St Lucia citizenship by investment (CBI) program is one of the cheapest and popular second passport investment programs in the World.  Saint Lucia CBI program launched in 2015  under  Citizenship by Investment Act No. 14 of 2015. A qualifying investment in any one of the schemes below, will qualify for Family Citizenship in St Lucia.

• Saint Lucia National Economic Fund ($100,000)
• Real Estate Projects ($300,000)
• Enterprise Projects ($5 million)
• Government Bonds ($500,000)

The benefits of becoming a Citizen of St Lucia are

• Cost: The cost of investing in Saint Lucia for the purpose of obtaining citizenship has been set to be on par with similar programmes.  Applicants have a choice of four options which range from an investment amount of US $100,000 to US $3,500,000 for a single applicant.  Applicants are also expected to pay the processing and administration fees associated with their application.
• Speed: Applications for citizenship by investment in Saint Lucia will be processed within three months of the application being accepted for processing by the Citizenship by Investment Unit.
• Mobility: In 2015, Saint Lucian citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to over one hundred and twenty (120) countries and territories, ranking the ordinary Saint Lucian passport 35th in the world according to the Visa Restrictions Index.
• Visa Free Travel: Saint Lucian citizens can enjoy access to many countries including those in the European Union, other parts of the Caribbean and South America.
• Quality of Life: Saint Lucia has a quality of life that is rivaled by very few places in the world. We have a relatively low crime rate, access to modern facilities, services and infrastructure, world class restaurants and hotels and prime real estate.
• Simplicity: Anyone applying for citizenship by investment in Saint Lucia must do so through a licenced authorised agent. A Document Checklist SL1 has been provided to each applicant. The Document Checklist details what each applicant must provide in order for their application to be complete.
• Living: Residents have the options of living closer to the major population centres or closer to the more tranquil countryside to enjoy greener living. It takes just over an hour to travel from the north to the south of the island on a light traffic day, so no place is very far.
• Climate: We enjoy average temperatures of between 77°F (25°C) and 80°F (27°C) in a year round tropical climate balanced by northeast trade winds. Most rainfall lasts for only a few minutes at a time except if there is a known weather pattern at play.

St Lucia

Saint Lucia currently ranks 77th  out of 183 economies in the Doing Business Report published by the World Bank. This ranking makes us 8th overall in Latin America and the Caribbean and  2nd in the Caribbean Region. The island has excellent beaches, scenic waterfalls, mountains, rainforests, orchids and exotic plants.

Tourism accounts for approximately 65% of GDP and has been established as the highest foreign exchange earner. The second leading industry in Saint Lucia is agriculture.

Saint Lucia implemented a 15% Value Added Tax in 2017, making it the last country in the Eastern Caribbean to do so. In February 2017 Saint Lucia decreased Value Added Tax to 12.5%.

Saint Lucia, which became an independent country/state on February 22, 1979.

• Population Centers: The capital city (Castries) is located in the northern section of the island and represents approximately 40% of the population.  Other major population centers include Vieux-Fort and Gros-Islet.
• Weather and Climate:  St Lucia has a hot, tropical climate throughout the year, balanced by the northeast trade winds.  The average annual temperature is estimated between 77°F (25°C) and 80°F (27°C).
• Health Care : Health care provided throughout the country.  There are thirty-three (33) Health Centers, three (3) public hospitals, one (1) private hospital, and one (1) psychiatric hospital.
• Education: The academic year begins from September and ends in July.  The year is divided into three terms (September to December; January to April and April to July).  Admittance to the island school require the provision of the student’s transcripts and attendance letters from their previous schools.
• Sports:  The most popular played sports on island are cricket, football (soccer) tennis, volleyball, and swimming.  Our most renowned athletes are Daren Garvin Sammy, Captain of the West Indies Twenty20 Team; Lavern Spencer, high jump and Dominic Johnson, pole vault.

In Saint Lucia,  The Pitons are two volcanic mountains our very own World Heritage Site in St. Lucia, linked by a ridge called Piton Mitan. The two Piton Mountains are perhaps the most photographed feature on the island. The larger of these two mountains is called the Gros Piton and the other is called Petit Piton.

The famous Sulphur Springs is the hottest and most active geothermal area in the Lesser Antilles. The park is approximately 45 hectares and is billed as the Caribbean’s only drive-in volcano. There are man-made hot pools where locals and visitors alike frequent for the healing properties of the mineral-rich water.

According to Global Property Guide,  St. Lucia’s property market is vibrant once more, thanks to continued growth in tourism, coupled with the introduction of the Citizenship by Investment program. The property market is largely dependent on tourism, because most buyers of luxury homes start out as tourists.  Current residential property prices in St. Lucia vary from US$700,ooo to US$15 million. Condominiums located in Rodney Bay, which range from US$200,000 to US$550,000 .

St Lucia is often called “The Helen of the West Indies” for its captivating beauty. With a total land area of about 620 square miles, St Lucia is one of the most beautiful islands in the world.

The island is one of the most accessible in the region, with direct flights from the US, Canada, Germany, and the UK.  British Airways recently increased direct flights from Gatwick to St. Lucia.

St Lucia is has no VAT, no capital gains tax, no inheritance tax and no estate tax  and a Top destination for weddings and honeymoons. Rodney Bay known for its internationally acclaimed restaurants, offering a variety of cuisines to the tranquil natural surroundings of Soufrierre which  caters more to the spontaneous excursionist and adventure seeker, everyone can find their niche.

Saint Lucia has the distinction of having the highest number of Nobel Laureates per capita in the world.  Derek Walcott won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1992 and Sir Arthur Lewis won the Nobel Prize in Economics in 1979.   The two winners share the same birthday of January 23, only 15 years apart.

Population:  Approximately 183, 657
Area: 238 sq miles/616.4 sq km
Official Language: English
Local Language: French Creole
GDP Per Capita: 6,847.6 (2014)
Adult Literacy: 72.8% (2010 Census)
Currency: Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC$)
Exchange Rate: US $1 = EC $2.70
Time Zone: EST +1, GMT -4

St Lucia is known to festivals and events every year. Saint Lucia features an exciting calendar of activities including the internationally renowned music festival referred to as the Saint Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival in May of each year.  Other key festivals and events in Saint Lucia are:

• January: Caribbean20 Cricket Tournament / Nobel Laureate Week
• May: St. Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival
• July: Lucian Carnival
• August : Mercury Beach
• October:  Oktoberfest / Jounen Kweyol
• November / December:  Atlantic Rally for Cruisers

Source/Credit: cipsaintlucia.com