How St Lucia citizenship by investment works

If you’re a UK resident exploring second citizenship options, the Caribbean could be an attractive location.

As well as beautiful weather and incredible landscapes, one of the available programmes, the St Lucia citizenship by investment scheme, offers an appealing route to live there.

Compared to other similar schemes, the St Lucian programme boasts flexible investment routes, competitive pricing and a straightforward application process.

Here, we explain how St Lucia’s citizenship by investment programme works, what it costs, how long it takes and the extra benefits it offers to UK applicants.

How do citizenship by investment visas work?

Citizenship by investment programmes allow foreign nationals to gain citizenship by making a qualifying financial contribution to a country.¹ This is typically used to support national development projects, infrastructure or approved private-sector investments.

Applicants must pass specific background checks, submit documentation and prove that their funds were obtained legally. Once approved, they receive full citizenship and a passport, and there’s often no long-term residency requirements.

🇱🇨 Compare St Lucia with other available programmes around the world

St Lucia citizenship by investment

Launched in 2015, St Lucia’s programme is one of the newer Caribbean citizenship by investment schemes.²

It offers several investment routes, giving applicants flexibility depending on their financial goals and family size - and there’s no need to relocate permanently.²

What’s more, unlike other programmes that focus solely on donations or property investment, St Lucia’s programme includes a broader range of qualifying investments such as government bonds and enterprise projects.²

If successful, applicants receive full citizenship including the right to apply for a St Lucian passport and they can even pass citizenship onto future generations.²

St Lucia citizenship by investment requirements

To qualify for St Lucia citizenship through investment, applicants must:³

• Be at least 18 years old
• Make a qualifying investment through one of the approved routes
• Pass government due-diligence checks
• Have no serious criminal record
• Provide proof of lawful source of funds
• Submit all required documents including:
  • Passport copies
  • Birth certificates
  • Proof of address
  • Police clearance certificates
  • Medical examinations
  • Financial statements.

Applicants may include:³

• A spouse
• Dependent children under the age of 30
• Children with disabilities
• Parents and grandparents over 55 years old
• Unmarried siblings under 18 years old.

How long does it take?

While the application and approval timeline varies regarding case complexity and documentation completeness, typical processing times for St Lucia’s citizenship by investment applications are 10 to 12 months.³

How much is a citizenship by investment visa in St Lucia?

St Lucia offers four main investment routes:

1. National Economic Fund (donation):⁴

• A single applicant - US $100,000
• Applicant applying with spouse - US $140,000
• Applicant applying with spouse and up to 2 qualifying dependents - US $150,000
• Each additional qualifying dependent - US $25,000
• Each qualifying dependent in addition to a family of four (family includes a spouse) - US $15,000.

2. National Action Fund:⁵

• Minimum investment of US $300,000
• Additional administrative fees apply.

3. Approved real estate:⁴

• Single applicant – US $200,000.

  Plus, processing fees of:

• Applicant applying alone - US $30,000

• Applicant applying with spouse - US $45,000

• Each qualifying dependent (18 years of age and over) - US $10,000

• Each qualifying dependent (under 18 years of age) - US $5,000

• Applicant applying with spouse and more than four qualifying dependents - US $10,000 each.

4. Enterprise projects:⁵

• $3.5M (solo) / $6M (group)

It’s important to note that in addition to the investment itself, applicants may pay due-diligence fees and passport issuance fees.⁴ This means that UK applicants will likely have to send large sums abroad in US dollars.

With the Wise account from the money services provider Wise, you can send and receive money from 140+ countries with mid-market exchange rates and low, transparent fees*.

Benefits of St Lucia’s citizenship by investment visa

Key advantages of St Lucia’s programme include:⁶

• Multiple investment routes to suit varying budgets and goals
• No residency requirement before or after approval
• Fast processing times
• Ability to include family members
• Full citizenship with inheritance rights
• No tax on worldwide income for non-residents
• Politically stable and English-speaking country
• Access to international travel opportunities

Can you retain your original citizenship and passport?

Yes. Another benefit of St Lucia’s scheme is that St Lucia permits dual citizenship, allowing UK applicants to keep their British passport.⁶

Manage your money internationally with the Wise account

Need a secure, convenient and low-cost way to send money abroad? Take a look at the Wise account from the money services provider, Wise. It's not a bank account but offers some similar features and your money is safeguarded.

With Wise, you can set up large amount transfers worldwide to 140+ countries for low, transparent fees* and the mid-market exchange rates with no markup.

✅ Sign up with Wise for free

St Lucia citizenship by investment FAQs

Is St Lucia’s citizenship by investment programme legitimate?

Yes. It’s a government-regulated programme established under St Lucian law.²

Do I need to live in St Lucia to keep my citizenship?

No. There is no residency requirement unlike other citizenship by investment schemes.⁶

Can I include my family?

Yes. Spouses, children, and dependent parents may be included as long as the dependency criteria is met.²

Is English spoken in St Lucia?

Yes. English is the official language. The other widely spoken vernacular language is Saint Lucian Creole.

Can citizenship be passed to future children?

Yes. Citizenship is hereditary and means it is automatically passed down to any children.²

Sources used:

Sources last checked on date: 15-Dec-2025