Are you currently considering acquiring Caribbean citizenship by investment? With several high-quality Investment programs available, deciding which program to pick can be difficult. That’s why we’ve written this informative guide highlighting the differences between St Lucia and Dominica citizenship by investment programs.
Benefits of St Lucia and Dominica Citizenship by Investment Programs
St Lucia vs Dominica Citizenship: At a Glance
| Program Characteristics | Dominica Citizenship by Investment | St Lucia Citizenship by Investment |
| Application Time | Three months | Three months |
| Passport Global Ranking | 78th. Visa-free travel to EU Schengen States, the UK, Hong Kong, Singapore, Russia and China, amongst others. | 75th. Visa-free travel to EU Schengen States, the UK, Hong Kong, Singapore, amongst others. |
| Qualifying Investment | EDF minimum donation: $100,000 (single applicant) / $175,000 (family of four) Real Estate: $200,000 minimum investment Investment routes: Economic Diversification Fund, real estate |
NEF minimum donation: $100,000 (single applicant) / $150,000(family of four) Real Estate: $200,000 minimum investment Investment routes: National Economic Fund, real estate, enterprise, government bonds |
| Taxes | No wealth, gift, inheritance or capital gains tax | No tax on capital, wealth and inheritance tax |
| Residence Rule | No stay requirements | No stay requirements |
| Family Eligibility | Inclusion of spouse, children, and parents and grandparents over 65 | Inclusion of spouse, children, siblings under 18 and parents and grandparents over 55 |
| Application Requirements | No residence requirements. Plus no managerial experience or interview necessary | No residence or visitation requirements. Plus no interview, education or managerial experience necessary |
Saint Lucia Citizenship
Famous for its impressive Piton mountains, lush rainforest, and first-class white sandy beaches, this mesmerizing island has always been a tourists’ favorite. 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.
Since 2015, the country has its very own St Lucia Citizenship by Investment Program, which grants citizenship to investors and their families in exchange for a qualifying investment of at least $100,000. With four different investment routes available, the program is one of the most popular Citizenship by Investment schemes in the Caribbean. In just three months, you can 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.
Take a look at our St Lucia Citizenship Ultimate Guide by local experts
Dominica Citizenship
The low-key but nonetheless stunning Dominica has seen its popularity rise in the last years. Praised for its tranquility and idyllic settings, the island is a terrain to explore for adventure seekers and nature lovers. It’s also a great place to elect if you are looking to acquire a second passport. For the fourth time in a row, Dominica has been elected best country for Citizenship by Investment.
Designed to attract foreign investments, the Dominica Citizenship by Investment program offers citizenship to investors and their families in exchange for a minimum investment of $100,000. With two investment routes available, it has particularly affordable real estate investment options of $200,000. Fast, affordable, and reliable, the program gives investors and their entire family the opportunity to obtain a Dominica passport in three months, with visa-free travel to over 140 countries, along with attractive tax benefits.
Take a look at our Dominica Citizenship Ultimate Guide by local experts
Which Program to Pick?
Both Caribbean citizenship by investment programs provide optimal benefits for investors and their families seeking a dual citizenship, so which one to pick as a way to your second passport? Overall it is important to note that both Caribbean countries share some very strong points such as a minimum investment requirement of $100,000, a short application time, attractive tax benefits, no residence rules nor application requirements, and the inclusion of all family members in the application.
However, both programs differ on important aspects which prove to be crucial when making a choice.
One of the strongest points of the Saint Lucia Citizenship by Investment is the number of investment routes it offers — a donation to the NEF, real estate investment, enterprises, and government bonds. So if you are looking to broaden your investment portfolio while acquiring a second passport, St Lucia is the best option. On top of that, due to its highly touristic profile, you’ll be able to live a luxury lifestyle and take part in the booming tourist economy. Finally, its passport ranks 75th in terms of passport power (in comparison with 78th for Dominica), which means that you’ll get visa-free access to more countries. Also, even though the minimum investment for a single applicant choosing the donation route, the minimum amount for a family of four is $150,000 in St Lucia, compared to $175,000 in Dominica. And St Lucia is slightly more inclusive with regards to family members, accepting parents and grandparents over 55 (compared to 65 in Dominica) and siblings under 18 – which may make a difference depending on your specific situation.
Dominica on the other hand is the epitome of peace and tranquility. Barely touched by tourism, the island is a great place to pick if you’re looking for an affordable Citizenship by Investment. Elected best country for Citizenship By Investment, Dominica is praised for the affordability and quality of its citizenship. And although it has a lower position on the passport ranking, the Dominica passport gives access to Russia and China, countries that are not visa-free to Sta Lucia passport holders. However, since St Lucia reduced its minimum investment threshold for real estate, in 2023, both programs became equally affordable in this point, with a $200,000 property investment as minimum. Therefore, if you’re looking to acquire a second passport by investing in affordable real estate, Dominica is a great choice to make.
In conclusion, your decision will have to be based on what type of country profile you are favoring. If it’s a low-key and untouched island you should go for Dominica. If you’re rather attracted by luxury and a booming tourist industry then St Lucia is the right choice. In addition, St Lucia citizenship will give you access to more visa-free destinations in comparison, but Dominica offers Russia and China. However, if you’re keen to invest in real estate, Dominica offers the cheapest investment opportunity.
With both Citizenship by Investment programs being excellent, making a decision can be hard. This is why we recommend getting in touch to receive personalized advice on how to choose best.
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:
- Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Comparison Guide
- St Kitts and Nevis vs Dominica Passport
- Grenada vs St Kitts Citizenship
- Grenada vs St Lucia Citizenship
- St Kitts vs St Lucia Citizenship
- Grenada vs Dominica Citizenship
- Antigua vs St Lucia Citizenship
- Antigua vs St Kitts Citizenship
- Antigua vs Dominica Citizenship
- Antigua vs Grenada Citizenship
FAQs:
Can I acquire St Lucia citizenship?
Thanks to the St Lucia Citizenship by Investment investors and their families can acquire citizenship in three months in exchange for a minimum investment of $100,000. The program offers four different investment routes to its applicants: a donation to the NEF, real estate investment, enterprise, and government bonds.
Can I acquire Dominica citizenship?
Thanks to this Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Program, investors and their families are able to receive a second citizenship in just three months. The qualifying investment has to amount to at least $100,000, and the available investment routes are the Economic Diversification Fund and real estate.
St Lucia or Dominica citizenship: which one to pick?
Both Caribbean citizenship by investment programs have excellent benefits. Citizenship of St Lucia will give you more visa-free travel access, while citizenship of Dominica is more affordable overall. Both countries, as you can imagine, accept dual citizenship.
