How to Retire in St Lucia – The Ultimate Guide
Are you approaching retirement and dreaming about moving to the Caribbean to enjoy yourself in the sunshine? Wondering which destination might tick your boxes and how you should go about relocating? Famed for its breathtaking landscape featuring golden sand beaches and lush rainforest-covered mountains, the Eastern Caribbean island of St Lucia is a popular destination with retirees from the USA, Canada and Europe. If you are interested in discovering more about how to retire on the island known as the “Helen of the West Indies,” then this guide is for you.
Our guide covers all aspects of retiring on this exceptionally beautiful island, from how you can enjoy residency as a retiree to how you can find homes for sale in St Lucia and condos for sale in St Lucia which might be suitable for your retirement.
Discover how to retire in St Lucia in our guide
Contents
Benefits – Why Retire in St Lucia?
Applying for Residency
Applying for Citizenship
Where are the Best Places to Retire in St Lucia?
How Much Does it Cost to Retire in St Lucia?
Find Out More About Retiring in St Lucia
Benefits – Why Retire in St Lucia?
Are lazy afternoons spent relaxing on golden sand beaches your idea of a heavenly retirement? If so, St Lucia could be a great option for you. The island offers the quintessential laidback Caribbean island lifestyle and much more besides…
High Standard of Living in a Breathtaking Surroundings
From its beaches to its spectacular bays, dramatic mountains, cascading waterfalls and the world’s only drive-in volcano, St Lucia is renowned for its outstanding natural beauty.
The landscape is complimented by a superb range of amenities including world-class marinas at Rodney Bay and Marigot Bay, a challenging 18-hole golf course in Cap Estate, a wide variety of restaurants and bars serving both local and international cuisine, sensational hotels and spas and all kinds of water sports such as snorkeling, diving, wind surfing, kite surfing, kayaking, jet skiing and fishing to name a few.
This plethora of entertainment options combined with such stunning natural beauty combines to create a destination offering a very high standard of living.
Pathways to Permanent Residency & Citizenship
St Lucia offers various pathways to residency and citizenship which allow the dream of retiring in St Lucia to become reality. A highly regarded Citizenship by Investment Program, for example, offers qualifying applicants the opportunity to acquire full citizenship of the country in exchange for an investment in real estate in St Lucia (see below for details).
Tax Benefits
Retiring in St Lucia can also offer significant financial benefits as there is no capital gains tax, no inheritance/worth tax, and no wealth/estate tax on the island.
Proximity to the USA
Planning on traveling frequently to and from the island? Located just a 3 and a half hour flight from Miami to Hewanorra International Airport, St Lucia is easy to get to via dozens of direct flights from countries including the USA, Canada, the UK and many other locations.
Applying for Residency
Unlike some other countries in the region, St Lucia does not offer a specific visa for retirees.
However, there are various other routes available to those looking to move to the island.
If you would like to retire in St Lucia, you will need to apply for either residency or citizenship. In the case of residency, individuals must either apply for a single entry visa or a multiple entry visa.
Single Entry Visa
- Duration: A single entry visa allows a foreign national to stay on the island for a period of 3 months.
- Cost: EC $125.00.
Multiple Entry Visa
- Duration: A multiple entry visa allows a foreign national to make multiple entries over a period of 1 year.
- Cost: EC $190.00.
Permanent Residency
After 2 years of renewing either of the visa types above, you can apply for permanent residency in St Lucia.
After 7 years you can apply for full citizenship by naturalization.
Applying for Citizenship
St Lucia also offers a fast track process for acquiring citizenship. Qualifying applicants who make a significant contribution to the island’s economy can apply for full citizenship via the St Lucia Citizenship by Investment Program.
Citizenship provides the right to live and retire in St Lucia, the right to bear a St Lucian passport and the right to visa-free travel to 145 countries worldwide including the EU and the UK.
To qualify an individual must donate a minimum of US $100,000 to the country’s National Economic Fund (NEF) or make an investment of at least US $300,000 in an approved real estate project on the island.
Find out more: St Lucia Citizenship by Investment
Where are the Best Places to Retire in St Lucia?
Where are the best places to retire in St Lucia? Well, that very much depends on your personal preferences.
There are so many wonderful places which you could choose to make home.
If you want to be close to the beach and the golf course, the Cap Estate and Rodney Bay areas in the north of the island are some of the most popular destinations in St Lucia.
Yachting enthusiasts will love Marigot Bay, known as “the most beautiful bay in the Caribbean.”
For luxury living with a breathtaking rainforest and mountain backdrop, take a look at the magnificent Soufriere area on the west coast of the island.
If you’re looking to truly get away from it all, explore investment options in the quieter south of the island such as around Vieux Fort. This area is expected to benefit from significant growth in the medium term as the south becomes the focus for future investment and development.
How Much Does it Cost to Retire in St Lucia?
While the cost of living in St Lucia can be higher than other destinations in the Caribbean, the island compares favorably with the USA, Canada and Europe.
While imported goods tend to be relatively costly, the overall cost of living is reasonable.
For those looking at buying a house in St Lucia for their retirement, property prices remain, for the time being, more attractive than many nearby islands such as Barbados.
Find out More About Retiring in St Lucia
Would you like to find out more about retiring in St Lucia or perhaps you would you like to browse property for sale which would be suitable for your retirement?
We would be delighted to help. We can introduce you to a wide selection of property for sale in St Lucia from condos by the beach and villas near the golf course in the north of the island to lavish luxury houses on the stunning west coast.
You can explore the full range of St Lucia real estate on our website or contact 7th Heaven Properties, the Luxury Caribbean Property Specialist, to begin your property search and to discuss your options in more detail.