Saint Lucia is the relative newcomer to the citizenship by investment group of nations, but it is making up for lost time with uniquely exclusive benefits. This Caribbean island, like most on our list, is made up of lush, pristine nature, with a flare for exotic luxury tourism, and new business opportunity. Saint Lucia has taken the best, most efficient business practices from its neighbors in the Caribbean and created its own version of business-friendly policies that are appealing to any investor looking for long-term growth.
Here’s why we think you’ll love Saint Lucia
For starters, Saint Lucia recognizes dual citizenship, allowing you to have simultaneous sovereign benefits in both your home country and theirs. Applications are processed within three months, and come with expanded tax relief that includes no tax on worldwide income, no interview, no education or managerial experience, and no physical residency requirements. You don’t need to physically travel to Saint Lucia to qualify, either. Getting citizenship in Saint Lucia grants you visa-free travel to over 100 countries, including the EU Schengen zone, UK, and Hong Kong.
For families, you can include any dependent children under 25 in your application for citizenship by investment. You may also include parents over the age of 65, so long as they currently reside with the applicant. This includes dependents (children or parents) who are mentally or physically challenged, regardless of severity.
How to qualify for citizenship by investment in Saint Lucia
As a newer country to adopt citizenship by investment protocols, Saint Lucia has taken a bit of a different approach when it comes to exclusivity. This approach includes limiting the number of applicants per year, and requiring proof of a very high net worth. To qualify for citizenship by investment in Saint Lucia, you must also fulfill the following:
- Show that you are of outstanding character.
- Show that you have no previous criminal record.
- Provide a bill of excellent health.
Options for investment in Saint Lucia
1. National Economic Fund
Like most countries that accept these types of programs, Saint Lucia has setup a National Economic Fund that you can donate to as an investment. The donations are:
- $100,000 for a single applicant.
- $135,000 for an applicant with a spouse.
- $185,000 for a family with up to 3 dependents, typically a spouse and 2 children.
- $25,000 for each additional dependent.
2. Real Estate Investment
If you’d like to make an investment into Saint Lucia for real estate, you must do so with a property valued, at minimum, for $300,000. These properties need to be in government pre-approved development areas, and must be owned and maintained for a minimum of five years. This amount doesn’t include processing fees, registration fees, or applicable taxes.
3. Investment into a Government Bond
Another good investment one can make while applying for citizenship is government bonds. These bonds can be done as a single applicant or family, and must be held for a minimum of five years. The price structure breaks down like this:
- $500,000 for a single applicant.
- $535,000 for an applicant and their spouse.
- $550,000 for a family with up to three dependents (including a spouse).
- $25,000 for each additional dependent.
NOTE: Administration fees for these government bonds are priced at $50,000 per application.
4. Enterprise Project Investment
To qualify for this option, applicants must invest a minimum of $3.5 million into a pre-approved enterprise project that creates at least three full-time jobs. If two applicants wish to share this option, they can do so at a rate of $6 million total, with the creation of six full-time jobs. The government pre-approved enterprise projects must fall into any of the following designations: Ports, bridges, specialty restaurants, cruise ports, marinas, agricultural processing plants, highways and roads, pharmaceutical, research facilities, or offshore universities.