St Lucia Citizenship

St Lucia Citizenship

St Lucia Citizenship-by-Investment Programme

St Lucia is an independent Commonwealth State, having gained independence from the UK on 22 February 1979, a day celebrated each year with a public holiday. The country is located in the Eastern Caribbean and has a beautiful mountain terrain, including Mount Gimie and the Pitons, which are the island’s most famous landmarks.

St Lucia is a United Nations, OECS, and CARICOM member. The regional currency is the East Caribbean Dollar (XCD), which is pegged to the US Dollar.

An educated workforce and improvements in roads, communications, water supply, sewerage and port facilities have attracted significant foreign investment in the tourism and offshore banking industries. Tourism remains the country’s main source of jobs and income and accounts for 65% of the GDP.

Requirements:

The St Lucia Citizenship-by-Investment Programme requires an applicant to make a significant financial investment into the country in return for citizenship for the applicant and his/her family.

To qualify for citizenship, the main applicant must be over 18 years of age, meet the due diligence requirements and select one of the following four options:

A non-refundable donation to the National Economic Fund starting from USD 100,000.
Purchase of non-interest-bearing Government Bonds from USD 250,000.
Purchase of qualifying real-estate of a least USD 300,000 in a Government approved project.
An investment in an approved enterprise project for a minimum amount of USD 3.5 million and the creation of no less than three permanent jobs.

Benefits:

Visa-free travel to 147 countries including the EU, the UK, Singapore and Hong Kong.
Full citizenship with passport granted to main applicant, spouse, children, and parents or grandparents.
Required donation is from USD 100,000.
Offers citizenship by descent for future children.
Lowest capital outlay for a single applicant across all Caribbean programs.
No minimum presence requirement.
A genuine, natural landscape of gorgeous palm-fringed beaches, miles of unspoiled rainforest and the majestic Piton Mountains, are sure to indulge every taste.
St Lucia has no restrictions on dual citizenship.

Taxation

St Lucia’s individual income tax is a progressive rate that starts at 10% and goes up to 30%. They do not impose capital gains or inheritance taxes.
Non-residents are only taxed on income received in St Lucia. Those who make St Lucia their primary place of residence will be taxed on world-wide income.
The corporate tax rate is 30%. However, certain companies may qualify for attractive tax reductions depending on if they are based in St Lucia.
The sales tax is 12.5% and property tax is 0.25% on all properties.

Application Process

The process will take three to four months from submission of the application to issuance of the passport, assuming the application has no areas of concern.

Month 1:

Initial due diligence.
Sign client agreement, complete government forms and provide supporting documentation.

Month 2-3:

Application submitted.
Government process and complete due diligence.

Month 4:

On approval, government contribution is made, or real estate completed.
Passports are issued.

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St Lucia Citizenship