Saint Lucia and Russia dual citizenship: can you keep both passports in 2026

9 min read · Published 6 October 2026

Saint Lucia allows dual citizenship on almost every route except ordinary naturalisation. But for Russian citizens the main news is different: the citizenship by investment programme stopped accepting their applications on 15 February 2023.

In short

With a condition. Citizenship by investment and by marriage does not require giving up a previous passport, while ordinary naturalisation does. But applications from Russian citizens under the investment programme have been suspended since 15 February 2023.

Previous passport on naturalisation	Kept
Country rule	Citizenship by investment does not require renouncing your previous citizenship
Legal basis	Saint Lucia Citizenship by Investment Act
What Russia requires	notify the Interior Ministry within 60 days
Checked	October 2026

On paper Saint Lucia is relaxed about dual citizenship: its citizens do not lose their passport when they take another. But the rule depends on the route. And the fastest route, citizenship by investment, is currently closed to Russian citizens. This page is for those who already hold a Saint Lucian passport and for those waiting for the programme to reopen.

What Saint Lucia requires on naturalisation

The citizenship by investment programme runs under a 2015 law and does not require giving up a previous passport. The options: a contribution to the national economic fund from $240,000 for the applicant and up to three family members, property from $300,000 held for 5 years, or government bonds from $300,000 for 5 years. Processing takes 3-6 months and there is no residence requirement. But since 15 February 2023 applications from Russian and Belarusian citizens have been suspended.

Ordinary naturalisation requires 12 months of living on the island before applying plus 7 years over the preceding period, knowledge of English and good character. Crucially, naturalisation requires giving up your previous citizenship. The spouse of a Saint Lucian citizen can obtain citizenship by registration without giving up the previous passport.

What Russia requires

Russia allows a second citizenship and does not end its own, but inside the country treats you only as a Russian citizen (Article 10 of Federal Law No. 138-FZ on Citizenship).

Within 60 days of receiving the second passport, file a notification with the Interior Ministry (MVD). If you are abroad at that moment, the period runs from the day you enter Russia.
Attach a copy of the foreign passport or another document proving the citizenship.

Failure to notify falls under Article 330.2 of the Russian Criminal Code: a fine of up to $2,400 or up to one year of income, or up to 400 hours of compulsory work.
Late or incomplete notification: a fine of $10-15 under Article 19.8.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences.
A residence permit abroad must be reported under the same rules (Article 11 of Law No. 138-FZ).

A Russian citizen with a second passport may not hold state or municipal office, serve in government bodies or stand for election. The duties of a Russian citizen, including military service, remain, and inside Russia the second passport is not taken into account.

How to keep both passports: step by step

Check whether the route is open: the investment programme is suspended for Russian citizens.
If you obtained the passport before 2023, keep both documents valid.
For the marriage route, apply for registration as the spouse of a citizen: no renunciation is needed.
Avoid ordinary naturalisation if you want to keep your Russian passport: it requires renunciation.
Notify the Russian Interior Ministry within 60 days of receiving the passport, or within 60 days of entering Russia if you are abroad.

Those who already hold a Saint Lucian passport should check whether they notified the Russian Interior Ministry: it is required within 60 days of receiving it, and second citizenships obtained long ago are the ones most often forgotten.

What happens to children

A child of a Saint Lucian citizen gets citizenship by descent. Children under 18 are included in the investor's application: a family of up to four fits into the base contribution, and each additional child costs $10,000. A child with Russian and Saint Lucian citizenship keeps both passports.

Taxes and military service

Saint Lucian tax residents pay income tax at 15%, 20% and 30% after a personal allowance of about $9,300 a year. Non-residents pay only on local income. Citizenship itself creates no tax, and Russia has no double tax treaty with Saint Lucia.

Saint Lucia has no army and no compulsory military service. A Russian citizen's military duty remains.

Common mistakes

Paying an intermediary who promises a Saint Lucian passport to a Russian citizen despite the suspension.
Going through ordinary naturalisation and losing the Russian passport: it requires renunciation.
Hiding a second citizenship in the application: a false statement is grounds for refusal and later revocation.
Not notifying the Russian Interior Ministry about citizenship obtained before 2023.

How to get Saint Lucian citizenship

For Russian citizens the investment programme is currently closed. If you need a Caribbean-style second passport now, compare the programmes that are open in the overview how much citizenship costs.

Requirements, timelines and costs are on the page Saint Lucian citizenship.

You can check any pair of countries with the dual citizenship checker and compare all countries in the overview dual citizenship in 2026.

The main risk is a promise to get around the suspension for Russians

The law does not stop you from acting on your own. But mistakes cost more than any contribution: money paid to an intermediary who promises a Saint Lucian passport to a Russian citizen despite the suspension, ordinary naturalisation that costs you the Russian passport, a hidden second citizenship in the application, a forgotten notice to the Russian Interior Ministry. Murblz support removes these risks: Murblz specialists check which routes are open for your citizenship and choose programmes that accept Russian citizens. We guarantee professional work and a transparent process, and in most cases a result on the first filing.

The support fee depends on the chosen programme and family size; a manager will calculate it in chat.

Find out the support fee

This topic in other countries

Dual citizenship rules with Russia in other countries:

FAQ

Can you hold Saint Lucian and Russian citizenship at the same time?

With a condition. Citizenship by investment and by marriage does not require giving up a previous passport, while ordinary naturalisation does. But applications from Russian citizens under the investment programme have been suspended since 15 February 2023.

Do I need to notify the Russian Interior Ministry about Saint Lucian citizenship?

Yes. A Russian citizen notifies the Interior Ministry of a second citizenship within 60 days under Article 10 of Law No. 138-FZ; failing to notify carries criminal liability under Article 330.2 of the Russian Criminal Code.

Does Saint Lucia allow dual citizenship?

Yes, for citizenship by investment, by marriage and by descent. Ordinary naturalisation requires giving up your previous citizenship.

Can a Russian citizen get a Saint Lucian passport in 2026?

Not through the investment programme: applications from Russian and Belarusian citizens have been suspended since 15 February 2023.

How much does Saint Lucian citizenship by investment cost?

A fund contribution from $240,000 for the applicant and up to three family members, property from $300,000 for 5 years, or bonds from $300,000 for 5 years, plus fees.

How many years do you need to live in Saint Lucia to naturalise?

12 months before applying and 7 years over the preceding period. Naturalisation requires giving up your previous citizenship.

What if I obtained a Saint Lucian passport before 2023?

Both passports remain valid. Check that you notified the Russian Interior Ministry about the second citizenship.

Don’t want to figure this out alone?

We handle the whole process end to end: we check your documents, match a program to your situation and give you honest timelines and costs. Ask your question in the chat: the free consultation starts right here. Legal representation before authorities and courts is handled by Murblz specialists together with locally licensed partners.

The Murblz consultant replies straight away in the chat on this page. Describe your situation and we will work it out together.

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