Saint Lucia

Saint Lucia

The state of Saint Lucia is located on the same island in the archipelago of the Lesser Antilles in the West Indies between the Islands of Saint Vincent and Martinique. The island is washed by the Straits of St. Lucia to the North and St. Vincent to the South, which connect the Caribbean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean. The teardrop island is approximately 44 km long and 23 km wide – the second largest in the South windward group. The total length of the coastline is 158 km (119 miles).

The island of St Lucia represents the pinnacle of ancient volcanic groups, whose cones constitute the principal mountain peaks of the country, reaching great heights on the mountain Jimmy (950 m or 3,116 ft). The natural beaches of the island are black volcanic sand, but most hotels cover them with white sand.

English is the official language, but a significant part of the population speaks the local dialect of French - patois.

The offshore zone of Saint Lucia is a classic tax-free jurisdiction that does not require complex procedures to support the company and its annual reporting. Since Saint Lucia tax-free legislation is relatively recent (since 1999), the country has not yet managed to gain such popularity among entrepreneurs as other, more well-known offshore jurisdictions. The registration and operation of companies in the jurisdiction of Saint Lucia is governed by the International Business Company Act 1999. Saint Lucia is a major destination for foreign business and investment in the offshore banking and tourism sector.

An international company registered in Saint Lucia must have a registered agent and a registered office. The company must appoint an official responsible for corporate relations in the company. The peculiarity of Saint Lucia is that it is one of the countries whose legislation is favorable for the creation of non-resident insurance and reinsurance companies.

Citizenship Details.

The St. Lucia Citizenship by Investment Programme became law in 2015. One of the main differences is that there are four investment options available to applicants. Investment options are one of the most important elements of any economic citizenship programme. The more of them, and the better they are thought out, the more investors will pay attention to the relevant jurisdiction.

The Saint Lucia programme is distinguished by the possibility of return investment in government bonds (this option is not available in any of the four other passport programmes in the Caribbean). Saint Lucia passport is an excellent document for traveling around the world (without a visa you can visit 120 countries, including the UK and all EU countries). It is worth noting that currently the program of Saint Lucia is the most profitable of the programs on the market.

In order to qualify, applicants must have no criminal records, be in good health, have high personal net worth and be able to invest in one of the approved projects.

Features and benefits.

  • Freedom in choosing the direction of your travel. The CIP guarantees that you are successful and independent citizen of the country. You and all your family members have the opportunity to travel visa-free or get a visa stamp on arrival to many countries of the world.
  • The benefit for your business. Saint Lucia is an offshore jurisdiction with an attractive tax regime, no tax on worldwide income. The tax is levied only on income earned in the country.
  • Safety. Dual citizenship will allow you to feel safe and do not depend on the political and economic fluctuations.
  • Best price, fast processing of documents.
  • There is no need to renounce previous citizenship. Saint Lucia recognizes dual citizenship without any restrictions.
  • You have the opportunity to return the funds invested in real estate and government bonds. Both categories of assets can be resold at the end of the mandatory period of ownership.
  • Having acquired the citizenship of Saint Lucia for investment, you can eventually, if necessary, move to a permanent residence in any country of CARICOM.
  • The procedure of processing of citizenship does not require an interview. Also, there are no requirements for education or entrepreneurial experience of the main applicant (investor).
  • As a citizen of a member state of the British Commonwealth, you can use preemptive rights in the UK. Your children have the opportunity to study without obtaining a student visa or work in the UK for 2 years without permission to work.
  • The process of obtaining citizenship of Saint Lucia is confidential and does not include the exchange of information with anyone. Saint Lucia does not disclose information about their citizens and residents and does not notify the state of the original nationality of the applicant.

A qualifying investment under the Citizenship by Investment Programme shall satisfy at least a minimum investment in one of the four approved areas.

  • Saint Lucia National Economic Fund. Donation is required of at least USD 100,000. This option does not provide for the return of dividends from your invested money.
  • Real Estate Projects. To qualify for citizenship via investing in real estate, the value of the acquired property must be a minimum of USD 300,000 and the development must be approved by the government. You are not allowed to sell on your investment during a 5-year period.
  • Government Bonds. Citizenship by investment may be made through the purchase of non-interest-bearing Government bonds. These bonds must be registered and remain in the name of the applicant for a five (5) year holding period from the date of first issue and not attract a rate of interest. The minimum amount of required investments is USD 500,000.
  • Enterprise projects. The applicant must invest a minimum of USD 3,500,000 in the approved project and create a minimum of three jobs.

Applicants will also be required to pay additional government fees, passport application and legal fees associated with their chosen investment, according to the number of accompanying family members, as well as consultation fees.