Guide to Residency

St. Lucia recognizes three types of residency: Citizenship, Permanent Residence, and the right to reside. Persons, other than citizens require a work permit in order to carry on an occupation in St. Lucia.

Citizenship

Citizenship of St. Lucia is granted to persons:

• Born in St. Lucia
• Born of St. Lucian parents (or parent) outside of St. Lucia;

  and may be granted to persons

• Married to a citizen of St. Lucia
• On application after a period of seven (7) years continuous residence in St. Lucia. This period may be reduced in special circumstances if approved by the Cabinet of Ministers. Such approval is rare and tends to be linked to outstanding community work.

Permanent Residence

Permanent Residence can be applied for after a period of five (5) years of continuous residence in St. Lucia. This period may be significantly reduced in certain circumstances, e.g. retirees purchasing property and taking up residence.

The advantage of having this status is that your passport is stamped with the permanent residence stamp, which obviates the application for residence permits every three months and the inconvenience of time consuming procedures at the port of entry after an overseas trip.

This status does not entitle the permanent resident to work in St. Lucia; a work permit is still required.

Residence

A person, who is not a citizen of St. Lucia, wishing to reside in St. Lucia can do so under the following conditions:

• Where that person comes to the island to work, a work permit  must be obtained prior to arrival. Once the work permit is granted, the Immigration Department will stamp the individual’s passport (after arrival). This stamp grants the right to reside in St. Lucia for the duration of the work permit.

  Dependants of the person with the work permit will also have a similar stamp placed in their passport except that this stamp will exclude the right to work.

• Persons desiring to purchase property in St. Lucia and to take up residence without working can also do so. The acquisition of property by a person other than a citizen requires special permission from the Minister of legal affairs. This permission should be granted after the identity and character of the applicant are ascertained.