Citizenship by investment in St Lucia- Apply to the St Lucia citizenship by investment program

Saint Lucia is known for its natural beauty which includes diverse beaches and natural rain forests. The St.Lucia Economic Citizenship program was established in 2015 following the passage of Act No. 14 of 2015 the Citizenship by Investment Act. St. Lucia’s citizenship by investment program was launched as a way to bolster the island’s GDP by diversifying away from the agriculture industry and the volatile tourism industry.

One of the newest citizens by investment programs, St. Lucia has made several changes to its process making it cheaper to attain a second passport and have quicker processing times.Saint Lucia citizens have visa free access to over 120 countries and the citizenship program is one of the best priced programs for single applicants under the donation option.

Considering citizenship by investment in St Lucia?

Benefits and process of St. Lucia's citizenship by investment program

Saint Lucia offers a unique CBI program with the option to make an investment in government bonds, or a donation or investment in government approved real estate. Most often clients opt to either do the donation route or invest in the government bond option for citizenship. With a St.Lucia passport you have visa free travel or visa on arrival to 146 countries.

Why choose citizenship by investment in St. Lucia?

Saint Lucia’s passport is an often highly sought after Caribbean passport for single applicants due to its lower minimum contribution compared to other Caribbean passport programs.The passport by investment program is highly respected. Saint Lucia permits dual citizenship and the process is fairly streamlined. All applicants undergo stringent due diligence procedures to ensure the integrity of the citizenship program. In our experience the average processing time has been just over 3 months.

Considering St. Lucia citizenship by investment?

What are the requirements to be a principal applicant in an application for the citizenship by investment in St Lucia

In order to participate in the St Lucia citizenship by investment program, the following requirements must be fulfilled:

Primary Advantages of Saint Lucia Citizenship by Investment

VISA FREE TRAVEL

BUSINESS ADVANTAGES

FAMILY ADVANTAGES

PERSONAL FREEDOM

Discover more about the St-Lucia citizenship by investment program

Different investment options under the Saint Lucia citizenship program

St. Lucia has unique investment opportunities under its citizenship program. An investor can choose one of the following business investment options:

The Saint Lucia National Economic Fund is commonly utilized for individuals seeking citizenship through investment, whereby a one-time donation is required and non-refundable.

The Fund was created to grant citizenship to St. Lucia through foreign investments. However, there has been no public disclosure about the allocation of funds, leading to controversy.

In any case:

  • You’re expected to contribute at least$100,000 if you’re a single applicant.
  • Couples will spend$140,000(discounted from the pre-COVID price of $165,000).
  • A family of four will spend$150,000(original price: $190,000).
  • Each additional dependent will cost you$15,000(original price: 25,000).

 

Every citizenship by investment in St Lucia application also comes with processing and admin fees: 

  • Main applicant will pay$2,000 of processing fees for himself and$1,000per dependent
  • Due diligence fees are$7,500 for the main applicant and$5,000 per dependant (over 16 years old)

 

 The cost of St. Lucia citizenship by donation is $109,500 for one person and $167,500 for a family of four, not including agency fees. The original cost for a family was $217,500.

A permanent change has been made for newborn dependents by the government. Adding a newborn to your application now costs $500 instead of the previous $25,000 administrative fee for additional dependents. This change makes St. Lucia more competitive, especially for applicants with families.

Real estate investment options are commonly available in CBI programs, including in Saint Lucia.

In order to invest in real estate, a minimum of $300,000 is required and properties must come from the pre-approved list.

The list of approved real estate developments available for investment is currently limited due to the recent launch of the program.

When participating in CBI programs that have a pre-approved list of real estate, it is common to invest in a high-end hotel or resort, which may be slightly overpriced.

Ownership of the property requires a minimum of five years.

Please note that there are additional fees, which are higher than those for a donation, in addition to the actual price.

  • The principal applicant will have to pay$50,000 in admin fees
  • Each qualifying adult dependant will pay$35,000 and$25,000 if the dependant is under 18 years old
  • Due diligence fees are$7,500 for the main applicant and$5,000per dependant (over 16 years old)

The cost for a single applicant pursuing the real estate option is $357,500, while a family with two young children would incur a total cost of $437,500.

Investors can obtain St. Lucia citizenship through government bond investment. Due to COVID-19, the St. Lucian government has made changes to this option until December 31, 2021. These changes make it an ideal opportunity for bond investors.

Previously, the investment requirement for St. Lucia citizenship was a minimum of $500,000 in non-interest-bearing bonds held for five years. Now, the requirement has changed to a minimum investment of $250,000 in the COVID Relief Bond, which also has a five-year hold period.

The price for the property has been reduced to $250,000 and the hold period has been extended to six years for a couple applying.

For families consisting of four members, there are two investment options available: a discounted price of $250,000 with a six-year hold period, or a minimum investment of $300,000 with a reduced hold period of five years.

For each additional dependent, there is an added cost of $15,000 (previously $25,000), and the holding period is extended to seven years for additional dependents.

The application fees are higher than the donation route, but they have been discounted.

  • An administrative fee of$30,000(previously $50,000) for those buying government bonds. This is now only payable upon approval.
  • Due diligence fees are$7,500for the main applicant and$5,000 per dependant (over 16 years old)

 

This option allows for a $30,000 donation and a $250,000 investment in government bonds with a five-year no-interest term.

If you have cash available, you could save $70,000 in “sunken costs” by parking $250,000 for a while. After five years, you will get your money back unless St. Lucia defaults on bonds. This is a good deal if you have cash that you’re not investing because bank interest rates are low.

Investing in an approved enterprise project is a viable option in St. Lucia due to the government’s efforts to attract foreign capital and create job opportunities.

For sole investors, the required investment amount is $3,500,000. If investing with partners, each individual must contribute a minimum of $1,000,000 and the total investment must be $6,000,000.

Furthermore, there are additional charges to consider.

  • A non-refundable admin fee of $50,000 will be charged
  • Each qualifying adult dependant will pay$35,000 and$25,000 if the dependant is under 18 years old
  • Due diligence fees are$7,500 for the applicant and$5,000 per dependant (over 16 years old)

Investment projects must be pre-approved by the government and can be found on its official website.

The range of projects includes various types of infrastructure such as restaurants, ports, highways, research facilities, and universities.

These are the community and infrastructure projects that are considered most desirable for contributions.

Considering citizenship by investment in St Lucia?

Why work with JH Marlin to become a St-Kitts and Nevis citizen by investment?

Working with JH Marlin to become a St-Kitts and Nevis citizen by investment is a highly beneficial choice due to the comprehensive services they provide and the extensive advantages of obtaining St-Kitts and Nevis citizenship.

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JH Marlin Law has helped clients choose the citizenship program that is right for them for years.

JH Marlin Law has had a 100% success rate for clients doing the St.Lucia citizenship by investment program. We have helped dozens of people achieve their goal of becoming a citizen of the beautiful country of St.Lucia!

What are the steps for doing a citizenship application?

  • Step 1: Provide an electronic picture copy of your passport. We need to know your current citizenship and will do an internal diligence background check on you and your family members. The citizenship by investment programme in Saint Lucia requires this as part of the application requirements.
  • Step 2: We will prepare the initial documentation for you to complete to start the application for citizenship process which will include an application contact form and consent form, letter of engagement confirming all fees and initial invoice for payment. We will share with you internal documents specific to your case.
  • Step 3: We will go over all the documents that you need to complete and obtain. There are a lot of paperwork requirements and we will guide you throughout the entire citizenship process. We will review documents on an ongoing basis and help you with the entire application process. We will let you know if additional documents are required after doing a preliminary review of your file.
  • Step 4: Payment of the nonrefundable due diligence fees, processing fee & application fee to start the process in advance. Provided you wish for the due diligence process to be started sooner to accelerate your application, you can provide minimal documents and make payment of the non-refundable due diligence fees.
  • Step 5: Send us the completed citizenship application (original documents) once the file is complete and reviewed. We will prepare everything for document submission.
  • Step 6: Your full application will be submitted in physical copy and we will follow up with the citizenship by investment unit committee. You will receive an official confirmation of application submission. The citizenship by investment unit committee will conduct due diligence checks.
  • Step 7: Once approved you will make the non-refundable government donation. We will also have you complete a passport application form.
  • Step 8: We will prepare documents and collect your passport. The final steps are issuance of passports.
  • Step 9: We will confirm with you where you would like us to send the passports. We will return all passport documents and internal documents that belong to you or are in our possession.

Who can qualify as dependent in an application for Saint Lucia citizenship?

  • A spouse of the main applicant can qualify as a dependent. You must provide a valid marriage certificate. Saint Lucia does not recognize common law partnerships or gay marriage.
  • A child of the principal applicant or child of the spouse who is below the age of 21 years.
  • A child of the principal applicant or child of the spouse who is not older than thirty years of age and is financially dependent and supported by the principal applicant or spouse.
  • A child of any age can be included provided they are physically or mentally challenged. Documentation must be provided to support this.
  • Dependent parents: Parents of the main applicant or spouse who are above the age of fifty-five and who are supported by them.
  • Any parent who is physically or mentally challenged and is fully supported by the applicant.
  • An unmarried sibling of the principal applicant or spouse who is not married and is below the age of 18 and has received consent from biological parents or guardian.

Can you buy citizenship in St Lucia?

Yes, you can acquire Saint Lucian citizenship through the Citizenship by Investment program. The most common investment route involves making a non-refundable contribution or investing in a government-approved real estate project.

Is St Lucia citizenship worth it?

Absolutely, the Saint Lucian citizenship provides numerous benefits including visa-free or visa on arrival access to numerous countries, no taxes on worldwide income, capital gains, or inheritance, and the opportunity to pass the citizenship to future generations.

How do you become a citizen of St Lucia by naturalization?

Becoming a Saint Lucian citizen through naturalization involves fulfilling a residence requirement, demonstrating knowledge of the official language, English, and proving good character, including a clean criminal investigation report. Successful applicants must also take an oath of allegiance.

What additional benefits come with the Saint Lucia Citizenship by Investment program that distinguish it from other Caribbean countries?

The Saint Lucia Citizenship by Investment program offers unique benefits, including the potential for property investment in prime real estate, which not only qualifies you for citizenship but also can provide a return on investment. Additionally, Saint Lucia’s program is renowned for its straightforward application process, and successful applicants gain access to an expansive network of countries with visa-free travel.

Are there specific investment types that qualify for the Citizenship by Investment in St Lucia, and how do they compare to other investment options in the Caribbean?

Yes, the Citizenship by Investment St Lucia program allows for various investment types, including monetary contributions to national funds, real estate investments in government-approved projects, and enterprise investments that contribute to local economic growth. These options are designed to be competitive and are often more attractive in terms of investment thresholds and processing times compared to other Caribbean citizenship programs.

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