Saint Lucia's four CBI routes priced from the CIU's published schedule — fund, bonds, real estate and enterprise, plus every due diligence and processing fee.
Overview
Saint Lucia's Citizenship by Investment Programme operates under the Citizenship by Investment Act No. 14 of 2015 and Regulations S.I. 89 of 2015 (amended most recently by Regulations No. 57 of 2026), administered by the Citizenship by Investment Unit in Castries with grants decided by the Citizenship by Investment Board. Four routes are published on cipsaintlucia.com: a National Economic Fund (NEF) contribution of USD 240,000 covering the applicant and up to three qualifying dependants (plus USD 10,000 per additional dependant under 18 and USD 20,000 per additional adult dependant); the National Action Bond (NAB) at USD 300,000 for any number of dependants — non-interest-bearing, held five years, plus a USD 50,000 administration fee; approved real estate at USD 300,000 plus administrative fees of USD 30,000-45,000+; and enterprise projects from USD 3,500,000 (USD 6,000,000 joint). Non-refundable processing fees are USD 2,000 for the main applicant and USD 1,000 per dependant; due diligence is USD 8,000 (main) and USD 5,000 per dependant, conducted only on persons 16+. An applicant interview and identity-verification process applies to all applications received from 4 September 2023. Verified against cipsaintlucia.com as of June 2026.
Four Routes — Official Minimums (cipsaintlucia.com)
| Route | Minimum | Admin fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Economic Fund (NEF) | USD 240,000 | — | Covers applicant + up to 3 qualifying dependants; +USD 10,000 per extra dependant under 18, +USD 20,000 per extra adult dependant |
| National Action Bond (NAB) | USD 300,000 | USD 50,000 (non-refundable) | Government bonds, non-interest-bearing, registered in the applicant's name for a 5-year holding period; any number of dependants |
| Approved real estate | USD 300,000 | USD 30,000 alone / USD 45,000 with spouse / +USD 5,000-10,000 per dependant | High-end branded hotels/resorts and boutique properties; investor holds title deed; admin fees payable on grant, non-refundable |
| Enterprise project — sole | USD 3,500,000 | USD 50,000 | Approved categories incl. restaurants, ports, agro-processing, pharma, universities, infrastructure |
| Enterprise project — joint | USD 6,000,000 total | USD 50,000 | Each joint applicant must contribute at least USD 1,000,000 |
Per-Person Fees on Every Route
| Fee | Main applicant | Each qualifying dependant |
|---|---|---|
| Application processing (non-refundable) | USD 2,000 | USD 1,000 |
| Due diligence (non-refundable; persons 16+ only) | USD 8,000 | USD 5,000 |
| Interview & identity verification (from 4 Sept 2023) | Payable by main applicant only — fee per current CIU schedule | — |
| NEF add-on: newborn of a citizen (≤12 months) | USD 5,000 | — |
| NEF add-on: spouse of a citizen | USD 35,000 | — |
| NEF add-on: other qualifying dependant of a citizen | USD 25,000 | — |
Worked Examples — Government-Payable Totals
- Single applicant, NEF: 240,000 + 2,000 processing + 8,000 due diligence = USD 250,000 to government, plus the interview/identity-verification charge and your Authorised Agent's professional fees.
- Couple + two children under 16, NEF: 240,000 (covers all four) + 5,000 processing (2,000 + 3 × 1,000) + 13,000 due diligence (8,000 main + 5,000 spouse; children under 16 exempt) = USD 258,000.
- Single applicant, NAB bonds: 300,000 (returned when the non-interest bonds mature after the 5-year hold) + 50,000 admin + 10,000 processing/DD = USD 60,000 sunk cost — the cheapest route in net terms if you can park USD 300,000 interest-free for five years.
- Real estate, family of four (2 adults, 2 children under 18): 300,000 investment + admin fees 45,000 (couple) + 10,000 (2 × 5,000 children) + processing/DD as above — admin fees are payable upon grant and are non-refundable.
- Stale figures warning: the CIU's own FAQ page still shows pre-2024 NEF pricing (USD 100,000-150,000); the operative figures are on the investment-options page and the gazetted price updates — always use the current gazette, not cached FAQ copy.
Payment Mechanics and Refund Rules
- At submission: only the non-refundable processing and due diligence fees are payable (USD 10,000 for a single applicant; USD 18,000 for a typical family of four with two adults).
- After approval: the qualifying investment (NEF contribution, bond purchase, property completion or enterprise investment) and the route's administrative fees are paid following the Board's grant decision — the principal is not at risk during vetting.
- Refusals: processing, due diligence and administrative fees are expressly non-refundable; agent fees and document costs are also typically lost. The investment itself is never paid before approval.
- Oath and certificate: citizenship completes on payment of the qualifying investment and signing the Oath of Allegiance; the CIU then issues the certificate of citizenship used for the passport application.
- Payments flow through the CIU's official banking channel (published banking details / pay.cipsaintlucia.com) via your Authorised Agent — never pay an agent's personal account for government fees.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest way to get Saint Lucia citizenship?
In gross terms, the NEF at USD 240,000 (single applicant total about USD 250,000 with processing and due diligence). In net terms, arguably the National Action Bond: you commit USD 300,000 to non-interest-bearing government bonds for five years and pay a USD 50,000 admin fee plus USD 10,000 processing/DD — about USD 60,000 sunk, with the USD 300,000 principal returned at maturity. The trade-off is opportunity cost on USD 300,000 for five years and the larger upfront wire. Families of four pay USD 258,000+ on the NEF route.
How much does it cost to add my spouse and children?
The NEF contribution of USD 240,000 already covers you plus up to three qualifying dependants. Beyond that, each additional dependant under 18 adds USD 10,000 and each additional adult dependant USD 20,000 to the contribution. Every dependant also pays USD 1,000 processing, and dependants aged 16+ pay USD 5,000 due diligence. Post-grant add-ons are published too: a newborn (up to 12 months) USD 5,000, a spouse of a citizen USD 35,000, and any other qualifying dependant of a citizen USD 25,000.
Who counts as a qualifying dependant in Saint Lucia?
Per the CIU: your spouse; children of you or your spouse aged 21 or under; children up to 30 who are fully supported by you; physically or mentally challenged children of any age; parents of you or your spouse above 55 who are fully supported; physically or mentally challenged parents of any age; and unmarried siblings under 18 with parental consent. A child outside these bands must apply as a separate principal applicant if 18+. Due diligence applies to dependants over 16.
What do I lose if my application is refused?
Your non-refundable fees: USD 2,000 processing plus USD 8,000 due diligence for the main applicant, USD 1,000 + USD 5,000 for each dependant 16+, the interview/identity-verification charge, and whatever you have paid your Authorised Agent and spent on document legalisation. For a couple that is roughly USD 16,000-20,000 at risk. The qualifying investment is only payable after the Board grants the application, so the USD 240,000-300,000 principal is never exposed to a refusal.
Is the National Action Bond really refundable?
The bond principal is returned: NAB bonds are non-interest-bearing government bonds that must be registered in your name and held for five years from first issue, after which they mature. What you never get back is the USD 50,000 administration fee, the processing and due-diligence fees, and five years of foregone interest on USD 300,000. Compare carefully with the NEF: a family of four pays USD 240,000 gone-forever via NEF versus roughly USD 60,000+ sunk via NAB — the bond route wins if liquidity and rate environments cooperate.
Are the fees on the CIU's FAQ page correct?
Treat the FAQ page with caution. As of June 2026 it still displays pre-harmonisation NEF pricing (USD 100,000 single / USD 150,000 family). The operative prices — NEF USD 240,000, NAB USD 300,000 + USD 50,000, real estate USD 300,000 plus admin fees — appear on the citizenship-by-investment options page with links to the updated-price gazette and memo. Saint Lucia's minimums moved in 2024 in step with the regional US$200,000 floor agreed by the Eastern Caribbean CBI states. Your Authorised Agent must quote from the current gazette.