Saint Lucia: all programs

Saint Lucia at a glance

Saint Lucia is a volcanic island in the eastern Caribbean with about 180,000 residents. The capital is Castries, the official language is English and local Creole is widely spoken. The island's symbol is the twin Pitons near Soufrière, a UNESCO site. The currency is the Eastern Caribbean dollar, pegged to the US dollar at 2.70.

The economy rests on tourism, services and the citizenship by investment programme, while bananas used to play a major role. The country is a parliamentary monarchy in the Commonwealth, politically calm, with English law.

Who the move suits

• remote workers and freelancers who want to spend up to a year on a tropical island;
• investors who need a second passport through the citizenship programme;
• buyers of villas and flats in Rodney Bay, Cap Estate and Marigot Bay;
• families with foreign-currency income who value English and a calm life.

It is harder for those who need a big city, advanced healthcare and low prices: almost everything on the island is imported.

Entry rules

Whether you need a visa for a short trip depends on your passport, and the length of stay is set on arrival. To live on the island for up to a year, remote workers apply for a visa under the extended stay programme. Hewanorra International Airport in the south has flights to London and to cities in the US and Canada; a connection in London is the most convenient.

The first 30 days on the island

1. Visa. The remote work visa application is filed no later than 2 weeks before the trip. The approval letter comes within 5 days, and the visa itself is issued on arrival.
2. Housing. For the first weeks people take a short-term rental in Rodney Bay, where most foreigners live, and sign a long lease after viewing in person.
3. Car. Public transport means minibuses, so a car is almost essential from day one.
4. Account. The bank asks for a passport and a second ID, proof of address, a reference letter from your current bank and income documents. The checks are strict, so people rely on foreign cards at first.
5. Healthcare. The main hospital is in Castries, and complex cases are taken to Martinique, Barbados or the US. Health insurance with medical evacuation is arranged before arrival.
6. School. Places at private and international schools are booked in advance.

Budget for the first 3 months

Rent is the biggest item: a flat or house in Rodney Bay costs $1,200-2,500 a month, and housing in Castries and its suburbs $700-1,200. One person needs from $7,500 for three months, a family from $14,000. A manager does the full calculation for your family and district in the chat.

Residence options

• The remote work visa - a multiple-entry visa for up to 1 year under the extended stay programme, about $80, with no fixed income threshold; you apply at least 2 weeks before departure, an approval letter arrives within 5 days and the visa is issued on arrival.
• Citizenship by investment - a contribution to the National Economic Fund from $240,000 for the applicant and up to three family members, or property in an approved project from $300,000 held for at least 5 years, with 90 days from acceptance of the application to the decision; applications from several nationalities have been suspended since 15 February 2023, see the rules for specific nationalities below.
• A work permit is arranged by a local employer.

What a passport costs for a family is covered in our article on the cost of Saint Lucia citizenship, and what it gives in our reviews of visa-free countries with a Saint Lucia passport and dual citizenship.

We file the remote work visa, and for citizens of other countries and those with a second passport we prepare the citizenship file.

Rules for specific nationalities

Citizens of Russia have entered Saint Lucia visa-free since 2011, and the length of stay is set on arrival. Applications from citizens of Russia and Belarus for citizenship by investment have been suspended since 15 February 2023. For those who also hold a passport of another country we prepare the citizenship file.

Taxes

Residents who live on the island permanently pay income tax on worldwide income at 15-30% after a personal allowance of $9,300. You become a tax resident after 183 days a year. Remote work visa holders who spend fewer than 183 days on the island pay no tax on foreign income. There are no capital gains, inheritance, gift or wealth taxes. Corporate tax is 30%, VAT is 12.5%, and employee and employer each pay 5% to the social fund. More in taxes in Saint Lucia.

Cost of living

A family with children needs from $4,500 a month. Imported groceries are expensive and a car is almost essential, as public transport is shared minibuses.

Where to live

• Rodney Bay and Gros Islet - the marina, restaurants, supermarkets and beach, home to most foreigners.
• Cap Estate - gated communities with villas, golf and ocean views.
• Castries - the capital, cheaper but noisy with traffic.
• Marigot Bay - a quiet bay with yachts.
• Soufrière - by the Pitons, very beautiful but far from shops and the airport.

Property for foreigners

A foreigner can buy housing or land, but needs an alien landholding licence, obtained before the deal is registered. A purchase from $300,000 in an approved project counts towards the citizenship programme if held for at least 5 years. Annual property tax is low, about 0.25% of value. Prices and how the purchase works are in our article on buying an apartment in Saint Lucia. We find the property, obtain the licence and close the deal.

Banks

There are two kinds of banks on the island, with different supervisors. Local commercial banks serve the island's residents and companies and take deposits in East Caribbean and US dollars; they are overseen by the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank. International banks work with clients from other countries but not with residents of Saint Lucia; they are supervised by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority.

Accounts are opened for citizens of Saint Lucia, including those who obtained a passport by investment, for residents of the island, including remote workers, for property owners and for companies operating on the island. The bank checks identity and address, the link to the country, the source of funds and expected turnover. Banks in small Caribbean states depend on correspondent banks in the US and Canada, so they refuse when there is doubt about the origin of money.

Climate and daily life

The climate is tropical at 26-31°C all year, with a dry season from December to May. Hurricane season runs from June to November, so housing and insurance are chosen with that in mind. The main hospital is in Castries, and complex cases go to Martinique, Barbados or the US. There are private schools, including international ones. Banks ask for references and proof of address and income, and we help with a personal and business account.