Saint Lucia Citizenship By Investment Program | A Complete Guide

What is Citizenship By Investment Program?

Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programs, also known as the Passport Programs, are government initiatives that allow foreign nationals to obtain citizenship in a country by making a significant financial contribution or investment in that country’s economy. This process offers a legal and relatively fast route to acquiring a new nationality and passport, often within a few months, depending on the program and country.

Currently, there are ten globally stable and reputable passport programs:

• Caribbean: Saint Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Dominica, and Saint Lucia.

• Pacific: Vanuatu.

• Middle East: Turkey, Jordan, and Egypt.

• Southeast Asia: Cambodia.

In addition to these countries, Malta, after canceling its passport program, has introduced a new fast-track citizenship law called MEIN (Malta Exceptional Investor Naturalization). By donating a certain amount of money, investors can secure naturalization and citizenship within 1 to 3 years.

Overall, while the global Citizenship by Investment programs require significant financial investment, they offer several advantages:

1. Quick Passport Acquisition: In most CBI countries, once the investment is made, applicants can obtain a passport within 3 to 4 months, or even just a few weeks.

2. Lenient Background Checks: Although there has been increased scrutiny on background checks due to pressure from the EU and the US, compared to major countries’ green card programs, the background checks for CBI programs in smaller countries are still relatively lenient, sometimes even superficial.

3. No Residency Requirement: Almost all CBI countries have a zero-immigration-residency policy. In most cases, applicants can apply for and hold citizenship without ever having to reside in the country.

4. Broad Dependent Eligibility: Many CBI programs allow multiple generations of the primary applicant’s family, including grandparents and grandchildren, to be included regardless of age or status.

What is Saint Lucian Citizenshi By Investment Program?

Launched in February 2015, the St. Lucia Citizenship by Investment Program has seen regular updates to its regulations, offering a dynamic range of options for prospective citizens. Today, you can secure St. Lucian citizenship through various pathways, including donations, real estate purchases, government bonds, or enterprise investments.

1. Donation Model:

This option requires applicants to make a non-refundable donation to St. Lucia’s National Economic Fund (NEF) in exchange for a passport.

The specific fee breakdown for the donation model is as follows:

• Donation:

For a family of up to four members, the required donation is $240,000 USD.

For each additional dependent aged 18 or over, an extra $20,000 USD is required.

For each additional dependent under 18, an extra $10,000 USD is required.

If the additional dependent is a newborn or an infant under 12 months, an additional $5,000 USD is required.

• Government Fees:

Bringing your spouse along? There’s a $35,000 USD government fee.

Each additional dependent will require a $25,000 USD government fee.

2. Government Bond Model:

This model requires applicants to purchase $300,000 USD worth of St. Lucia government non-interest-bearing National Action Bonds (NAB) and hold them for a minimum of five years.

In addition to the bond purchase, applicants must pay a fixed government fee of $50,000 USD. Under this model, the investment amount and government fees are fixed and do not change based on the number of dependents.

3. Real Estate Model:

This option requires applicants to purchase at least $300,000 USD worth of real estate from approved projects listed by the St. Lucia government and hold it for a minimum of five years. You can purchase an entire property or a partial share of a property.

4. Enterprise Investment Model:

This model requires applicants to make a substantial investment in approved enterprise projects listed by the St. Lucia government.

• If you are a single applicant, the minimum investment required is $3.5 million USD.

• Alternatively, you can choose to co-invest with other investors in a large project valued at over $6 million USD, with each investor contributing no less than $1 million USD.

5. Other Fees:

Regardless of the chosen investment option (donation, bonds, real estate, or enterprise investment), all investors participating in the St. Lucia passport program must pay certain miscellaneous fees based on the number of family members. These fees include:

• CIP Application Fee: $2,000 USD for the main applicant, and $1,000 USD per dependent.

• CIP Due Diligence Fee: $8,000 USD for the main applicant, and $5,000 USD per dependent aged 16 or over.

• Passport Fee: $500 USD per person.

Beyond these financial requirements, all main applicants and dependents must meet basic conditions such as being in good health, having no criminal record, and possessing sufficient financial resources to support their investment and daily living expenses.

How to apply for Saint Lucian Citizenship By Investment Program:

Applying for St. Lucian citizenship through investment generally follows these key steps:

1. Engaging an Authorized Agent: Like most citizenship-by-investment programs, St. Lucia’s requires you to work with one of the government-approved authorized agents. Most reputable immigration firms at home will have access to these resources.

2. Submitting Your Application Forms and Documents: Your chosen agent will guide you through completing and submitting the necessary application forms and required documents. These include:

• Applicant Identity Documents: Valid passports for all main and dependent applicants, recent passport-sized photos, and proof of relationship documents such as birth certificates and marriage certificates.

• Personal Information (for applicants 18 and over): Resumes, military service records (if applicable), nationality records, and all previously held visa records.

• Application Forms: Your agent will help you prepare and submit a formal application letter along with eight detailed application forms.

• Proof of Funds: You’ll need to provide financial statements, including bank statements, to demonstrate your ability to complete the required investment without impacting your daily life.

• Medical Certificates: All main and dependent applicants must undergo a medical examination at a facility recognized by the St. Lucian government.

• Police Clearance Certificates: All main and dependent applicants aged 16 and over must provide a police clearance certificate from their local law enforcement agency.

All documents originating outside St. Lucia must be notarized, and any documents not in English must be officially translated.

3. Background Check and Interview: The Citizenship By Investment Unit (CIPU) in St. Lucia is responsible for reviewing all submitted applications and documents, typically taking around 60 days.

Once CIPU completes its initial review, the St. Lucian government will engage a third-party agency to conduct a thorough background check on you and all your dependents. This investigation will cover your personal information and financial standing. After the background check is complete, the Immigration Department will make a final decision on your passport issuance.

Starting September 1, 2023, all participants in the St. Lucia Citizenship by Investment Program are also required to undergo a brief online or in-person interview as part of the background verification process. Main applicant must pay a one-time interview fee of $500 USD before his/her interview.

4. Completing Your Investment: Upon approval of your passport application, the St. Lucian Immigration Department will issue a “Principle Letter of Approval” to your agent, which includes detailed investment guidelines. You will then have 90 days to complete your promised investment and pay all associated fees.

Once your investment is finalized, your agent will submit proof of completion on your behalf. After this, you will be eligible to take an oath of allegiance and receive your St. Lucian passport.

The entire process, from submitting your application to receiving your passport, typically takes three to six months.

Dependents:

With the St. Lucia Citizenship by Investment Program, the main applicant’s family can join them in obtaining St. Lucian citizenship. This includes:

• Your spouse.

• Financially dependent children under 30 years old.

• Siblings under 18 years old.

• Parents or grandparents over 55 years old who are financially dependent.

• Any direct relatives of any age with mental or physical disabilities who are financially dependent.

Additionally, any new members of your family (e.g., newborns) can be added to your citizenship application at any time.

Minimum Residency Requirements:

The St. Lucia passport program has no minimum residency requirements. This means you can apply for and hold St. Lucian citizenship without ever having to live in or even visit St. Lucia.

St. Lucian passport is valid for five years. When it expires, holders can easily renew it at any St. Lucian embassy or consulate worldwide.

Useful Links:

Saint Lucia Citizenship By Investment Program Official Site: https://www.cipsaintlucia.com/