A Comprehensive Guide to Obtaining Citizenship in St. Lucia
St. Lucia stands out for its vibrant culture, beautiful nature, rich history, and welcoming people. The country offers a variety of benefits like a strong passport, dual citizenship, an investor-friendly tax system, family reunification, and no minimum stay requirement, which creates an attractive environment, especially for investors.
In this article, we’ll explore how to get citizenship in St. Lucia, focusing on the citizenship by investment program. We’ll discover the benefits and investment opportunities it offers, and the steps you should follow to apply for the program.
Key Takeaways
- The benefits of obtaining a St. Lucia passport include an investor-friendly environment, visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 148 countries, no minimum stay requirement, family reunification, varied investment types, dual citizenship, and services of EU banks.
- As an investor, you’ll have 4 main options of how to get St. Lucia citizenship, which are contributing to the National Economic Fund (NEF), investing in government-approved real estate, participating in an approved enterprise project, and investing in government bonds.
- The necessary standards for applying for St. Lucia citizenship are to be of good character, have no serious disease, have no criminal record, and have sufficient financial resources for the investment.
What is a citizenship by investment program in St. Lucia and how does it work?
The Citizenship by Investment Program (CIP) was created in December 2015 and offers individuals the opportunity to acquire citizenship through a qualifying investment in the country. This program allows applicants to obtain citizenship by making a financial contribution to the National Economic Fund (NEF), investing in approved real estate projects, participating in an enterprise project, or investing in government bonds. By meeting the requirements of the program, individuals can secure citizenship and enjoy the benefits it offers, including visa-free travel and the ability to live and work in St. Lucia.
6 Benefits of getting St.Lucia citizenship as an investor
As an investor, St Lucia's citizenship comes with many benefits, the most remarkable being:
1. Investor-friendly Tax System
People who enjoy the benefits of St. Lucia citizenship especially love its tax system, as there are no capital gain taxes, inheritance taxes, wealth taxes, or taxes on worldwide income. Companies in St. Lucia just pay income tax at 30%. Companies whose sales turnover exceeds $150.000 a year pay VAT (value-added tax). The standard VAT rate is 12.5%.
2. Visa-Free Access to 148 countries
St. Lucia citizenship benefits include visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 148 countries. The countries include the Schengen Zone, the UK, and Hong Kong. Investors can use it for business or personal purposes.
3. No Minimum Stay Requirement
St. Lucia passport benefits include the absence of a minimum stay requirement. This means that after the application process, once you get citizenship, there is no mandatory minimum stay.
This flexibility allows passport holders to travel freely, making it easier to plan short trips or travel for business or leisure without restrictions.
4. Family Reunification
Learning how to get St. Lucia citizenship and what are its advantages, you’ll come across family reunification, which means that by making a significant economic contribution, you can include some of your relatives in the application as well. The dependents can be:
- Spouse
- Children up to the age of 30 years, if they are financially dependent on the applicant
- Parents over the age of 55 if they are financially dependent on the applicant
- Unmarried siblings under the age of 18
5. Citizenship by Investment Option
Saint Lucia citizenship by investment program allows you to apply for citizenship in one of four different Investment options, one can choose from:
- Contributing to the National Economic Fund (NEF), minimum investment: $100,000
- Investing in government-approved real estate, minimum investment: $200,000
- Participating in an approved enterprise project, minimum investment: $100,000
- Investing in government bonds, minimum investment: $300,000
6. St. Lucia Dual Citizenship
St. Lucia is one of those countries that allows dual citizenship, ensuring that the holders of the passport can not only enjoy the privileges of St. Lucia citizenship but also hold their original citizenship and be connected to their hometown.
4 investment opportunities: How can you become an investor in St.Lucia?
Saint Lucia citizenship by investment suggests 4 main investment opportunities.
1. Making a contribution to the National Economic Fund (NEF)
Investors choosing this option should make a non-refundable donation to the National Economic Fund which aims to enhance the country’s economy. The donation amount needed depends on the number of dependents in the application.
- Single applicant: $100,000
- Applicant with a spouse: $140,000
- Family with up to 4 dependents: $150,000
- Additional qualifying dependents: $25,000 each
- Qualifying dependent in addition to a family of four: $15,000 each
- Newborn child of a citizen (child of 12 months of age & below): $5,000
2. Investing in government-approved real estate
A real estate investment in St. Lucia requires purchasing property within a pre-approved development project. The investment amounts for this category are:
- Minimum investment: $200,000
- Government administrative fees for the real estate route: $50,000
Administrative Fees:
- Applying alone: $30,000
- Applying with a spouse: $45,000
- Applying with a dependent (over the age of 18): +$10,000 (per person)
- Applying with a dependent (under the age of 18): +$5,000 (per person)
- Applying with a spouse and 4+ dependents: $10,000 (per person)
3. Participating in an approved enterprise project
Enterprise projects aim to develop the country and create jobs.
- Single investor: The minimum amount of investment is $3,500,000. An additional, non-refundable administration fee of US$50,000 will apply.
- Joint investment: $6,000,000, with each investor contributing a minimum of $1,000,000. An additional, non-refundable administration fee of US$50,000 will apply.
- Single Applicant: The minimum amount of investment is $100.000
Applicant and up to 3 Qualifying Dependents: $150,000. An additional, non-refundable administration fee of US$15,000 will apply.
Administrative Fees:
- Applying alone: $15,000
- Applying with a spouse: $20,000
- Applying with two dependents: $25,000
- Applying with three dependents: $30,000
- Additional Dependents (+3): $10,000 (each)
4. Investing in government bonds
This option aims to increase the national treasury. For a single applicant, the minimum amount of investment requires $300,000 held for 5 years. An additional, non-refundable administration fee of US$ 50,000 is applicable.
Other Fees
Investors have to pay fees when applying for the St. Lucia citizenship by investment program. The amount of fees is connected to the number of dependents.
- Processing Fees: $2,000 (for a single investor), +$1,000 (for each qualifying dependent)
- Due Diligence Fees: $8,000 (for the main applicant), $5,000 (for each qualifying dependent above the age of 16)
Eligibility Criteria
If you're wondering how to become a citizen of St. Lucia, understanding the eligibility criteria is key. These requirements are designed to ensure that applicants meet the necessary standards for citizenship. You should:
- Be a good character
- Have no serious disease
- Have no criminal record
- Have sufficient financial resources for the investment
The required documents for the application are:
- Identification Documents
- Photographic Evidence
- Birth Certificate
- Health certification
- Criminal Background Verification
- Marital or divorce documents
- Financial Documentation
- Evidence of Investment
- Applicant References
How to get citizenship by investment in St. Lucia?
To get a St. Lucia passport by investment, there’s a straightforward process, which includes being eligible for certain criteria and completing the necessary documentation. There are several steps you need to follow to apply for this program and to make the process smoother, Mirabello Consulting Agency, your trusted partner, is ready to help you. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to get St. Lucia citizenship through investment:
- Contact a professional agent: It’s advisable to work with an agent who specializes in citizenship by investment in St. Lucia. Mirabello Consulting Agency will assist you throughout the entire process and ensure that all requirements are met.
- Eligibility Criteria: Make sure that you meet the basic requirements mentioned in the previous section.
- Choose the investment type: As we’ve already mentioned before, there are 4 main investment opportunities: Contributing to the National Economic Fund (NEF), investing in government-approved real estate, participating in an approved enterprise project, and investing in government bonds. For this step, you need to choose the option that fits you the most.
- Submit the application: Our team will help you prepare and submit your application, including all required documents, fill in the application forms, and guide you to pay the fees.
- Due Diligence Process: During this period, the CIU (Citizenship by Investment Unit) of St. Lucia will conduct research to verify your identity, background, and the legality of your funds.
- Approval: Once your application is approved, you will receive a letter of approval from the CIU.
- Receive the Certificate of Citizenship & Passport : After making the investment, completing the application, paying all the fees, and receiving approval, you’ll obtain a certificate of citizenship together with your new travel document / Saint Lucia passport.
Conclusion
In conclusion, acquiring citizenship in St. Lucia through investment offers a wealth of advantages, including visa-free travel to 148 countries, tax benefits, and a secure investment environment. In our guide, we’ve explained how to get St. Lucia citizenship by investment, what are its benefits, and who is eligible to apply for this program. By following the outlined steps and meeting the necessary criteria, individuals can obtain St. Lucian citizenship and enjoy the many benefits it provides for themselves and their families.
