St Lucia vs Dominica Citizenship 2024: Comparison Guide

Are you currently considering acquiring Caribbean citizenship by investment? With the high-quality St Lucia and Dominica citizenship by investment programs available, deciding which program to pick can be challenging. That’s why we’ve written this informative St Lucia vs Dominica citizenship guide, highlighting the differences between two of the two Caribbean countries offering citizenship by investment (CBI) programs.

Benefits of Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Programs

For a minimum investment of $100,000, obtain a Caribbean passport

Entire family is eligible to obtain citizenship

No residency or in-person interview requirements

Tax advantages, including no wealth or capital gains tax

Fast application process and time to citizenship

St Lucia vs Dominica Citizenship: At a Glance

Program Characteristics	St Lucia Citizenship by Investment	Dominica Citizenship by Investment
Application Time	10 to 12 months	6 to 9 months
Passport Global Ranking	75th. Visa-free travel to EU Schengen States, the UK, Hong Kong, and Singapore, amongst others.	78th. Visa-free travel to EU Schengen States, Hong Kong, Singapore, Russia, and China, amongst others.
Qualifying Investment	NEF minimum donation: $240,000 (single applicant) / $240,000 (family of four) Real Estate: $300,000 minimum investment Investment routes: National Economic Fund, real estate, enterprise, government bonds	EDF minimum donation: $200,000 (single applicant) / $250,000 (family of four) Real Estate: $200,000 minimum investment Investment routes: Economic Diversification Fund, real estate
Taxes	No tax on capital, wealth and inheritance tax	No wealth, gift, inheritance or capital gains tax
Residence Rule	No stay requirements	No stay requirements
Family Eligibility	Inclusion of spouse, children, siblings under 18 and parents and grandparents over 55	Inclusion of spouse, children, and parents and grandparents over 65
Application Requirements	No residence or visitation requirements. Plus no interview, education, or managerial experience necessary	No residence requirements. Plus no managerial experience necessary

Who can apply for Caribbean passports?

For obtaining citizenship and a Dominica or St Lucia passport, a single applicant must fulfill the following requirements:

Be over 18 years old
Be able to demonstrate an outstanding character
Be in excellent health
Have a clean criminal record
Make a qualifying investment
Pass a detailed background check

Saint Lucia Citizenship

Famous for its impressive Piton mountains – Gros Piton and Petit Piton – lush rainforest, and first-class white sandy beaches, this mesmerizing island has always been a tourists’ favorite. The island’s area spans 616 square kilometers, and its highest peak, Mount Gimie, is 950 meters.

The island is well-known for its great variety of birdlife, which includes the Saint Lucian Parrot and over 150 other bird species. To attract foreigners to this fantastic island, 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 of luxury and tranquility, the island has attracted many retirees and expat families seeking to relocate to its shores.

Since 2015, the country has run 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 $240,000. With four different investment routes available, the program is one of the most popular Citizenship by Investment schemes in the Caribbean.

In just 10 to 12 months, you can obtain a St Lucia passport, which allows visa free access to more than 140 countries, including Europe’s Schengen zone, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Singapore, and more.

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 the best country for Citizenship by Investment by the CBI Index – the most prestigious study of CBI programs in the world.

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 $200,000. 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 families the opportunity to obtain a Dominica passport in 6 to 9 months, with visa free travel to over 140 countries, along with attractive tax benefits.

In July 2023, Dominica introduced new legislation requiring all applicants aged 16 and over to attend a mandatory interview. These interviews can be attended in person in the Commonwealth of Dominic, or they can be scheduled online.

Calculate the cost of citizenship for you and your family, including all associated fees.

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Which program to pick?

There are five Caribbean islands that each offer a citizenship program – Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, and St Lucia. When it comes to Dominica vs St Lucia, both countries offer fantastic benefits to their citizens. Both of these islands use the Eastern Caribbean dollar, and provide access to over 140 visa free countries, laidback lifestyles, and breathtaking natural landscapes.

When it comes down to deciding which country is the best option for you, it really comes down to your individual circumstances and the needs that you want the CBI program to meet.

Both Caribbean citizenship by investment programs provide optimal benefits for investors and their families seeking dual citizenship, so which one do you pick as a way to get your second passport? Overall, it is important to note that both Caribbean countries share some very strong points, including the inclusion of family members in the application, and no residency rules.

St Lucia and Dominica citizenship benefits include a minimum investment requirement of $200,000 or $240,000. While acquiring citizenship in Dominica is slightly cheaper for a sole applicant, the St Lucia citizenship by investment program offers a cheaper route for a family of four.

Concerning the investment options to obtain a Dominica vs St Lucia passport, St Lucia is the clear winner, with four investment options in St Lucia’s program versus two in Dominica. One of the strongest points of the Saint Lucia Citizenship by Investment of all five Caribbean countries offering CBI is the number of investment routes it offers — a donation to the NEF, St Lucia real estate investment, enterprise investment, 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.

The time to citizenship in St Lucia vs Dominica is relatively similar. Dominica’s process is slightly faster, taking 6 to 9 months compared to 10 to 12 months in St Lucia.

Both Caribbean citizenship programs require applicants to participate in mandatory citizenship interview as part of their due diligence processes. In terms of tax benefits, both St Lucia and Dominica are tax-friendly, imposing no foreign income, inheritance, capital gains, or wealth tax.

Taxes	St Lucia	Dominica
Income tax	0 to 30 percent (excl. global income)	15 to 35 percent (incl. global income)
Property tax and fees	2 percent (buyer) 2.5 to 5 percent (seller)	10.5 percent incl. fees (buyer) 2.5 percent (seller)
Social contributions	5 percent	6 percent
Taxes on dividends, interest, royalties	No tax on dividends 10 percent on interest and royalties	No taxes

The St Lucia passport ranks 75th in terms of passport power compared to 78th for the Dominica passport, meaning St Lucia passport holders receive slightly more visa free travel than Dominica passport holders.

St Lucia is 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 affordable Citizenship by Investment. Elected the best country for Citizenship By Investment, Dominica is praised for the affordability and quality of its citizenship.

Although it has a lower position on the passport ranking, Dominica passport holders have visa free access to Russia and China, countries that are not visa free with a St Lucia passport. However, St Lucia passport holders can enter European Union countries and the UK without a visa, which is not available for Dominica citizens.

In conclusion, your decision will have to be based on the type of country profile you favor. If it’s a low-key and untouched island that you’re in search of, you should go for Dominica. If you’re attracted by luxury and a booming tourist industry, then St Lucia is the right choice.

In addition, the St Lucia citizenship program will give you access to more visa free destinations in comparison, while Dominica offers access to Russia and China. If you’re keen to invest in real estate, both citizenship programs offer an affordable investment opportunity. However, St Lucia has the addition of government bonds, providing more variety. While the cost of these CBI programs varies, St Lucia is ultimately more affordable for large families.

Why use Global Citizen Solutions?

Global Citizen Solutions is a multidisciplinary firm offering bespoke residence and citizenship solutions in Europe and the Caribbean. In a world where the economy and politics are unpredictable, having a second citizenship opens up opportunities and creates flexibility for you and your family.

So, why work with Global Citizen Solutions to obtain Caribbean citizenship?

Global approach by local experts: We are corporate members of the Investment Migration Council, with local expertise in all five Caribbean CBI programs.
100 percent 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.

Don’t forget to check our other Caribbean comparison articles:

Frequently Asked Questions St Lucia vs Dominica citizenship

Can I acquire St Lucia citizenship?

Thanks to the St Lucia Citizenship by Investment, investors and their families can acquire citizenship in 10 to 12 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 investment, and government bonds. All applications are processed by the St Lucia Citizenship by Investment Unit.

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 6 to 9 months. The qualifying investment has to amount to at least $200,000, and the available investment routes are the Economic Diversification Fund and real estate. All applications are processed by the Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment Unit.

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. Dominica allows donations and real estate investments, while St Lucia has the added government bonds option. Costs vary, but St Lucia tends to be more affordable for larger families.

What is the validity of the passport received through St Lucia's and Dominica's citizenship by investment programs?

The St Lucia passport must be renewed after five years initially and then every ten years following this. Dominica passports are generally valid for up to ten years.

Do I need to visit St Lucia or Dominica during the application process for citizenship?

A great benefit of both the Dominica and St Lucia CBI application processes is that they can be completed remotely. Even though Dominica requires its main applicants to partake in a mandatory interview, this is conducted virtually by default. In addition to this, neither country has any residency requirements to maintain citizenship once granted.

Can my family members also apply for citizenship through the St Lucia and Dominica investment programs?

Both Dominica and St Lucia allow family members to be included in your CBI application. This additional dependent must meet the requirements of the country’s program. Dominica allows your spouse, children under 30, and parents and grandparents over 65 to be included. St Lucia allows the inclusion of your spouse, children under 30, parents and grandparents over 55, and siblings under 18.

Which is better, Dominica or St Lucia?

Both Dominica and St Lucia Dominica offer unparalleled natural beauty, abundant investment opportunities in eco-tourism, and laid-back lifestyles. In terms of citizenship, both Caribbean CBI programs are affordable, with a $240,000 or $200,000 minimum investment. St Lucia is better if your application includes family members and you and seek a broader range of investments, including enterprises and government bonds. Concerning passports, Dominica is better if you’re seeking the cheapest passport program as a single applicant.

You can enjoy enhanced global mobility with a Caribbean passport from either country. St Lucia citizens have visa free access to the EU, whereas Dominica citizens enjoy visa free travel to China and Russia.

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