Home to about 172.000 people, St. Lucia is one of the ‘bigger’ Caribbean islands. The country’s business environment has attracted many immigrants and that is only one of the things that make Saint Lucia a great place to work. The people of St. Lucia are well educated and the infrastructure and port facilities are good, making it an inviting place for foreign investors.
St. Lucia is more mountainous than other Caribbean islands and there is plenty of beauty to see and enjoy. The famous twin peaks that form ‘The Pitons’, a drive-in volcano, the Saint Lucia jazz festival, scuba diving and the delicious cuisine are all things you must experience when you’re living on the island.
The official language of the country is English, but the majority of the population also speaks Saint Lucian Creole French. Trade and tourism are both essential to the island’s economy; over 350.000 people visit every year. Local products are of great quality and cheap, housing is reasonably priced and while imported products can be expensive, the sunshine and beaches are free and the cost of living is still cheaper compared to other Caribbean countries.
Business culture on the island is unlike most places. Meetings generally start with prayer, rarely begin at the agreed time and often include food. People communicate in a direct way and honesty is highly appreciated.
Here are some of the ways to live in Saint Lucia:
Work Permit
Immigrants must apply for a work permit and must do so before the actual job starts. The government advises starting the application at least two months before the role begins, as working in the country during the application process is not allowed.
The application starts with paying a non-refundable application fee of $100, after which all relevant documents and the application form can be submitted to the Work Permit Officer. The Minister for Labour makes the final decision and immigrants must pay a fee for every desired year of employment, which ranges from $75 to $1850 a year.
Through your Family
Citizenship by Investment
The due diligence fees, processing fees and government fees are to be paid in addition to the above mentioned investment requirements depending on the investment option chosen.
Through family
The passport for Saint Lucia allows you to travel to 126 countries without a visa.
Its global rank is 65.