How to Get Citizenship by Investment in St. Lucia: The Ultimate Guide

St. Lucia is one of the most sought-after Caribbean destinations. While it’s a great vacation spot, many United States residents look to earn citizenship in St. Lucia. Understandably, there is a lot of confusion regarding how to get citizenship by investment in St. Lucia.

You can get citizenship by investment in St. Lucia if you donate $100,000 to the National Economic Fund and pay $7,500 and $2,000 due diligence and administration fees, respectively. Applicants must also pay a $500 fee per passport. Citizenship is also available if you purchase $300,000 worth of national bonds or buy a property that is worth at least $200,000 and keep it for 5 years or more.

Single investors also qualify if they have $3,500,000 in investments throughout St. Lucia or $1,000,000 in a joint investment that totals $6,000,000. You must be at least 18 years old to qualify, and you cannot qualify if you have a criminal record. Follow along as we highlight how to get citizenship by investment in St. Lucia.

What Is Citizenship By Investment?

Citizenship by investment is a system in which you can earn citizenship by investing in the local economy. Currently, 100 countries offer citizenship by investment programs that let you become a citizen through an alternate route. Countries that offer this program include the following:

• Portugal
• St. Lucia
• Turkey
• Spain
• Grenada
• Dominica

The amount that you must invest to qualify for the program varies based on the program. For example, the minimum investment requirement in Portugal is €280,000, whereas Turkey offers citizenship by investment for $400,000. Citizenship by investment is a popular alternative to going through the often painstaking process of applying for citizenship that may or may not work.

Citizenship By Investment in St. Lucia

The citizenship by investment program in St. Lucia is relatively new compared to other countries. Started in 2015, this program gives people the chance to get citizenship by donating to the National Economic Fund. These funds are used for government resources to feed the economy.

They also collect money from applicants for due diligence and administration fees. Once you earn citizenship by investment, you get many benefits including visa-free travel to 146 countries. You can also stay in St. Lucia for 6 months each year as a United States Citizen if you qualify for citizenship by investment.

Your contributions to the economic fund are non-refundable, so it’s important to consider your investment before you make your donation. If you qualify, you can earn citizenship by investing in St. Lucia by making a donation, buying bonds, or purchasing real estate.

Who Is Eligible?

Investors are eligible for citizenship in St. Lucia if they are over 18 years old. The investment process involves an extensive background search. You are ineligible for citizenship by investment in St. Lucia if you have a criminal record.

Investors and their spouses also must provide proof of taxable income that they can verify. Your children are also eligible for citizenship if they are under 30 years old and depend on you financially, but additional fees will apply. An investor’s parents are also eligible for citizenship if they are 55 years old or older and depend on them financially.

An investor’s siblings are only eligible for citizenship if they are under 18 years old. You must also provide consent from your sibling’s legal guardian for them to qualify for citizenship by investment in St. Lucia.

How Much Is Citizenship By Investment in St. Lucia?

The first cost of citizenship by investment in St. Lucia is $100,000. This cost counts towards a donation to the National Economic Fund in St. Lucia. You will also have to spend $2,000 in administration fees as well as a $7,500 fee for due diligence.

The initial investment fee only costs $100,000 for one person. Couples must donate $140,000 to the National Economic Fund. Four-person families must donate $150,000 to the fund before due diligence and administration fees. You will need to donate another $15,000 per person if you apply for citizenship by investment if your family has 5 or more people.

Due diligence and state administration fees also cost more depending on the size of your family. For example, the due diligence fee for a couple costs $12,500. Families can qualify with a due diligence fee of $7,500 plus another $5,000 for each family member under the age of 16 years old. If you want to gain St. Lucia citizenship by investment, you can visit this website https://globalresidenceindex.com/st-lucia-citizenship-investment/

Citizenship Via Bonds

You can also get citizenship by investment in St. Lucia via bonds. National Action Government Bonds are among the easiest ways to earn citizenship through investment because you work directly with the government. St. Lucia requires investors to purchase a minimum of $300,000 worth of national bonds.

This investment covers your spouse and dependents that you plan to bring with you. There is an additional $50,000 government fee when you purchase the qualifying amount of bonds. You will also have to pay a $7,500 due diligence fee as well as a $2,000 processing fee with this option. There is an additional $5,000 due diligence fee for each dependent under the age of 16 years old.

The investor has to spend $500 per passport for everyone that is coming along to St. Lucia. This is among the most expensive ways to get citizenship by investment in St. Lucia, but it’s also typically a quick process that makes it desirable to many wealthy investors.

Citizenship Via Real Estate

Buying real estate is one of the easiest ways to earn citizenship by investment in St. Lucia. Simply purchase real estate that is worth $200,000 or more to qualify. You must also make a $30,000 donation to St. Lucia’s National Economic Fund.

This is a great option for families because you can include them in your application. You can include your spouse and any dependents on your application through this method. However, it’s important to note that you must hold onto the property for at least 5 years before selling it to maintain your citizenship in St. Lucia as an investor.

You will also need to pay a $7,500 due diligence fee and a $500 passport fee with this method. Many U.S. citizens choose this option because real estate is an investment that could eventually pay for all of the fees. Of course, that only applies if you can sell your property for more than you bought it for plus the cost of fees.

Citizenship By Enterprise Investments

Finally, you can also get citizenship by investment if you invest in local enterprises throughout St. Lucia. This includes everything from restaurants and marinas to research centers and universities. However, the rules for earning citizenship via enterprise investments are strict, and you have to spend a fortune.

Single investors must invest at least $3,500,000 to be eligible. Otherwise, you can pool your money together with a partner and make investments that total $6,000,000. In that case, your contribution to the joint investment must total at least $1,000,000.

Despite the large financial obligation, St. Lucia still requires you to pay due diligence and administration fees. You will need to spend another $7,500 and a $2,000 fee for due diligence and administration costs respectively. Passport and additional applicant fees still apply. This is the most expensive way to earn citizenship by investment in St. Lucia.

Is Citizenship By Investment Worth It?

Citizenship by investment is worth it in St. Lucia because of the many benefits it comes with. For example, you won’t have to pay any taxes on global income or capital gains in St. Lucia. Of course, you’ll still need to pay taxes in your country of origin, however.

You can also travel to 146 countries without a visa with St. Lucia citizenship. Citizens can freely travel to and from St. Lucia any time of the year, and they get prioritized treatment when they travel. This also makes it easier to register an international company in St. Lucia, and that can help you expand your business.

If you earn citizenship by buying property, you can turn a profit in 5 years when you sell it. That way, you can make money without losing your citizenship, and you can reinvest in the local economy. Citizenship by investment is the easiest way to get citizenship for your whole family in St. Lucia if you aren’t from the country.

Summing It Up

Citizenship by investment in St. Lucia is worth the time and cost. It costs a $100,000 government donation, a $7,500 due diligence fee, and a $2,000 administration fee for a single investor to get citizenship. You can also earn citizenship if you make $3.5 million worth of enterprise investments, or purchase a property that costs $200,000 or more.

Applicants can also purchase $300,000 worth of bonds in St. Lucia, but they still must pay due diligence and administration fees. Purchasing property is the most financially wise option because you can sell it after 5 years, recoup your investment, and retain citizenship in St. Lucia.