St Kitts vs St Lucia Citizenship

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

Benefits of St Lucia and St Kitts Citizenship by Investment Programs

Visa-free travel to over 140 countries

No residency requirements

Inclusion of whole family

Quick application process

Tax-friendly policies

St Kitts and Nevis vs St Lucia Comparison: At a Glance

Program characteristics	St Kitts Citizenship by Investment	St Lucia Citizenship by Investment
Application time	Four months	Two to three months
Passport Global ranking	55th. Visa-free travel to EU Schengen States, 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	1. SISC minimum donation: $250,000 (single applicant) / $350,000 (family of four) 2. Real Estate: $400,000 minimum investment 3. Public Benefit Option: $250,000 non-refundable contribution Investment routes: Sustainable Island State Contribution, real estate, Public Benefit Option	1. NEF minimum donation: $100,000 (single applicant) / $150,000 (family of four) 2. Real Estate investment: $200,000 minimum Investment routes: National Economic Fund, real estate, enterprise, government bonds
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, dependent children under 25,and parents aged 65 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 language or residency requirement	No language or residency requirement

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St Kitts Citizenship

Launched in 1984, St Kitts and Nevis has the longest running Citizenship by Investment program in the world. This solid track record is one of the many positive point of this program. The country’s CBI program has a thorough due diligence process and is respected across the globe.

In order to qualify for economic citizenship, the investor can choose one of three investment routes:

1 – A donation to the Sustainable Island State Contribution (SISC) which has replaced the Sustainable Growth Fund. The minimum investment amounts are as follows:

Single applicant: $250,000
Main applicant + spouse: $300,000
Family of four: $350,000
Additional dependents under 18: $50,000 each
Additional dependents aged 18 or over: $75,000 each

The Accelerated Application Process (AAP) is no longer available.

2 – The purchase of pre-approved real estate:

An approved real estate development worth at least $400,000
A condominium unit worth at least $400,000
A single-family private dwelling worth at least $800,000

This option includes application fees:

Main applicant: $25,000
Spouse: $15,000
Additional dependents under 18: $10,000 each
Additional dependents aged 18 or over: $15,000 each

3 – A donation to a Public Benefit Project:

Minimum contribution: $250,000

This option includes application fees:

Main applicant: $25,000
Spouse: $15,000
Additional dependents under 18: $10,000 each
Additional dependents aged 18 or over: $15,000 each

Check our St Kitts Citizenship Ultimate Guide by Experts

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St Lucia Citizenship

Since 2015, the country has had its very own St Lucia Citizenship by Investment Program, which allows investors and their families to be granted citizenship in exchange for a qualifying investment of at least $100,000. In just three months, you can obtain a St Lucia passport which allows visa-free access to more than 140 countries, including the European Union, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Singapore, and more.

The program is a great opportunity for those who are looking for diversification of assets, with four different investment routes available:

Donation to the National Economic Fund of at least $100,000 (single applicant) or $150,000 (main applicant plus three family members). It’s possible to add family members for $15,000 or $25,000 each.
Investment in pre-approved real estate projects, worth a minimum of $200,000
Investment in non-interest bearing Government Bonds of at least $300,000, held for five years
Investment in an Enterprise Project. Minimum investment of $3.5 million for a sole investor, or $1 million in a joint venture worth at least $6 million in total

Famous for its impressive Piton mountains, lush rainforest, and first-class white sandy beaches, this mesmerizing island has always been a favorite among tourists. To attract foreigners, the country has built many new infrastructures such as an international airport, hospitals, top accommodations, and marinas, which eventually led to the development of a flourishing real estate market. Due to its unique combination between luxury and tranquility, the island has attracted many retirees and expat families seeking to relocate to its shores.

Which Program to Pick

So, you’ve checked our St Lucia vs St Kitts comparison, and you can see both programs are strong contenders. Both Caribbean countries offer powerful passports and tax-friendly policies, with no income tax on worldwide income or capital gains, among other tax breaks. You can obtain Caribbean citizenship for life for you and your family members in exchange for a qualifying investment. Both countries welcome dual citizenship. To apply for Caribbean citizenship, you must be over 18, have no criminal record, and participate in a virtual mandatory interview. Which second citizenship to pick depends on your priority.

If your plan is to use your second passport for travel, the St Kitts passport is better ranked in the Global Passport Index, in the 55th position. It gives visa-free access to Russia, which St Lucia’s passport doesn’t.

However, St Lucia is the best option for investors looking for asset diversification, as it offers more investment options.

St Lucia is also the most affordable, with the minimum donation for a single person at $100,000 and a family of four at $150,000, compared to St Kitts, which requires a minimum donation of $250,000 for a single applicant. Additionally, if you are interested in buying real estate, St Lucia’s starting price of $200,000 wins against St Kitts’ $400,000. So, in short:

St Kitts is better for:

Global mobility
Fast and efficient application process

St Lucia is better for:

More affordable (minimum investment $100,000)
Diverse investment options
Fast and efficient application process

If you are in search of more in-depth knowledge or for a citizenship plan that is tailor-made for you and your family, don’t hesitate to get in contact with us at Global Citizenship Solutions. We have a team of experts on Caribbean Citizenship by Investment programs and also worldwide.

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 five Caribbean CBI programs.
100 percent 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?

Yes, thanks to the country’s Citizenship by Investment program, you can acquire this Caribbean citizenship in exchange for a contribution to the development of Saint Lucia. The minimum investment is $100,000 and citizenship can be extended to your family. All applications to the CBI program are processed by the Citizenship by Investment Unit.

Can I acquire St Kitts citizenship?

Yes. With a minimum investment of $250,000 in the country, you can acquire citizenship via St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Program. You can help finance government projects or purchase real estate that can be resold after seven years. All applications to the CBI program are processed by the Citizenship by Investment Unit.

Check out our article: St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship Cost – Your Guide.

Which Caribbean island is best for citizenship?

There are five Caribbean countries that offer Citizenship by investment programs: Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Lucia and St Kitts and Nevis. They all have excellent advantages, such as global mobility and flexible requirements, as well as accepting dual citizenship. The best Caribbean country depends on the specific needs of each investor, such as: inclusion of family members, how quickly you can obtain citizenship, investment options. In other words: the best Caribbean citizenship is the one that’s right for you and your family.

If you need more information, check our Caribbean Programs Comparison Table.

St Lucia or St Kitts citizenship: which one to pick?

The citizenship by investment program to choose depends on you and your family’s priorities. Both passports allow visa-free travel to over 140 countries, but St Kitts ranks higher in the Global Passport Index. Saint Lucia, on the other hand, has more investment options (NEF non-refundable contribution, real estate purchase or government bonds) and a lower minimum investment amount, starting at $100,000.

How many Caribbean countries offer citizenship programs?

There are five Caribbean citizenship programs, or passport programs, as they are also known: Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Lucia, and St Kitts and Nevis. They are open to foreign investors who are willing to make a real estate investment, or a government donation in exchange for a second citizenship. The program costs start at $100,000 (for a single principal applicant) in most countries, and also involve other fees such as application fees, and due diligence fees. A Caribbean passport is an important asset for global citizens.