Antigua vs St Lucia Citizenship by Investment

If you are considering acquiring Caribbean citizenship as a second passport for you and your family, check this article and the comparison table of Antigua vs St Lucia citizenship by investment programs. Whether your goal is to increase global mobility and visa-free access to countries, make the best of tax-friendly policies, or diversify your assets, both passports can provide you with these advantages and more.

Benefits of Antigua and St Lucia Citizenship by Investment Programs

Inclusion of family members

Visa-free travel to over 140 countries

No residency requirements

Tax-friendly policies

Multiple investment options

Quick application process

Antigua vs St Lucia Comparison: At a Glance

Program Characteristics Antigua Citizenship by Investment St Lucia Citizenship by Investment
Application Time Two to three months
Two to three months
Passport Global Ranking 63rd. Visa-free travel to EU Schengen countries, the UK, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Russia, amongst others 75th. Visa-free travel to EU Schengen countries, the UK, Hong Kong, and Singapore, amongst others
Qualifying Investment                             NDF minimum donation: $100,000 (single applicant) / $100,000 (family of four)
                                
            
                            Real estate investment: $200,000 minimum 
                                
            
                            Business establishment: $400,000 minimum
                                
            
                University of the West Indies Fund donation: $150,000
                                
            
                                    NEF minimum donation:
$100,000 (single applicant) / $150,000 (family of four)
                                
            
                            Real Estate investment:
$200,000 minimum
                                
            
                            Enterprise investment: $1M minimum
                                
            
                Government bonds: $300,00 minimum
                                
            
        
Taxes No income tax on worldwide income, wealth tax, gift tax, inheritance tax or capital gains tax
No income tax on worldwide income, wealth tax, gift tax, inheritance tax or capital gains tax
Residence Rule No stay requirements No stay requirements
Family Eligibility Inclusion of spouse or future spouse, dependent children under 30, dependent siblings, parents and grandparents aged 55 or over
Inclusion of spouse, children under 30, siblings under 18 (unmarried with no children), parents and grandparents aged 55 or over
Application Requirements No interview, language or residency requirements No interview, language or residency requirements

Program Characteristics	Antigua Citizenship by Investment	St Lucia Citizenship by Investment
Application Time	Two to three months	Two to three months
Passport Global Ranking	63rd. Visa-free travel to EU Schengen countries, the UK, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Russia, amongst others	75th. Visa-free travel to EU Schengen countries, the UK, Hong Kong, and Singapore, amongst others
Qualifying Investment	NDF minimum donation: $100,000 (single applicant) / $100,000 (family of four) Real estate investment: $200,000 minimum Business establishment: $400,000 minimum University of the West Indies Fund donation: $150,000	NEF minimum donation: $100,000 (single applicant) / $150,000 (family of four) Real Estate investment: $200,000 minimum Enterprise investment: $1M minimum Government bonds: $300,00 minimum
Taxes	No income tax on worldwide income, wealth tax, gift tax, inheritance tax or capital gains tax	No income tax on worldwide income, wealth tax, gift tax, inheritance tax or capital gains tax
Residence Rule	No stay requirements	No stay requirements
Family Eligibility	Inclusion of spouse or future spouse, dependent children under 30, dependent siblings, parents and grandparents aged 55 or over	Inclusion of spouse, children under 30, siblings under 18 (unmarried with no children), parents and grandparents aged 55 or over
Application Requirements	No interview, language or residency requirements	No interview, language or residency requirements

Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship

Antigua and Barbuda is located between the Caribbean sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Tourism represents most of Antigua’s GDP, which is not surprising for such a stunning place with 365 beaches – one for each day of the year.

The country’s citizenship by investment program was created in 2012, offering foreign investors the chance to obtain Antigua citizenship in exchange for a qualifying investment in the country. Foreign investors can choose one of the following options:

Donation of at least $100,000 to the Antigua National Development Fund
Purchase of pre-approved real estate or shares of real estate worth a minimum of $200,000, to be held for five years
Business investment of $400,000 in an enterprise worth $5 million in total, or $1.5 million as a single investor
Donation of $150,000 or more to the University of the West Indies Fund – this option is available for families of 6 members or more and entitles one person to a one-year scholarship

Residents and citizens of Antigua and Barbuda enjoy relatively relaxed tax conditions. There is no capital gains tax, inheritance tax, income tax, or wealth tax on worldwide income or assets. Antigua passport holders also can enjoy visa-free access to over 140 countries, including the European Union, the UK, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Russia.

Check our Ultimate Guide of Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment

CLICK HERE

St Lucia Citizenship

With its lush forests, white sand beaches, and the famous Piton mountains, St Lucia is considered one of the world’s top honeymoon destinations. The country is also an excellent place for business, especially since its Citizenship by Investment Program launch in 2015. Foreign investors can be granted citizenship in exchange for a qualifying investment contributing to the country’s development. There are four investment routes available:

Donation of at least $100,000 to the National Economic Fund
Purchase of pre-approved real estate worth a minimum of $200,000
Enterprise investment of $1M in business worth $6M in total, or $3.5M as a single investor
Purchase of at least $300,000 in government bonds to be held for five years

In just a few months, it is possible to obtain a St Lucia passport which allows visa-free travel to more than 140 countries, including Europe’s Schengen zone, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Singapore, and more. Citizens of St Lucia can also take advantage of tax exemptions: there is no capital gains tax, inheritance tax, income tax, or wealth tax on worldwide income or assets.

Find out about St Lucia Citizenship by Investment

CLICK HERE

Which program to pick?

Both citizenship programs are solid and well-respected ways to become a Caribbean citizen, and both countries recognize dual citizenship. Which one to choose will depend on your specific circumstances. Antigua and Barbuda is known as a family-friendly option, not only because of the University of the West Indies Fund option, perfect for large families, but also for being the most affordable option for a family of four, at $100,000.

Both Caribbean countries offer four investment routes, which is excellent for investors willing to diversify their assets. However, two options for Antigua citizenship are donations, whereas St Lucia has a popular bonds investment path. So, in short:

Antigua and Barbuda CBI strong points:

Most affordable options for families – $100,000 NDF donation for a family of four, and $150,000 UWIF donation for families of six or more
More affordable business option, starting at $400,000 investment

St Lucia CBI strong point:

Diverse investment options, including the opportunity to purchase government bonds from $300,000

Our experts at Global Citizen Solutions will help you find the best Caribbean citizenship for yourself and your family, and you can have a Caribbean passport in hand in a few months.

Why work with Global Citizen Solutions?

Global approach by local experts. We are corporate members of the Investment Migration Council, with local expertise in all six Caribbean CBI programs.
100% approval rate. We have never had a case rejected and will offer you an initial, free-of-charge, due diligence assessment before signing any contract.
Independent service and full transparency. We will present to you all the investment options available, and all expenses will be discussed in advance, with no hidden fees.
An all-encompassing solution. A multidisciplinary team of immigration lawyers, investment specialists, and tax experts will take into consideration all your and your family’s mobility, tax, and lifestyle needs.
Confidential service and secure data management. All private data is stored within a GDPR-compliant database on a secure SSL-encrypted server.

To see the full list of reasons why to work with Global Citizen Solutions for your Caribbean citizenship application, click here.

Don’t forget to check our other Caribbean comparison articles:

FAQs:

Can I acquire St Lucia citizenship?

In order to obtain Caribbean citizenship from St Lucia, you must make a qualifying investment in the country. It can be a real estate investment, a contribution to a government fund, a business investment, or the purchase of government bonds. You and your family can receive lifetime citizenship and a valuable Caribbean passport in a few months.

Can I acquire Antigua citizenship?

If you are interested in obtaining citizenship from Antigua and Barbuda, the country’s citizenship program is the best way to receive a Caribbean passport in exchange for an investment in the country. There are four investment options: buying shares of a real estate project, making a minimum contribution of $100,000 to a National Fund, investing in a University Fund, or making a business investment.

St Lucia or Antigua citizenship: which one to pick?

A Caribbean citizenship is, without a doubt, a valuable asset to have. Both Caribbean passports provide visa-free access to over 140 countries, tax-friendly policies, and the second citizenship can be extended to family members. Saint Lucia investment program is attractive if you are interested in the Government bonds option (minimum investment $500,000). Antigua and Barbuda investment program, on the other hand, is a good choice for large families: you can make a minimum investment of $100,000 toa government fund, for four people, or donate $150,000 to the University of the West Indies (option available for families of six or more).

What is the best Caribbean passport?

Five Caribbean countries offer investment programs: Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Lucia. You can obtain citizenship in exchange for a qualifying investment, which may be a donation to a National Government Fund, property investment, or in some cases, business investment or University contributions.

Among the Caribbean citizenship benefits is the possibility to travel visa-free to over 140 countries and being exempt from income tax for worldwide income. There is no residency requirement for Caribbean citizenship, but the main applicant must be over 18 years old, with no criminal record, and undergo due diligence.

Have a look at our Caribbean Citizenship by Investment comparison guide to find out which of the Caribbean citizenship programs is suitable for you.

Which countries offer Caribbean citizenship by investment?

Five countries offer investors the opportunity to acquire Caribbean citizenship by investment: Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Lucia. St Kitts and Nevis has the world’s longest-running citizenship by investment program, in operation since 1984. In order to apply to one of these investment programs, you must be over 18 years, have no criminal records, and make an investment in the Caribbean country of your interest, usually a non-refundable contribution to a national fund or an investment in a pre-approved real estate development. Other attractive investment opportunities are government bonds or university donations. You and your family can receive Caribbean citizenship in a few months, with it also tax benefits and the chance to travel to over 140 visa-free countries worldwide.