Foreigners and Non-nationals who wish to hold, lease, hold or purchase land in Saint Lucia with an Alien Landholding License. The license can be appealing to property buyers who do not wish to acquire citizenship by investment in Saint Lucia.
An alien shall make an application to the Board for a certificate to be eligible to apply for an alien landholding license to purchase, acquire, lease land or continue to hold land in Saint Lucia. The certificate may be issued for the duration of one (1) year or ten (10) years.
Alien Landholding (Licensing) Act No. 1 of 2020
Alien Landholding (Licensing) Regulations No. 70 of 2020
An alien with a valid certificate or an attorney-at-law on behalf of an alien with a valid certificate may make an application to the Board for an alien landholding license to purchase, acquire, lease, subdivide land or continue to hold land in Saint Lucia.
An alien, except an alien granted an exemption under the former Act or under this Act, shall not purchase, acquire, lease or continue to hold land to used for any purpose in Saint Lucia without a valid license issued under the former Act or an alien landholding license.
Certificate of Eligibility (COE)
The first step is to apply for Certificate of Eligibility clears you to purchase or lease property in St. Lucia. If granted, this certificate valid for one or ten years, and an individual or entity can make one or several applications for an alien landholding licence during this period of validity.
Limitation
If the land exceeds one acre in size, is for a lease of more than two years, is not part of an approved development, and all other requirements are met, the board will seek the recommendation of the planning authorities prior to approval.
Property Investor Permit
Holders of alien landholding license are issued Investor entrance permit. The permit grants the alien the right to enter and remain in Saint Lucia indefinitely as per conditions set out within the Alien Landholding License An alien investor is eligible to make an application to the Chief Immigration Officer for an alien investor entrance permit for himself or herself or on behalf of his or her dependent.
Companies
Corporate Ownership: If a foreign entity (corporation) owns or wishes to own shares in St. Lucian land, they must also apply for eligibility within 30 days of the share disposition.
Hire a Lawyer
Most non-nationals hire a local attorney-at-law to represent them throughout the Board application process to ensure all statutory declarations and title searches are properly handled. Attorney may charge a fee.
Licensing Costs
The following are fee structure to obtain Alien landholding license in Saint Lucia.
Certificate of Eligibility Application Fee
| Period of Validity | Fee (USD) |
|---|---|
| One year | US$3,000 |
| Ten years | US$10,000 |
Alien Landholding Licence Fees
| Licence Type | Fee (USD) |
|---|---|
| To hold a subdivided lot | US$100 |
| To hold one acre or less | US$2,500 |
| To hold more than one acre and up to five acres | US$5,000 |
| To hold more than 5 acres and up to 10 acres | US$10,500 |
| To hold more than 10 acres | US$20,000 |
| To lease land | US$2,500 or 2% of the aggregate rental payable for the full lease term, whichever is higher |
| To hold land in trust | 5% of the value of the trust property |
| To amend an Alien Landholding Licence | US$100 |
Non-Development Fee
| Description | Fee (USD) |
|---|---|
| Per acre (or part thereof) for each year in default | US$3,000 |
Non-Operation Fee
| Description | Fee (USD) |
|---|---|
| Per month (or part thereof) in default | US$3,000 |
Alien Investor Entrance Permit Fee
| Description | Fee (USD) |
|---|---|
| Alien Investor Entrance Permit (for each dependant) | US$100 |