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Everything You Need to Know about the St Lucia Citizenship by Investment Program
The Caribbean region may seem like a faraway fairytale. However, the local states are growing rapidly and are interested in entrepreneurs and investors who wish to contribute to their development and obtain St Lucia second passport at a favorable cost. Discover more about the recent projects and their key features and advantages.
Investment Options Available in St Lucia
It is possible to get St Lucia passport by selecting one approach among the next:
- donate to the local fund $100,000 for a single person with the ability to add relatives for an additional sum;
- invest $200,000 in local real estate for five years;
- purchase government bonds for $300,000, paying a fee of $50,000;
- make a $3.5 million investment in a project that creates three jobs;
- invest $6 million in the project that creates 6 working places together with other businessmen. Your contribution has to be at least $1 million.
Thus, such versatility is a first advantage of this region. This is a rare case when the choice is so wide and each option is worth attention. The sums grow a bit in case of adding more than one person but they also remain quite affordable. You can read more about Saint Lucia's citizenship by investment programme at immigrantinvest.com
Eligibility Criteria for St Lucia’s Citizenship Program
Vladlena Baranova, an expert in Immigrant Invest, names the next criteria for interested persons:
- Age over 18 years.
- A transparent source of income and an ability to donate the selected sum.
- Clear criminal record.
- Good health.
This is a basic minimum that is easy to follow. Moreover, there are no stay rules or language tests, etc.
Benefits of St Lucia Citizenship
Diverse offers are only the first profit associated with this program. One can also benefit from the following:
- availability to get a second passport without the need to give up the primary one;
- inclusion of all relatives into one application, which increases the sum but creates no limits for the move of the whole family;
- no need to stay on an island for a dedicated period as one can always come and go without counting days;
- easy access to 140 countries without a need to obtain special permits and convenient applications for many national visas, for instance, to the US;
- beneficial taxation with stable flat rates;
- reliable and stable economy and environment friendly for businesses;
- the completion of the procedure within the period from 3 to 6 months.
Those who decide to come to the island and stay here will definitely enjoy the vibrant atmosphere, beautiful mountains and beaches, savory cuisine, and pleasant community.
Application Process for St Lucia Citizenship by Investment
The first step is to discover as much as you can about the program and select the most suitable participation option. Then, one should prepare the official package that contains all the information about the person, their legal status, income, health, criminal record, etc.
These files are provided to the local authorities. At this stage, processing and due diligence fees should be paid. Keep in mind, that they differ according to the chosen program and number of applicants. Thus, these issues should be clarified before payments.
The authorities check the provided files and may take up to 3 months for this. If they are ready to approve, they notify the future investor, who has to make the main chosen transaction. After it comes, the participant gets his new passport together with all the rights and opportunities of its holder.
Costs and Fees Associated with St Lucia Citizenship
According to Immigrant Invest, additional fees and costs for all participants include the following:
- fee for due diligence of $7,500 for the applicant and $5,000 for dependents older than 16 years;
- fee for the processing of the documents comprises $2,000 for the applicant and $1,000 for each relative.
There is also an additional payment for those who purchase bonds. It comprises $50,000.
Those who purchase property pay an additional $30,000 for the main person. In the case of adding a spouse, this number rises to $45,000. Dependents under 18 years are paid $5,000 and over 18 years $10,000.
Moreover, one can later include in the program other relatives, newborns, and even new wives. This will also require additional contributions but there are no limits related to this area. The country is open to investors, as well as to new responsible citizens and values families that wish to move together.
Legal and Regulatory Framework
The local authorities launched this approach in 2015 and it is regulated by the government. Local dedicated fund rules the process, checks the applications, and take care of their proper utilization.
All investments are made only after the final approval of the candidate and his thorough check. This guarantees safety and a transparent process for everyone. Thus, there is no need to worry while taking part in this program. One can follow the process and get sufficient information at any stage.
Conclusion
To conclude, the lowest threshold for a single person in this case is approximately $110,000. This is quite an affordable option, especially compared to other similar projects, even in the same region. The local authorities are friendly and guarantee zero bureaucracy. They are interested in funds that strengthen their economy but never charge them before the positive decision on the application.