When comparing St Lucia vs Dominica citizenship, there are several differences to consider, including minimum contributions, eligibility criteria, and citizenship benefits. In this guide, we’ll compare all the essential details of St Lucia vs Dominica citizenship through insights into the following:
St Lucia and Dominica Citizenship by Investment Program Benefits
Fast application process
Minimum investment starts from $200,000
Multiple investment options
Family eligibility
No residency requirements
Favorable tax environment
Visa free travel to over 140 countries
Dual citizenship
Why do investors consider a St Lucia or Dominica passport?
Many foreign investors experience geopolitical complexities, making it challenging to access developed economies. Whether for investment or vacations, a St Lucia or Dominica second passport opens up visa free travel opportunities for their holders.
St Lucia and Dominica have reported a growing demand for foreign nationals seeking Caribbean passports, which allow them to travel to destinations like China, the Schengen Area, and the UK without visas.
aSt Lucia and Dominica offer citizenship by investment programs for foreign investors who want to obtain a second passport. In addition to second passports, investors can capitalize on financially beneficial qualifying investments such as purchasing real estate.
St Lucia vs Dominica Citizenship: The Main Points
Comparing the St Lucia vs Dominica passport, St Lucia citizenship allows more visa free travel access, while Dominica citizenship is more affordable overall for a single applicant. As you can see, both Caribbean nations offering citizenship programs provide straightforward ways for you to obtain Caribbean citizenship, including the option to make real estate investments or financial contributions to acquire second citizenship. Both countries use the Eastern Caribbean dollar as their official currency. So, let’s compare some key factors for a detailed comparison of St Lucia and Dominica citizenship programs.
St Lucia Citizenship by Investment | Dominica Citizenship by Investment | |
Application Time | 10 to 12 months | 6 to 9 months |
Passport global Ranking | 70th. Visa free travel to the Schengen Zone, Hong Kong, Singapore, the UK, and more. | 76th. Visa free travel to the Schengen Zone, China, Hong Kong, Russia, Singapore, the UK, and more. |
Qualifying Investment | NEF: minimum donation of $240,000 (single applicant) / $240,000 (family of four) Real estate: $300,000 minimum investment Government bonds: $300,000 minimum investment Enterprise investment: $250,000 (joint $6 million investment) / $3.5 million (solo investor) | EDF: minimum donation of $200,000 (single applicant) / $250,000 (family of four) Real estate: $200,000 minimum investment |
Taxes | No tax on foreign income, capital gains, wealth, or inheritance | No tax on foreign income, capital gains, wealth, or inheritance |
Residence Requirements | No stay requirement | No stay requirement |
Family Inclusion | 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 visitation, education, test, or managerial experience requirements | No visitation, test, education, or managerial experience requirements |
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St Lucia Citizenship
St Lucia is an idyllic island nation known for its picturesque natural beauty, vibrant culture, lush rainforests, pristine beaches, and iconic volcanic landscapes. The island’s rich history means it is a melting pot of cultural influences today, including elements of the English, French, and Dutch. St Lucia boasts ancient archaeological sites, historical ruins, Pigeon Island – a national park, the Diamond Falls Botanical Gardens, and much more.
In addition to these wonderful offerings, visitors are also attracted by St Lucia’s unique mix of luxury and tranquility. The island’s flourishing real estate market has been continually boosted by the development of infrastructure, including hospitals, marinas, an international airport, and top accommodations.
In 2015, the government established the St Lucia Citizenship by Investment Program to further promote economic investment in the country. With a variety of investment routes and affordable contribution amounts, the program has continued to be a popular option for individuals and families looking to secure their future with a second passport.
Investment options
The St Lucia Citizenship by Investment Program offers four investment routes:
- A minimum contribution of $240,000 to the National Economic Fund (NEF) as a single applicant or a family of up to four
- Investment of at least $300,000 in pre-approved St Lucia real estate projects
- Investment of at least $300,000 in non-interest-bearing Government Bonds
- An enterprise investment of at least $3.5 million as a solo investor or $250,000 as part of a joint $6 million venture
Regarding the donation route, applicants will also need to pay government fees, due diligence fees, processing fees, remote interview fees and passport fees. An accurate cost comparison of St Lucia and Dominica citizenship by investment will depend on the investment route and the number of dependents included in your application.
St Lucia citizenship benefits
Becoming a citizen of St Lucia comes with several advantages, such as being able to benefit from a favorable tax environment. Concerning the tax advantages of St Lucia vs Dominica citizenship, both countries impose no worldwide income tax, wealth, or inheritance tax; however, St Lucia has a lower overall tax rate of 30 percent for eligible tax residents. A comparison of St Lucia and Dominica citizenship for families presents a more affordable citizenship cost for a family of four, with St Lucia’s non-refundable contribution requirement of $240,000 vs $250,000 in Dominica.
The nation has invested much in developing its infrastructure and improving its airports, hospitals, accommodations, and marinas, all of which have continued to attract tourists and investors. Another attraction is the cost of living, which is relatively low compared to places like the UK and the US.
St Lucia passport
St Lucia passport holders benefit from enhanced global mobility thanks to visa free access to more than 140 countries across the globe. The passport is ranked 70th on our Global Passport Index based on enhanced mobility, quality of life, and economic investment. A St Lucia passport is valid for five years following the granting of citizenship. After it is renewed, the passport is valid for ten years.
Take a look at our St Lucia Citizenship Ultimate Guide by local experts
Dominica Citizenship
Dominica, officially the Commonwealth of Dominica, is an enchanting island in the Caribbean that is not to be confused with the Dominican Republic. This gem, located in the eastern Caribbean Sea, is neighbored by the islands of Guadeloupe, Marie-Galante, and Martinique. Widely known as the “Nature Island of the Caribbean”, Dominica is a welcome retreat for nature enthusiasts and adventure seekers.
As you can imagine, Dominica’s commitment to preserving its pristine natural environment is what sets it apart. The island boasts several protected areas, including the Morne Trois Pitons National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where you can find the Boiling Lake, one of the world’s largest hot springs. The island’s volcanic origins also give rise to unique black sand beaches and geothermal wonders. Beyond its natural wonders, Dominica offers a warm and vibrant culture influenced by African, indigenous Kalinago, and European traditions. The welcoming locals, known as “Dominicans,” celebrate their heritage through music, dance, and festivals, making visitors feel right at home.
Another attractive aspect of the island is the Dominica Citizenship by Investment Program. Since its establishment in 1993, the program has been ranked the best country for citizenship by investment for four years in a row by the CBI Index – a practical and reliable comparison tool for CBI programs published by the Professional Wealth Management magazine of the Financial Times.
Investment options
Under Dominica’s economic citizenship program, you can choose from the following investment routes:
- Non-refundable contribution of at least $200,000 to the Economic Diversification Fund
- Minimum investment of $200,000 in a pre-approved real estate development
In addition to the required qualifying investment, applicants will also need to pay government fees, due diligence fees, application fees, passport fees, and a fee for the Oath of Allegiance, remote interview fee. The overall cost of your application will depend on the number of dependents included in your application.
Dominica citizenship benefits
There are many benefits of Dominica’s program when comparing St Lucia citizenship by investment vs Dominica in regard to tax, healthcare, education, and cost of living. The country boasts a favorable tax regime where, if you choose not to live there, you can benefit from no income tax on global income, no wealth tax, and no inheritance tax. In terms of healthcare, inhabitants can access hospitals, healthcare clinics, and a variety of medical services on the island.
Over the years, Dominica’s economy has become increasingly driven by the tourism industry, agriculture, and the financial sector, and investors will encounter a variety of investment opportunities through which they can both diversify their asset portfolios and directly benefit the country. The cost of living in Dominica is relatively affordable in comparison to other Caribbean countries, the UK, and the US. Housing and transportation are generally affordable, but imported goods tend to cost a bit more due to the process of getting them to the island.
Dominica passport
The Dominica passport ranks 76th on our Global Passport Index, which – as mentioned above – considers factors such as enhanced mobility, quality of life, and economic investment. Dominica passport holders enjoy visa free travel to over 140 countries, including the Schengen Area, China, Hong Kong, Russia, and Singapore. Dominica second passports are valid for up to ten years once it is issued, but for children under 16, the passport is valid for five years.
Main Conditions of the St Lucia and Dominica CBI
The primary conditions that investors must meet to be eligible for both St Lucia and Dominica citizenship by investment include the following:
- Be over 18
- Have an outstanding character
- Be in good health
- Hold a clean criminal record
- Pass a detailed background check
- Make the necessary investment
Restricted nationalities
Three nationalities are prohibited from applying for St Lucia’s citizenship program, and seven nationalities are prohibited from participating in Dominica’s.
St Lucia: Belarus, Iran, and Russia
Dominica: Belarus, Northern Iraq, North Korea, Sudan, Russia, and Yemen
Take a look at our Dominica Citizenship Ultimate Guide by local experts
Which program is right for you?
Tax benefits
For financial benefits, including the tax advantages of St Lucia versus Dominica citizenship, both countries offer favorable tax environments for individuals and companies, including no capital gains tax, wealth tax, or inheritance tax.
Visa free travel
St Lucia's passport has some notable benefits when comparing St Lucia vs Dominica passport strength. Both countries offer visa free travel and visa on arrival access to over 140 countries across the globe, including the Schengen Area, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Russia. However, the Dominica vs St Lucia passport comparison shows that St Lucia citizens benefit from comprehensive visa free entry to EU countries and the UK, while on the contrary, Dominica citizens enjoy visa free access to China.
Country | St Lucia Passport Holders | Dominica Passport Holders |
Schengen Countries | Visa free | Visa free |
OECS Countries | Passport free | Passport free |
China | Visa required | Visa free |
United Kingdom | Visa free | Visa required |
Hong Kong | Visa free | Visa free |
Ireland | Visa free | Visa required |
South Korea | eTA | eTA |
Taiwan | Visa free | Visa required |
Thailand | Visa required | E-visa |
Passport validity
When comparing St Luca vs Dominica passport validity, all St Lucia passports require renewal every five years. In contrast, Dominican second passports are valid for five years for children under 16 and ten years for citizens 16 and over.
St Lucia vs Dominica passport renewal
St Lucia and Dominica offer straightforward passport renewal processes. Both countries allow adult citizens to reside outside the country permanently and qualify for passport renewal; however, this is required every five years in St Lucia compared to every ten years in Dominica. Both passports can be renewed in the country or at an Embassy, Consulate, or High Commission overseas.
Investment routes
Saint Lucia offers more investment options than Dominica, which is beneficial to those looking to diversify their investment portfolios. The only options to obtain dual citizenship by investment in Dominica are a contribution to the country's government fund and a real estate investment. In contrast, the benefits of St Lucia vs Dominica investment options is that there are four investment paths in St Lucia–a real estate investment, contribution to the state fund, government bonds acquisition, and establishing an enterprise.
Citizenship cost
While St Lucia vs Dominica citizenship benefits highlight more investment opportunities for applicants of St Lucia's second citizenship program, Dominica citizenship benefits include a more affordable program for single applicants when conducting a cost comparison for St Lucia vs Dominica citizenship. The minimum donation in Dominica is $200,000, whereas the St Lucia CBI program requires a contribution of $240,000 for its donation option. On the flip side, in terms of cost, one of the differences between St Lucia vs Dominica citizenship programs is the cost of family applications. While Dominica offers a cheaper route for single applicants, St Lucia's minimum donation of $240,000 qualifies up to four family members to obtain citizenship and second passports. In contrast, Dominica increases the investment requirement to $200,000 for a family of four.
Flexible requirements
Investment requirements for citizenship start at $200,000 in Dominica and $240,000 in St Lucia. The application process for both programs can be completed online, and citizenship is lifelong once granted. Neither country has residency requirements to maintain citizenship. The St Lucia vs Dominica citizenship requirements for real estate investments are relatively similar, with both imposing a minimum hold period of five years.
Citizenship processing times
Regarding the benefits of St Lucia citizenship vs Dominica citizenship, both citizenship by investment programs offer fast processing times but with a small variation between the two programs. A comparison of St Lucia vs Dominica citizenship processing time reveals that the St Lucia citizenship program timeline is 10 to 12 months compared to Dominica's citizenship program's slightly faster timeline of 6 to 9 months.
Family inclusion
St Lucia’s program is slightly more inclusive when it comes to family members:
St Lucia family eligibility
- Spouse
- Children of the main applicant or spouse under 21; between 21 and 30 and fully supported by the main applicant or spouse; 21 or over and mentally/physically challenged
- Parents and grandparents of the main applicant or spouse aged 55 and above
- Siblings of the main applicant or spouse who are unmarried, without children, aged 18 or younger, and have received consent from their parent or guardian to apply for citizenship by investment
Dominica family eligibility
- Spouse
- Children of the main applicant or spouse younger than 18 years old
- Children between the ages of 21 and 30 who attend an institution of higher learning and are supported by the main applicant or spouse
- Unmarried daughters younger than 25 who are supported by and living with the main applicant or spouse
- Dependent children who are mentally/physically challenged and supported by the main applicant or spouse
- Dependent parents and/or grandparents of the main applicant or spouse who are older than 65
Taxes
When analyzing St Lucia vs Dominica for tax benefits, both countries offer favorable taxes to attract foreign investment. The benefits that citizens enjoy include no worldwide income tax, wealth tax, capital gains tax, or inheritance tax.
St Lucia | Dominica | |
Income Tax | 0 to 30 percent | 0 to 35 percent |
Capital Gains, Inheritance, Wealth Tax | Not levied | Not levied |
Property Tax | 0.25 to 0.4 percent | Not levied, except in Roseau and Canefield at 1.27 percent |
Stamp Duty (Buyer) | 2 percent | 4 percent |
Stamp Duty (Seller) | 2.5 to 5 percent | 2.5 percent |
Sales Tas | 12.5 percent | 15 percent |
Pros and cons of St Lucia vs Dominica citizenship
St Lucia
Strong points
- Lower qualifying investment for family applications
- More visa free and visa on arrival countries, at 148 versus 135 for Dominica
- Business investment option
Weak points
- No visa free access to China
- More expensive for single applicants
Dominica
Strong points
- Much cheaper for single applicants at $200,000
- One of the cheapest CBI programs for real estate investment
- Higher age threshold for parents and grandparents at 65 versus 55 in St Lucia
Weak points
- More expensive for families
- Only qualifying investment options, with no enterprise option
- Recent criticism has reduced visa privileges, with Dominica passport holders no longer having visa free entry to the UK or Ireland
Keep reading
You may find our other Caribbean citizenship comparison articles helpful:
- Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Comparison
- St Kitts vs Dominica Citizenship
- Antigua vs St Kitts Citizenship
- Grenada vs Dominica Citizenship
- Grenada vs St Kitts Citizenship
- Grenada vs St Lucia Citizenship
- St Kitts vs St Lucia Citizenship
- Antigua vs Grenada Citizenship
- Antigua vs St Lucia Citizenship
- Antigua vs Dominica Citizenship
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- Global approach by local experts. We are corporate members of the Investment Migration Council, with local expertise in all five Caribbean citizenship 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions Dominica vs St Lucia Citizenship
You can acquire St Lucia citizenship by making a qualifying economic investment under the island’s citizenship by investment program. The minimum required contribution is a $240,000 donation to the National Economic Fund. You can also make a real estate investment, purchase government bonds, or make an enterprise investment.
Yes, you can acquire Dominica citizenship by investment. To do so, you must make a minimum contribution of $200,000 to the Economic Diversification Fund or a real estate investment of at least $200,000.
If you’re wondering “Which is better, St Lucia or Dominica citizenship?,” both Dominica and St Lucia citizenship schemes are excellent Caribbean CBI programs that afford benefits such as visa free travel to over 140 countries and favorable tax benefits. Dominica’s citizenship program is more affordable for an individual applicant, with the overall cost (including application and due diligence fees) amounting to less than $210,000. The Dominica real estate option is also cheaper than St Lucia’s.
For those concerned with the financial requirements for citizenship in St Lucia vs Dominica for families, St Lucia’s program offers more investment options and is more affordable for large families. Dominica has historically had a faster application process when evaluating the timeline for obtaining citizenship in St Lucia vs Dominica, taking 6 to 9 months compared to 10 to 12 months in St Lucia.
A St Lucia passport must be renewed five years after it has been issued, and then every ten years following this. Regarding a Dominica passport, an adult passport is valid for ten years and children under 16 are issued Dominica passports for five years.
The benefits of citizenship in St Lucia versus Dominica both include no requirement for the principal applicant or their family members to visit the country during due diligence processes. Applicants can make the necessary real estate investment or donation from abroad, and the mandatory citizenship interview can be conducted virtually.
If you want to compare the climate in Saint Lucia vs Dominica, you’ll find that the climate of both countries are relatively similar, featuring a wet season from June to November and a dry season from December to May, and temperatures typically ranging between 75 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the year.
You can include your family members when applying for Dominica or Saint Lucia citizenship. Under Saint Lucia’s program, your spouse, dependent children, parents and grandparents aged 55 or over, and siblings under 18 can apply for Caribbean passports. Dominica allows the inclusion of your spouse, dependent children, unmarried daughters under 25, and dependent parents and grandparents over 65.
Which Caribbean country is better, Dominica or St Lucia depends on your personal objectives and goals. Dominica offers the best CBI program for foreign nationals seeking the cheapest investment option for second citizenship, whereas the St Lucia citizenship by investment (CBI) program is appealing to those seeking diverse investment opportunities or visa free access to countries like the United Kingdom.
The St Lucia’s CARICOM passport is better than Dominica’s as it ranks higher on the Global Passport Index and offers more visa free travel options, including key destinations like the UK and Ireland. However, Dominica passport holders can travel to China without a visa.
