Saint Lucia
Saint Lucia citizenship by investment
The Saint Lucia Citizenship by Investment Programme grants full citizenship to you and your family from a contribution of USD 240,000, with no need to move.
News · Caribbean
Five Caribbean states set up a joint regulator for citizenship by investment
On 23 September 2025 the heads of government of Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Lucia signed, in Castries, the capital of Saint Lucia, the agreement establishing the Eastern Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Regulatory Authority (ECCIRA). According to the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), the authority will oversee the entire operation of the five programmes.
Summary
In brief
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The agreement was signed in Castries on 23 September 2025; the participating states undertook to enact the national legislation establishing the authority by October 2025.
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ECCIRA will issue uniform standards, enforce compliance, keep regional registers of applicants, licensed agents and developers, and publish annual compliance reports.
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The five states adopted a uniform minimum investment threshold of USD 200,000 and make biometric data collection mandatory for every new applicant at interview, and for previously approved applicants at passport renewal.
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Dominica's parliament passed the act on 14 October 2025 and the parliament of Saint Kitts and Nevis on 17 October 2025; the act of Antigua and Barbuda was assented to on 6 November 2025.
Background
What happened
According to the OECS press release, the authority's purpose is to strengthen the integrity, transparency and sustainability of the citizenship-by-investment programmes. ECCIRA will enforce uniform standards and rigorous oversight, may impose administrative fines and may revoke the approval of developer projects that breach their contracts. Vetting is supported by the CARICOM IMPACS Joint Regional Communications Centre (JRCC), whose capacity is being expanded with programme revenues.
The agreement, published in full in Act No. 18 of 2025 of Antigua and Barbuda, establishes a body corporate. The board has 9 to 11 directors: one nominated by each participating state, one each by the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, the OECS and CARICOM IMPACS-JRCC, and one further director nominated by the directors themselves. The headquarters will be established in a participating state as agreed by the heads of government. The maximum administrative fine for false or misleading statements is USD 250,000.
According to the Office of the Prime Minister of Dominica, passing the act is "a major and important step" in strengthening the governance and integrity of the programme; the authority will regulate application processing, due diligence and compliance across the region. Terrance Drew, Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis, said the OECS states "really mean business" when it comes to regulating the programmes.
For you
What it means for you
- Saint Lucia is a party: the agreement covers Saint Lucia's programme too; application processing and due diligence will in future follow regional standards.
- Biometrics and interview: as a new applicant, expect biometric data collection at interview; for previously approved applicants it falls due at passport renewal.
- Uniform threshold: the regional minimum of USD 200,000 limits price competition between the programmes; when you request a quote, we will brief you on Saint Lucia's current investment options and fees.
- Transition: the start of the authority's operations depends on the entry into force of the national acts and the setting up of the board; the application process may change accordingly.
Programmes
Related programmes
Sources
Sources
Last checked:
- OECS press room: OECS sets standards for citizenship by investment programmes to safeguard their integrity and sustainability – 23 September 2025 (opens in a new tab)
- Office of the Prime Minister of Dominica: Dominica Parliament passes bill to establish Eastern Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Regulatory Authority – 14 October 2025 (opens in a new tab)
- Citizenship by Investment Unit of Saint Kitts and Nevis: St. Kitts and Nevis passes ECCIRA Bill 2025 – 17 October 2025 (opens in a new tab)
- Laws of Antigua and Barbuda: Act No. 18 of 2025, the Eastern Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Regulatory Authority Agreement Act – 6 November 2025 (opens in a new tab)