זכויות רישום (אזרחים לשעבר, בני זוג נגזרים, קטינים)

The omnibus registration framework (Citizenship of Saint Lucia Act, Cap. 1.04, s.6; Constitution s.102) lists persons entitled to register: spouses (MAR-01); Commonwealth 7-year residents (NAT-02); former citizens who renounced to acquire/retain another nationality and former-CUKC persons who would have qualified at the appointed date (s.6(1)(c)/(d); Const s.102(1)(c)/(d)) — the functional restoration/resumption mechanism; derivative spouses of eligible persons (s.6(1)(e)/(2)(c)); and minor step/adopted children (s.6(2)(d), CBN-01). Discretionary refusal grounds apply to s.6(2) applications (good character, English, security, residence, criminal/drug convictions — s.6(6)). The statutory s.6 build-out is authorised by Const s.103(a) and runs alongside the self-executing constitutional entitlements in Const s.102. Oath of allegiance per s.6(5)/Const s.102(4).

• Commonwealth-citizen registration by 7-year residence (Act limb): a person who, being a Commonwealth citizen, has been for a period of 7 years prior to the application ordinarily resident in Saint Lucia is ENTITLED upon application to be registered as a citizen (Citizenship Act s.6(2)(b)). This is a rolling entitlement, distinct from the constitutional 'at commencement' transitional limb. - Commonwealth-citizen registration — transitional/constitutional limb: a person who, being a Commonwealth citizen, was ordinarily resident in Saint Lucia at the commencement of the Constitution (22 Feb 1979) having been so resident for the 7 years immediately preceding, was entitled to be registered (Const s.102(1)(b); Citizenship Act s.6(1)(b) — '7 years prior to the appointed date'). This is a one-time transitional entitlement keyed to 22 Feb 1979, distinct from the rolling s.6(2)(b)/s.102(2)(b) limb. - Former-citizen / former-CUKC registration (re-acquisition limbs): a person is entitled to be registered if (i) having been a citizen, he or she renounced citizenship in order to acquire/retain another country's citizenship (Act s.6(1)(d); Const s.102(1)(c)); or (ii) but for renouncing citizenship of the United Kingdom and Colonies to acquire/retain another citizenship would have become a citizen on the appointed date (Act s.6(1)(c); Const s.102(1)(d)). This is the functional restoration/resumption mechanism. - Minor step-child / adopted-child registration: a person under the age of 21 years who is a step-child or adopted child of a person entitled to be registered as a citizen (or who but for death would have been so entitled) is entitled to be registered (Citizenship Act s.6(2)(d)); the constitutional analogue (Const s.102(2)(d)) extends to the stepchild or child adopted in a manner recognised by law of a citizen. - Derivative spouse-of-eligible-person registration: a person married to (or formerly married to, during marriage) a person who is/was entitled to register under the Commonwealth-resident (s.6(1)(b)) or former-citizen/former-CUKC (s.6(1)(c)/(d)) limbs is themselves entitled to register (Citizenship Act s.6(1)(e) female limb; s.6(2)(c) male limb; Const s.102(1)(e)/(2)(c)). - Commonwealth membership for citizenship purposes is statutorily enumerated: 'Commonwealth' for the Citizenship Act includes Saint Lucia, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, Pakistan and a closed list of named member states plus associated states/dependencies (s.2(1)). Membership in this list (e.g. as a CARICOM/OECS co-member) is what triggers the s.6 Commonwealth-citizen registration limbs rather than the alien-naturalisation route.

• Oath-of-allegiance condition on registration: the Minister MAY require a citizen of any prescribed Commonwealth country to take an oath of allegiance before registration under s.6 (Citizenship Act s.6(5)); under the Constitution a British protected person, alien, or (if so prescribed) a non-realm Commonwealth citizen aged 21+ MUST take the oath before registration (Const s.102(4)). - Discretionary refusal grounds for s.6(2) registration: the Minister MAY refuse an application under s.6(2) on reasonable grounds including that the applicant is not of good character; lacks adequate knowledge of English; appears by conduct/speech not conducive to the State's security or public order; is not resident in the State; has been convicted of a criminal offence punishable by 6 months' or more imprisonment; or has been convicted of any dangerous-drugs offence (Citizenship Act s.6(6)). - Ministerial residence-aggregation discretion for the s.6(2)(b) Commonwealth 7-year track: the Minister may aggregate discontinuous periods of residence, or for special reasons accept a period shorter than 7 years, for the purposes of s.6(2)(b) (Citizenship Act s.6(4)). - Application on behalf of a minor: an application for registration by a person to whom s.6(1)(d) applies may be made on his or her behalf by his or her parents or guardian (Citizenship Act s.6(3)); the constitutional analogue requires applications for a s.102(2)(d) minor to be made by parent or guardian, save that a married applicant may apply personally (Const s.102(3)). - Authority and channel for ordinary citizenship/registration/naturalisation applications: applications for a certificate of citizenship or naturalisation, or for registration as a citizen, are made to the Minister; where the applicant resides outside Saint Lucia, a s.6 application is submitted through a Saint Lucia diplomatic agent or consular officer, who may grant the certificate (Citizenship Regulations reg.10).

Primary statute: Constitution of Saint Lucia s.102; Citizenship of Saint Lucia Act, Cap. 1.04, s.6. Operative 1979-02-22–present. Authority: Department of Home Affairs; Minister.