Acquiring St. Lucia dual citizenship can open doors to new opportunities, as this country has an investor-friendly tax system, offers visa-free travel to 148 countries, and makes family reunification possible.
In 2024, the process of obtaining St. Lucian citizenship through investment continues to be straightforward and accessible, providing a valuable gateway to global mobility, financial advantages, and a high quality of life. This guide will walk you through the essential steps and requirements to successfully obtain St. Lucia dual citizenship, ensuring you are well informed and prepared to start this exciting journey.
Key Takeaways
- St. Lucia dual citizenship comes with lots of benefits such as access to services of both your country and St. Lucia, visa-free travel to 148 countries, and an investor-friendly tax system.
- There are 3 main methods to get into St. Lucia dual citizenship: citizenship by marriage, citizenship by investment program, and citizenship by descent.
- If you choose citizenship by investment program, there are 4 main options for 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.
Does St. Lucia Allow Dual Citizenship?
One of the reasons to choose St. Lucia as your destination country is that it allows for dual citizenship. With St. Lucia dual citizenship you will not lose your first citizenship and enjoy the privileges of one of the most beautiful countries in North America.
It’s important to mention that the requirements regarding getting Saint Lucia citizenship can seem complex and overwhelming but with the help of our specialists, who are professional in guiding to get citizenship and residence permit, the process will be smoother.
5 Benefits of St. Lucia Dual Citizenship
1. Access to Services
Obtaining St. Lucia dual citizenship not only allows you to enjoy privileges and services such as education, healthcare, banking, and security but also lets you not lose your first citizenship. The services include
2. Visa-Free Travel
Citizenship of St. Lucia offers visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 148 countries, including the Schengen Zone, the UK, and Hong Kong. This benefit is valuable for investors, who can utilize it for both business and personal travel purposes.
3. Investor-Friendly Tax System
St. Lucia's tax system is highly appreciated, with no capital gains taxes, inheritance taxes, wealth taxes, or taxes on worldwide income. Companies in St. Lucia are subject to a 30% income tax rate. Additionally, companies with annual sales turnover exceeding $150,000 pay a 12.5% VAT (value-added tax).
4. No Obligation to Stay for a Minimum Period
Having a St. Lucia passport comes with the advantage of not having a minimum stay requirement. This means that after obtaining citizenship, you are not obligated to stay in the country for a specific period.
5. Bringing Family Members Together
While researching how to get St. Lucia citizenship and what are its advantages, you’ll come across how easy it is to extend citizenship to your family. making a significant economic contribution, you can include some of your relatives in the application as well. The dependents can be:
- Children under the age of 21
- Children between the ages of 21 and 30, 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
- Spouse
How to Get Citizenship in St. Lucia? 3 Methods to Consider
1. St. Lucia Citizenship by Marriage
If you’re married to a St. Lucia citizen, you can obtain St. Lucia dual citizenship. However, you don’t acquire citizenship straight after marriage. Certain criteria and steps need to be met.
2. St. Lucia Citizenship by Investment
The Citizenship by Investment Program (CIP) was created in December 2015 and gives applicants the opportunity to get citizenship through a qualifying investment in the country. The program allows you to apply for citizenship in 4 main options, which are:
1. Making a contribution to the National Economic Fund (NEF)
Investors selecting this option must make a non-refundable donation to the National Economic Fund, which is designed to boost the country’s economy. The amount of the donation varies based on the number of dependents included in the application.
- Applicant applying with up to 3 qualifying dependents: $240,000
- Each additional qualifying dependent (under the age of 18): $10,000
- Each additional qualifying dependent (above the age of 18): $20,000
- Newborn child of a citizen (up to 12 months old): $5,000
- Spouse of a citizen: $35,000
- Qualifying dependents of a citizen other than a spouse: $25,000
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:
- Applicant and any number of qualifying dependents: $300,000 and administrative fees (if applicable)
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.
- Option one: Single investor: The minimum amount of investment is $3,500,000. An additional, non-refundable administration fee of US$50,000 will apply.
- Option two: 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.
- Option three: Single Applicant: The minimum amount of investment is $100.000
Applicant and up to 3 Qualifying Dependents: Applicant applying with up to 3 dependents (this is the maximum number): $250,000 and administrative fees (if applicable)
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 applies.
3. St. Lucia Citizenship by Descend
If you’re born in St. Lucia, you’ll automatically acquire St. Lucia citizenship. However, if you were born abroad, but at least one of your parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents had St. Lucia passport, it passes to you.
Technically there is no limitation to how many generations back you can go. But in practice, proving a family connection becomes much more difficult when you go further back into your family tree.
Eligibility Criteria and Requirements
St. Lucia Citizenship by Marriage
If you want to acquire St. Lucia dual citizenship by marriage, you can go on their government website and find these:
- Two completed copies of the application form (Form No. 3)
- Stamp duty
- Marriage Certificate of the applicant
- Marriage Certificate of Saint Lucian spouse
- 3 photographs
- Passport showing updated immigration status
- Police clearance/Canada/Saint Lucia
- Letter from the Saint Lucia Inland Revenue Department indicating income tax compliance
St. Lucia Citizenship by Investment
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: High-resolution color copies of your passport.
- Photographic Evidence: Recent passport-size (2x2 inches) photographs.
- Birth Certificate: An authenticated copy of your birth certificate to confirm your birthplace and date.
- Criminal Background Verification: Confirming that you don’t have a criminal history.
- Marital or divorce documents: the copies of marriage certificates or divorce decrees
- Financial Documentation: Financial records that will show the source of your investment.
- Evidence of Investment: Documents showing which investment option you chose and other applicable records (real estate contracts, enterprise agreements, donation confirmations).
- Applicant References: Letters of recommendation proving that you’re a good character.
St. Lucia Citizenship by Descend
Obtaining St. Lucia dual citizenship by descent requires the following documents:
- Two completed copies of the application form
- Three identical passport-size photographs
- A police certificate of character
- Two references
Application Process for citizenship by investment program
To obtain a St. Lucia passport through investment, follow these steps:
1. Contact a Trusted Partner: Work with an agent specializing in citizenship by investment in St. Lucia. Mirabello Consulancy will guide you through the process.
2. Ensure Eligibility: Meet the basic requirements for the program.
3. Choose Investment Type: Select from options like contributing to the National Economic Fund, investing in government-approved real estate, participating in an approved enterprise project, or investing in government bonds.
4. Submit Application: Prepare and submit your application, including all required documents and fees.
5. Undergo Due Diligence: The Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU) of St. Lucia will conduct background checks.
6. Receive Approval: Upon approval, you'll receive a letter of approval from the CIU.
7. Receive Certificate of Citizenship: After completing the investment, application, and fee payments, you'll receive a certificate of citizenship.
Conclusion
People who choose to acquire St. Lucia citizenship through investment enjoy the benefits such as St. Lucia dual citizenship, family reunification, and no minimum stay requirement. In this guide, we’ve answered the question of how to get citizenship in St. Lucia, mostly concentrating on 3 main methods, which are St. Lucia citizenship by investment program, citizenship by marriage, and citizenship by descent. We’ve listed all the required documents for each of these methods and described the application process for citizenship by investment program. If you have any further questions, our specialists are happy to assist you.
