Residence permit for Saint Lucia

Foreign nationals from countries that do not have visa waiver agreements with Saint Lucia must obtain an entry permit. If a long-term visit to the island or a stay of more than 3 months is expected, then a permit must be obtained from the Immigration Department with a mandatory justification of the arrival purpose.

There are 3 types of permits available to foreigners in Saint Lucia – a visa, a residence permit and the right to permanent residence. Depending on the purpose and duration of stay in the country, foreigners are required to obtain the appropriate type of visa/residence permit and, if necessary, a work permit. The Ministry of Internal Affairs, Justice and National Security together with the Ministry of Infrastructure, Ports, Energy and Labour are responsible for citizenship and residence issues.

Types of residence permit

Immigration to Saint Lucia is governed by the Immigration and Passports Act. Foreign citizens wishing to reside on the island can apply to the Immigration Department and obtain the right to temporary residence or permanent residence.

A residence permit can be obtained in several cases:

• Arrival in the country for employment. Legal right of residence and conclusion of employment contracts during the period of validity of the issued work permit. The program allows the applicant to include family members in the application.
• Purchase of real estate for living. A special permit is issued after approval of the identity of the applicant and the real estate property.

The right to permanent residence can be granted after 5 years of permanent residence on the island. The status eliminates the need for a permanent extension of the residence permit. By default, a work permit is not issued in this case. To obtain a work permit, one must go through the appropriate procedures.

Residence permit upon purchase of real estate

The government of Saint Lucia allows people to buy real estate and settle on the island without working. The main condition is to obtain a special permit from the Minister for Legal Affairs. The procedure involves a thorough verification of the identity of the applicant and the approval of the purchased property.

A foreign person who buys real estate in Saint Lucia receives a foreign land ownership license. In this case, an application for the right of visa-free entry and stay in the country is simultaneously obtained.

Necessary justifications

Before buying real estate, a foreigner must obtain a certificate of conformity. The application is sent to the Citizenship by the Investment Department. When approving a candidate, a Land Ownership License is issued to a foreigner, which has no restrictions on the term of validity.

A foreign citizen with a valid license receives the right to purchase real estate and obtain a residence permit. When the application receives a positive answer, the candidate, together with dependents, may enter and remain in Saint Lucia for an unlimited period of time.

List of documents

The application form for a residence permit for the purchase of real estate must be supported by a legalized file of the applicant and each family member. The basic set of documents includes:

• A valid passport. 
• Birth certificate (if applicable).
• Marriage certificate (if applicable). 
• 2 recent passport size photos.
• Application for Certificate of Conformity.
• Autobiography. 
• Proof of residence.
• Police clearance certificate. 
• Information about the property planned for purchase (extract from the land register, if applicable).

Student residence permits

A long-term residence permit in the case of study in Saint Lucia is issued on the basis of a student visa. This is a non-immigrant visa issued by the Royal National Police. A student residence permit allows a foreign citizen to legally reside on the island while the course of study lasts.

A study visa permit allows one to work in limited conditions on the territory of the country, but only in agreed areas for the support of the applicant and dependents.

Justification for obtaining

To obtain a visa, a prospective student must submit a letter of admission to the Department of Immigration and a set of visa documents. The application is sent to the work only upon receipt of information about the full payment of the study course. Upon receipt of approval, the foreigner can enter the country and start studying.

Mandatory documents

• A valid passport. 
• 2 passport size photographs. 
• Letter of admission to the university. 
• Receipts for payment of tuition fees. 
• Confirmation of place of residence. 
• Bank statements confirming the availability of funds for living.
• Police clearance certificate. 
• Medical certificate and insurance.
• Confirmation of intention to return to the home country after graduation. 

Residence permit for the financially independent (freelancers, digital nomads)

Since 2021, Saint Lucia provides a residence permit for remote workers based on the appropriate non-immigrant visa. The Live It program allows digital nomads to live and work on the island for up to 1 year. The applicant should submit the application at least 2 weeks in advance of his/her intended trip. The cost of a multiple-entry freelancer visa is $75, which is paid at the airport upon arrival.

The application form is available on the official website of the Government of Saint Lucia. 

Requirements application justification

The application process for the Saint Lucia Digital Nomad Visa is one of the simplest of its kind. There are no requirements for a minimum remote income, but it is needed to provide information about the availability of sufficient income for living. The average processing time is only 5 days.

Mandatory documents

• Passport valid for at least 6 months. 
• 2 recent passport size photos.
• Ticket to the island and back.
• Information about plans on the island.
• Confirmation of place of residence. 
• Bank statements proving the availability of funds for accommodation.
• Confirmation of remote employment.

Residence permit by marriage

Marriage to a citizen of Saint Lucia allows one to immediately apply for citizenship. However, local law does not allow one to automatically obtain the status of a resident. To obtain the status of a resident it is needed to comply with a range of requirements. The main requirements for a candidate are set out in the application for citizenship by marriage.

The main criterion is the legality of the marriage. After completing the application and providing documents, the immigration authorities check the conditions of marriage and the nature of the spouses' relationship. If there is a suspicion that the union is fictitious, additional confirmations are requested or the application is rejected.

Grounds for receiving

As a condition for granting a residence permit for marriage, the applicant must provide proof that he/she has no criminal record and does not pose a threat to public order. In addition, the applicant will need to prepare a personal description and confirm his/her knowledge of English.

If the marriage is contracted outside Saint Lucia, the candidate is required to provide a certificate translated into English and legalized under local law.

Documents for the application

• Application form. 
• A valid passport. 
• 2 passport size photographs. 
• Police clearance certificate. 
• Marriage certificate. 
• Autobiography. 
• Characteristics/recommendation from at least two Saint Lucian citizens or organizations.
• Documents on the absence of tax arrears.

Family reunification

If a foreigner has relatives among the citizens of Saint Lucia, then he/she has the right to apply for citizenship on the basis of origin or family reunification. The civil legislation of the country allows to obtain residence by the right of "blood" or birth.

In the presence of blood relatives, a foreigner has the opportunity to activate his/her right by sending an application to the Department of Immigration. The competent authorities, after checking the supporting documents, can approve the request and legally recognize the proper status.

Necessary justifications

In addition to the automatic right to citizenship, family members of a naturalized foreigner or investor who has bought citizenship can receive a residence permit under the family reunification program. The Golden Passport program allows the transfer the acquired right to all relatives, including grandparents.

The criteria for approval and the process of filing an application for the granting of hereditary citizenship are established by the Law "On Citizenship" and the current amendments to it. You can clarify the current requirements and conditions for granting residenceon the official website of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Justice and National Security of Saint Lucia.

Required package of documents

• Application form. 
• A valid passport. 
• 2 passport size photographs. 
• Police clearance certificate. 
• Marriage certificate (if applicable).
• Autobiography. 
• Documents on the absence of tax arrears.
• Medical certificate confirming the absence of dangerous diseases.
• Any documents confirming kinship with a citizen of Saint Lucia.

Residence permit for work

In accordance with the visa policy of the country, foreign workers must obtain a non-immigrant visa for arrival and a work permit in order to officially find a job. A residence permit based on such a visa can be single-entry or multiple-entry. The first one allows the applicant to enter Saint Lucia once within 3 months. The second one gives the right of multiple entries within 12 months. Family members also receive the right to reside, but without the possibility of employment.

General information on obtaining a work permit in Saint Lucia can be found on the official website of the government. The nonimmigrant visa application form is available here.

Justification for obtaining

Traditionally, most employers prefer local workers, but there are a number of positions to which foreigners are forcibly invited. In this case, the employer must also participate in the justification for obtaining a work permit by providing the employee with an invitation letter.

A foreigner planning to work in Saint Lucia must apply for a visa at the nearest embassy before arriving in the country. Along with the package of visa documents, information about the future employer and an invitation letter are provided. The application is considered within 5 days and an entry permit is issued.

A work permit is requested before entering the country from the Ministry of Justice, Interior and Labour. A non-refundable fee of $100 will be charged for application processing. It is recommended that the applicant submit his/her application at least 2 weeks before the planned arrival in Saint Lucia.

List of required documents

• Passport valid for at least 6 months from the arrival date. 
• 2 passport size photographs. 
• Marriage certificate (if applicable). 
• Air ticket to and from the country.
• Proof of residence.
• Invitation letter from the employer.
• Documents confirming the qualification.
• Police clearance certificate. 
• Information about the vacancy and working conditions.
• Bank statements confirming the availability of funds for living.
• Medical certificate. 
• Receipts confirming payment of state duties.

Residence permit for business activities

If the applicant's citizenship allows him/her to enter Saint Lucia without a visa, then he/she is allowed to arrive and stay on the island for up to 3 months for the purpose of business meetings. For a longer stay in the country, in order to conduct a commercial activity, the foreigner has to obtain a non-immigrant business visa. The government encourages new business projects and foreign investments, which contributes to simplifying the procedures for granting business residence permits.

The business visa is valid for up to 6 weeks. Cost - from $20. If eligible, the applicant's family members can also be included in the application.

Requirements for the Applicant

The government allows foreign persons to enter the country to conduct commercial activities without the need to obtain a work permit. However, an employee or owner of a foreign company is required to provide evidence that the activity is not related to an employment relationship with local employers.

As a justification for the requested residence permit, the applicant must provide information about the planned business, possible tax benefits, available specialized licenses, documents on real estate lease, etc. The immigration authorities have the right to expand the standard package of documents in order to thoroughly verify the reliability of the candidate.

Document package

• Passport valid for at least 6 months from the arrival date. 
• 2 passport size photographs. 
• Non-Immigrant Visa Application Form.
• Air ticket to and from the country.
• Documents confirming the business purpose of the trip (cover letters, registration at the conference, etc.).
• Bank statements confirming the availability of funds for living.
• Confirmation of place of residence. 
• Police clearance certificate. 
• Medical certificate and insurance.

Renewal of residence permit

If your visa or residence permit is about to expire, you must apply for an extension. The renewal process is similar to the process of initial obtaining a residence permit. It will be necessary to send a new application form and provide an up-to-date legalized file of the applicant.

If the applicant is in Saint Lucia, he/she must apply for an extension to the Department of the Interior, Justice and Homeland Security. If the foreigner is abroad, then at the nearest consulate of the country. The processing time for the application starts from 5 working days. When submitting the application, a state fee of $0.7 is charged for issuing the form and the corresponding administrative fees.

The conditions, renewal requirements and new validity period will depend on the type of permit issued and the specific circumstances of the applicant.