The Saint Lucian nationality is acquired through birth, investment, registration, or naturalisation and is governed by Citizenship of Saint Lucia Nationality act and subsequent amendments.
By Birth
- Persons who are born within the territory, except if the parent has diplomatic immunity or is a national of a country at war with Saint Lucia;
- Persons who are born abroad to at least one parent who was born in Saint Lucia; or
- Persons born upon aircraft or ships registered in Saint Lucia or unregistered aircraft or ships belonging to the government.
By Registration
Nationality by registration includes those who have familial or historic relationship affiliations with Saint Lucia. It also includes a scheme to acquire nationality through investment. Persons who acquire nationality by registration include:
By Investment
Saint Lucia runs currently a program in for persons to acquire nationality through investment in the country starting from USD 240,000. Three investment options provided” National economic donation, Real estate, government bonds and business enterprise investment.
By Affiliation
- The spouse of a national of Saint Lucia;
- Commonwealth citizens who are ordinary residents of Saint Lucia who have resided in the territory for seven years;
- Minor persons who were born to a Saint Lucian parent who would have acquired such nationality had their parent not died prior to independence;
- Minors under age twenty-one who are legally adopted by a national; or
- Any minor, at the discretion of the Minister.
By Naturalisation
Ordinary naturalisation in Saint Lucia can be obtained by non-Commonwealth adult persons of legal capacity, who in the 12 months prior to submitting an application resided in the territory, are of good character, and intend to be a resident of Saint Lucia. Applicants petition the Minister responsible for immigration, who considers whether the applicant has adequate knowledge of the English language; and has resided within the territory, worked for the government, or has combined residency and government service for seven years.Upon approval, applicants must take an Oath of Allegiance and, unless they are a citizen of the Republic of Ireland, renounce their citizenship of origin
Loss of Nationality
Nationals may voluntarily renounce their affiliation with Saint Lucia, if the declarant is a legal adult and of full capacity. Renunciation may not be accepted if Saint Lucia is in a war with the proposed new source of nationality.
Denaturalisation
Denaturalisation may occur if a person obtained nationality through fraud, false representation, or concealment; if they have committed acts of treason; if they have committed acts of disloyalty or service to a foreign government; or in the case of nationality by investment for dependents if the application was fraudulent\
Amendment to Citizenship Act for Diaspora Population
Government lawmakers, on June 26, 2024, voted in Parliament to amend the Citizenship of Saint Lucia Act to pave the way for descendants of Saint Lucian parentage to become naturalized Saint Lucian citizens. Tens of thousands of Saint Lucian descendants living in diaspora communities around the world will benefit from the amended Citizenship of Saint Lucia Act.
A person born outside Saint Lucia becomes a citizen at the date of his or her birth if, at that date, his or her father, mother, grandfather or grandmother is a citizen by birth. That means the children and grandchildren of Saint Lucians who migrated and started families in foreign countries now have the opportunity to inherit their birthright – Saint Lucian citizenship.
The historic amendment to the Citizenship of Saint Lucia Act will make Saint Lucian descendants born overseas eligible to represent our country nationally and create new avenues for second and third-generation Saint Lucians to contribute to the development of Saint Lucia.
