Recent Policy & Legal Developments

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The Saint Lucia Citizenship by Investment Program (CIP) has undergone a series of impactful policy and regulatory changes over the past 24 months, reflecting both internal economic goals and international compliance pressures. As of July 2025, key amendments to the Citizenship by Investment Act (Cap. 1.20) and accompanying regulations include threshold adjustments, revised family inclusion criteria, and enhanced anti-money laundering standards.

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Key Amendments as of 2023–2025:

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1. Unified Minimum Investment Floor (April 2024)

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The Government of Saint Lucia, in coordination with the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), introduced a standardized minimum investment threshold of USD $240,000 across qualifying real estate and enterprise projects. This reform replaced earlier tiered systems, aligning Saint Lucia with regional peers such as Antigua & Barbuda and Grenada to minimize program arbitrage.

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2. Family Inclusion Reform (January 2025)

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Legislative Order No. 12/2025 expanded the definition of eligible dependents to include children up to 30 years of age (previously 25) if enrolled in tertiary education, as well as siblings under 18 if legally adopted or under full guardianship. It also removed the requirement that dependent parents be financially supported by the main applicant, replacing it with a broader “intergenerational household” clause.

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3. Six-Month Compliance Grace Period (March 2025)

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Transitional provisions in the revised regulations grant investors who filed before March 2025 a six-month grace period to meet new documentation and KYC standards introduced in line with OECD and FATF recommendations. This includes stricter UBO (Ultimate Beneficial Owner) disclosures and enhanced scrutiny for high-risk nationalities.

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4. National Transformation Fund (NTF) Transparency Reforms (Q4 2023)

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Following critiques from the European Commission regarding opaque use of donation funds, the Saint Lucian Parliament passed a bill mandating biannual public disclosure of NTF allocations, project impact reports, and independently audited accounts. This move improved the country's credibility with EU institutions and preempted further blacklisting discussions.

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Collectively, these changes are designed to maintain international confidence in Saint Lucia’s investment migration program while enhancing long-term economic resilience through better fund management, strategic investment targeting, and family unification policies that reflect evolving global norms.

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