Citizenship by Investment

Saint Lucia

Saint Lucia Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP)

Saint Lucia's CIP is a statutory economic-citizenship route administered by the government's Citizenship by Investment Unit under the Citizenship by Investment Act No. 14 of 2015. Following the 2024 Caribbean inter-governmental MoU floors, the entry point is a non-refundable USD 240,000 contribution to the National Economic Fund (single applicant or a family of up to four), with alternative routes via approved real estate (from USD 300,000), non-interest-bearing National Action Bonds (from USD 300,000 plus a USD 50,000 administrative fee), or enterprise investment (from USD 3,500,000 solo, or USD 1,000,000 within a USD 6,000,000 joint venture; with dependents, from USD 250,000). Processing is targeted at approximately 90 days from acceptance, there is no residence or visit requirement, and dual citizenship is permitted. Mandatory third-party due diligence and an online interview apply to all applicants aged 16 and over.

Investment routes

How you qualify.

Donation

USD 240,000

National Economic Fund (NEF) — non-refundable contribution. Per the official Investment Options page: USD 240,000 for an applicant alone or with up to three other qualifying dependents. Each additional qualifying dependent: USD 10,000 (under 18) or USD 20,000 (18 and over). This is the lowest-cost and fastest route. The USD 240,000 figure is the current official minimum, raised from the former USD 100,000 under the 2024 Caribbean MoU floor.

Real Estate

USD 300,000
hold 60 months

Approved real estate — purchase of an interest in a government-approved project. Per the official page: USD 300,000 for an applicant applying with any number of dependents, plus applicable per-head administration fees in the order of USD 10,000–30,000 depending on family composition. The investor receives a title deed. A minimum 5-year holding period applies before resale.

Bonds

USD 300,000
hold 60 months

National Action Bond (NAB) — non-interest-bearing government bonds registered in the applicant's name. Per the official page: USD 300,000 for an applicant applying with any number of dependents, plus a non-refundable USD 50,000 administrative fee. The bonds earn no interest and are held for a fixed 5-year period, after which the capital is returned.

Enterprise

USD 3,500,000

Approved Enterprise Project. Per the official page, three options: (1) solo investment minimum USD 3,500,000 plus a USD 50,000 administrative fee; (2) joint venture total minimum USD 6,000,000 with each investor contributing at least USD 1,000,000 plus a USD 50,000 administrative fee; (3) a USD 250,000 option plus applicable administration fees. Eligible sectors and minimum permanent-job-creation requirements are set out in the Enterprise Project guidelines.

What the passport grants

Global mobility.

~146 visa-free / visa-on-arrival destinations
Schengen
Currently visa-free for short stays — 90 days within any 180-day period across the Schengen Area. This access is currently intact for Saint Lucia. The EU has finalised a new visa-waiver suspension mechanism (2024–2025) and has named the five Caribbean CBI states — Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts & Nevis and Saint Lucia — as candidates for possible future suspension pending the discontinuation of their CBI schemes; as of June 2026 no suspension has been applied to any of these Caribbean programmes, including Saint Lucia. By contrast, Vanuatu's Schengen visa waiver was partially suspended from 2022 and fully terminated by the European Council effective 12 December 2024. ETIAS pre-travel authorisation will additionally be required once the EU system goes live (expected Q4 2026).
United Kingdom
Visa-free for short visits (up to 6 months) under the UK's Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme — a paid ETA must be obtained before travel.
United States
No visa-free access. Saint Lucia is not in the US Visa Waiver Program, so ESTA is not available; a B-1/B-2 (or other) US visa is required.
Canada
No visa-free access and no standalone eTA eligibility. A Canadian visa is required, unless the traveller holds a valid US non-immigrant visa or has held a Canadian visa in the previous 10 years, in which case they may apply for an eTA instead.

The official CIU page lists visa-free access to over 146 countries. Key strengths include Schengen, the UK, Hong Kong and Singapore. Key gaps for HNW clients: the USA and Canada both require visas. The headline EU and Schengen consideration is a prospective suspension mechanism — a future risk, not a current loss of access — and is the single most important caveat to flag to clients.

Eligibility & process

What's involved.

Family inclusion
Per the official FAQ: the main applicant may include a spouse and qualifying dependents. Children qualify if 21 years of age or below, or up to age 30 if fully supported by the applicant, or any age if physically or mentally challenged and fully supported. Parents and grandparents qualify if above 55 years of age and fully supported, or any age if physically or mentally challenged and fully supported. Siblings qualify if an unmarried sister or brother below 18 years of age, with parental consent. The NEF base price of USD 240,000 covers the main applicant plus up to three qualifying dependents; further dependents are added at USD 10,000 (under 18) or USD 20,000 (18 and over). Minimum main-applicant age is 18.
Due diligence
Mandatory multi-source due diligence: government law-enforcement checks plus mandatory third-party international due-diligence firms, and an online interview, for every applicant and dependent aged 16 and over. Due-diligence fees: USD 8,000 (main applicant) and USD 5,000 per dependent aged 16 and over. Processing and application fees: USD 2,000 (main applicant) and USD 1,000 per dependent. Source-of-funds documentation is required via a dedicated Source of Funds form. Applicants must be of good character with no criminal record and in good health; minimum applicant age 18. A confidential applicant register is maintained by the CIU.
Timeline
Approximately ninety (90) days from the date the application is accepted for processing to the grant of citizenship, per the official CIU FAQ. End to end — agent engagement, document collection, submission, due diligence and interview, approval, investment completion, and oath — typically runs approximately 4 to 6 months in practice.
Physical presence
There is no residence requirement and no mandatory visit to Saint Lucia. A mandatory applicant interview and identity-verification step applies (from 4 September 2023), conducted as part of processing rather than as a physical-presence or residence test. The Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance is taken on approval and can be administered abroad. Citizenship is for life and dual citizenship is permitted.
Tax
Saint Lucia operates a residence-based tax system: there is no tax on worldwide income for non-residents, and no inheritance, estate, gift, wealth or capital-gains tax on assets held outside Saint Lucia. Acquiring citizenship does not, by itself, make the holder Saint Lucia tax-resident — tax residency depends on physical presence and domicile. The passport is a mobility and Plan-B asset rather than an automatic tax-relocation vehicle. CRS reporting applies; a client's specific position should be confirmed with cross-border tax counsel.
Key provisions
  • Statutory programme established by the Citizenship by Investment Act No. 14 of 2015; the Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU) commenced operations on 1 October 2015.
  • Four investment routes: National Economic Fund donation (from USD 240,000), approved real estate (from USD 300,000, 5-year hold), National Action Bonds (from USD 300,000 plus USD 50,000 fee, 5-year hold, non-interest-bearing, refundable capital), and enterprise project (from USD 3,500,000 solo or USD 1,000,000 in a USD 6,000,000 JV; dependents option from USD 250,000).
  • Minimums reflect the 2024 Caribbean inter-governmental MoU floors (NEF raised USD 100,000 to USD 240,000; real estate raised USD 200,000 to USD 300,000) implemented via the 2024 pricing Regulations.
  • No residence requirement, no mandatory visit, oath can be sworn abroad; dual citizenship permitted; citizenship is for life and passes to descendants.
  • Mandatory third-party due diligence and online interview for all applicants 16 and over; minimum applicant age 18; good-character and good-health requirements; source-of-funds documentation required.
  • Target processing time of approximately 90 days from acceptance to grant.
  • Most recent legislative changes: Citizenship by Investment (Amendment) Act No. 22 of 2025 and the 2024 and 2026 amendment Regulations.
Documents you'll provide
  • Document Checklist (Form SL1)
  • Principal Applicant Form (Form SL2A)
  • Dependent Applicant Form (Form SL2B), one per dependent
  • Photograph and Signature Certificate (Form SL3)
  • Investment Confirmation Form (Form SL4)
  • Source of Funds declaration and supporting evidence
  • Certified copy of valid passport(s) for applicant and all dependents
  • Birth certificates for applicant and dependents
  • Marriage certificate (if including a spouse)
  • Police clearance / certificate of no criminal record from country of citizenship and residence (applicants 16 and over)
  • Medical certificate / health questionnaire including HIV test (as prescribed)
  • Professional and bank reference letters
  • Proof of residential address
  • Passport-style photographs meeting the published Photograph Guidelines
  • Oath or Affirmation of Allegiance (sworn on approval)
  • Evidence of the qualifying investment (NEF receipt / real estate purchase agreement / bond subscription / enterprise agreement)
Legal basis & source documents

The governing law — in our library.

Citizenship by Investment Act No. 14 of 2015 (principal Act), read with the Citizenship by Investment (Saint Lucia) Regulations S.I. No. 89 of 2015 (as amended). Amending Acts: Citizenship by Investment (Amendment) Act No. 12 of 2019; Citizenship by Investment (Amendment) Act No. 4 of 2020; and Citizenship by Investment (Amendment) Act No. 22 of 2025. The National Economic Fund donation route is governed by the Saint Lucia National Economic Fund Act No. 18 of 2019. Pricing and fees are set by amending Regulations, the most recent being S.I. No. 28 of 2024, the Citizenship by Investment (Amendment) (No. 106) Regulations of 2024, and S.I. No. 57 of 2026. All instruments are individually listed on the official CIU legislation page. · Administered by Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU), Saint Lucia — the government unit administering the programme under the Minister responsible for Citizenship by Investment; applications are assessed by the Citizenship by Investment Board..

Citizenship by Investment Act No. 14 of 2015 (principal Act)
Law · held by AT20
Citizenship by Investment (Saint Lucia) Regulations S.I. No. 89 of 2015 (principal Regulations)
Regulation · held by AT20
Citizenship by Investment (Amendment) Act No. 12 of 2019
Law · held by AT20
Citizenship by Investment (Amendment) Act No. 4 of 2020
Law · held by AT20
Citizenship by Investment (Amendment) Act No. 22 of 2025 (most recent amending Act)
Law · held by AT20
Saint Lucia National Economic Fund Act No. 18 of 2019 (governs the NEF donation route)
Law · held by AT20
Guidelines for Application for Citizenship by Investment in Saint Lucia
Guideline · held by AT20
Document Checklist — Form SL1
Form · held by AT20
Principal Applicant Form — Form SL2A
Form · held by AT20
Dependent Applicant Form — Form SL2B
Form · held by AT20
Photograph and Signature Certificate — Form SL3
Form · held by AT20
Investment Confirmation Form — Form SL4
Form · held by AT20
Guidelines for Real Estate Projects
Guideline · held by AT20
Guidelines for Enterprise Projects
Guideline · held by AT20
Investment Options & Fees schedule (current CIU pricing — NEF / real estate / bond / enterprise plus due-diligence and processing fees)
Fee Schedule · held by AT20

Documents marked “held by AT20” are mirrored on our own servers from the official source, so the reference is always available.

Official sources
CIP Saint Lucia — Official Website (Citizenship by Investment Unit)CIP Saint Lucia — Investment OptionsCIP Saint Lucia — Citizenship by Investment LegislationCIP Saint Lucia — Citizenship Application FormsCIP Saint Lucia — FAQsAttorney General's Chambers, Saint Lucia — Citizenship by Investment Act & Regulations (Revised Laws of Saint Lucia)CIP Saint Lucia — Visa-Free AccessCouncil of the EU — Vanuatu: Council ends visa exemption (full suspension effective 12 Dec 2024)

Take the Saint Lucia route with certainty.

A private assessment maps this programme to your family, capital and timeline — and we coordinate the whole matter through admitted local counsel.

This briefing is general guidance, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Figures are indicative and verified to 2026; final positions, eligibility and timelines are confirmed in writing by licensed counsel on engagement. AT20 Capital coordinates the engagement and facilitates applications through admitted local counsel; it is not a law firm. Final eligibility, thresholds and timelines are confirmed in writing by licensed counsel before any commitment.