lucian passport in a week. 

It should be noted that you can add dependents for five years after your own application gets approved for the additional administrative and due diligence fees. 

Enjoy St Lucia Citizenship by Investment Like These Nomad Capitalists

‘Going the donation route was a no-brainer. Having a second passport has really opened up numerous opportunities for me personally and professionally. I also have a swanky passport I can show my friends at parties – I love it.’

Vic Phillips

‘I’ve had the best of times obtaining my St Lucian passport. Not only does it mean my wife and I can now enjoy visa-free travel to all of Central and South America, but I can also expand my manufacturing business in the EU.’

Haiden Church

‘Andrew and his team at Nomad Capitalist are simply the best in the second citizenship business. They know their CBI programs inside and out, and their advice for me to choose St Lucia was spot on. I couldn’t be happier with my decision.’

Thomas Wright

Benefits of St Lucian Citizenship by Investment

Many benefits come with St Lucian citizenship that you may not find with other CBI programs. Among the main benefits, you’ll find:

• No pointless hoops to jump through: There won’t be an interview to obtain the St Lucia passport, nor will any tests need to be taken.
• Visa-free access to over 138 countries: All of Europe, lots of Central and South America, Hong Kong, Singapore and the UK are included.
• Invest only after getting approved: Some CBI programs will demand that you invest before you get approved for citizenship. The opposite is true in St Lucia CBI; you’ll only be spending real money after you’re approved for and receive your naturalisation certificate. 
• Fast citizenship: You won’t need to sit around and wait for years until your St Lucia Citizenship by Investment is approved. It will take 3-6 months to get your St Lucia passport. 
• Cheap second passport: Along with a few other jurisdictions in the Caribbean, the St Lucia passport is one of the cheapest for a single person to obtain. 
• Your family can come too: You can obtain St Lucia citizenship by investment for your spouse, dependent children (under 21), and parents (over 55) when applying for the St Lucia CBI program, but each dependent comes at an additional price. 
• No residency requirement: You don’t have to reside in St Lucia before, during or after the application process. 
• No travel is required: You can complete all your paperwork and obtain your St Lucia passport remotely. 
• Your citizenship is for life: Everyone who obtains a St Lucia Citizenship by Investment will hold their St Lucia passport for life. That means you will always have a place to live and work, no matter what happens.
• You’ve got options: With the most varied investment options, St Lucia caters to those who want to buy citizenship fast and those who want to create actual ties with the country and help its economy develop. 
• Dual citizenship is allowed: St Lucia recognises dual citizenship, so you won’t have an issue obtaining and having two passports.
• Moderate taxation: There are no inheritance taxes, wealth taxes, capital gains tax, or personal income tax rates for revenue derived from abroad if you do not reside in St Lucia.
• Vibrant offshore sector: Comparable to other Caribbean islands, St Lucia also has a vibrant international offshore sector, allowing people to participate in all areas of financial services, for instance, the creation of international companies and the opening of trusts. 

Drawbacks of St Lucian Citizenship by Investment

There aren’t many cons in relation to the St Lucia CBI program. However, the few existing cons relate to its newness and unique approach to international affairs. 

• No access to Russia or China: If visa-free access to these two countries is important, you won’t get it with a St Lucian passport. That’s because the country has not been too keen to establish relations with them. Plus, it has sided with Taiwan in international affairs, which means its China access is far, far away.
• It’s a relatively new program: Sometimes, border patrol officers can be funny and a lesser-known passport such as St Lucia can mean that they take extra time and care checking you out before they admit you into the country. 
• High fees: The administration and due diligence fees (mostly for larger families) put St Lucia at a higher fee price-point than its neighbouring countries. 

St Lucian Citizenship by Investment: FAQs

Your St Lucia Citizenship by Investment

St Lucia might be a relative newcomer in the Caribbean CBI world, but it merits close attention. 

Its high standards and stringent due diligence measures have made St Lucia citizenship by investment highly regarded. 

Some concerns remain, mainly relating to the government’s lack of experience in running such a program, which might manifest by turning off potential developers. 

For example, the country’s lack of administrative efficiency caused the Range Development company to stop its plans of building a Ritz Carlton in St Lucia and opt for development in Grenada instead. 

And when many Caribbean islands are offering similar CBI programs with remarkably similar benefits and prices, failures like this matter. 

However, if St Lucia is given more time, we’re confident its level-headed approach will help the nation come out on top. 

For single applicants, St Lucia’s citizenship-by-investment program is one of the best to participate in. 

For just US$240,000 (plus fees), you can have your St Lucian passport in a few months and the entire process can be completed remotely.

When you start adding complexities, such as family members or alternative investment routes that you potentially would want to consider, the costs rise, which is why each case must be looked at individually. 

We’ve helped dozens of people obtain their St Lucian passports and, to cap it off, Nomad Capitalist’s founder, Andrew Henderson, has personally obtained St Lucian citizenship.

Let us help you figure out if St Lucia is the best option for you to diversify and go where you’re treated best.