Immigration
Immigration Act with CARICOM free movement and a CBI programme
The Immigration Act governs entry, residence and removal, administered by the Immigration Department within the Ministry of Home Affairs. CARICOM nationals holding a skills certificate may work without a permit, and other CARICOM nationals get a six-month stay. The Citizenship by Investment Act 2015 created a programme granting citizenship on an approved investment without any residence requirement.
Key rules
- Jurisdiction — National immigration control with CARICOM skills recognition
- Deadline — CARICOM national: six-month definite entry on arrival
- Deadline — Work permit: secured by the employer before employment begins
- Deadline — Naturalisation by residence: eight years of lawful residence
Governing law
- Immigration Act
- Citizenship of Saint Lucia Act
- Citizenship by Investment Act 2015
- Caribbean Community Skills (Free Movement) Act
In practice
The skills certificate regime is the practical route for regional professionals and is issued by the sending state, so an employer should verify the certificate rather than assume CARICOM nationality alone permits work. The citizenship by investment programme is administered separately from naturalisation and does not require presence in Saint Lucia at any stage.