Saint Lucia digital nomad visa

Programme terms

Saint Lucia's Live It extended stay programme has run since 2021. It first allowed stays of up to 6 weeks; the Tourism Authority then added a second phase: a multiple-entry non-immigrant visa for up to 1 year, which remote workers and freelancers use.

Dollar amounts at the fixed rate of 2.70 Eastern Caribbean dollars per US dollar, rounded up.

Who can apply

• Employees of companies registered outside Saint Lucia working remotely.
• Freelancers and entrepreneurs whose clients and business are abroad.
• Students on distance programmes of foreign institutions.

You cannot work for local employers on this visa: local employment requires a work permit.

Documents

• Completed Immigration Department application form.
• Passport valid for at least 6 months.
• Two passport-size photographs.
• Proof of remote work: employer letter or contract; for freelancers, client contracts; for students, proof of enrolment.
• Proof of funds: bank statements.

How to prepare proof of work and funds

• Employee. An employer letter on company letterhead: position, salary, start date and consent to remote work from Saint Lucia for the whole stay.
• Freelancer. Current contracts with foreign clients and recent invoices matching the account inflows.
• Student. A letter from the institution confirming distance study and programme dates.
• Funds. Statements for the last 3-6 months with clear regular inflows; large one-off inflows are best explained with documents.

How the process works

1. Preparation. We collect documents and statements and check passport validity.
2. Filing. The form goes to the Immigration Department at least 2 weeks before departure.
3. Approval. A temporary approval letter arrives within 5 days.
4. Arrival. The visa is issued on arrival against the approval letter.

Taxes in Saint Lucia

You become tax resident after 183 days on the island in a year, or with a permanent home there plus at least a short visit. Until then only local-source income is taxed, so salary from a foreign company is not.

VAT is 12.5%. More on the Saint Lucia taxes page.

Housing and money

The Eastern Caribbean dollar is pegged to the US dollar at 2.70, so prices and fees are easy to count in dollars. Most newcomers rent in the north around Rodney Bay and Cap Estate, where services are concentrated, or near Soufrière bay. To buy property outside the citizenship programme a foreigner needs an Alien Landholding Licence: a one-year certificate of eligibility costs $3,000 and a licence for a plot up to 1 acre $2,500.

Next steps: residence and citizenship

The remote work visa does not lead to permanent status or citizenship. For that Saint Lucia runs a citizenship by investment programme: a National Economic Fund contribution from $240,000 for the applicant and up to three dependants, or real estate from $300,000 held for at least 5 years. Processing takes 3-6 months. More on the Saint Lucia citizenship page.

Comparison with neighbours

Saint Lucia wins on accessibility: no high income threshold and a visa of $75.

Life on the island: what to know

• Language. English is official; Saint Lucian Creole (Kwéyòl) is widely spoken.
• Roads. Traffic drives on the left. To drive on a foreign licence you need a temporary local permit: $20 (54 Eastern Caribbean dollars) for 3 months, also issued by rental companies.
• Flights. Long-haul flights use Hewanorra International Airport in the south, regional flights George F. L. Charles Airport near Castries.
• Weather. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June to November, so keep flexible dates and insurance.
• Healthcare. The main public hospital is the funded by the European Union Owen King European Union Hospital in Castries, opened in 2020, with 120 beds and an ICU. Private clinics exist; arrange health insurance before travel.

Bank account

The Eastern Caribbean dollar has been pegged to the US dollar since 7 July 1976. Local commercial banks are supervised by the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, international banks by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority. Local banks more readily open accounts for residents, citizens and property owners; with a one-year visa the bank will ask for a local address, income and source of funds. More on the Saint Lucia personal account page.

Common mistakes

• Filing the form later than 2 weeks before departure and not receiving the approval letter in time.
• Treating the visa as residence: it gives no right to permanent status and does not count towards citizenship.
• Taking local work: working for local clients or employers without a permit breaches the visa terms.
• Staying over 183 days and remitting money to the island without working out the tax.

What we do

We check whether the programme suits you, collect and proofread documents, prepare the source of funds explanation and file the form with the Immigration Department. If you plan to stay longer than a year, we calculate the tax consequences and find a ground for long-term status or a citizenship programme. We quote the fee after a free consultation and fix it in writing.

Advantages of the Live It visa

FAQ