Cidadania por Investimento — Doação do Fundo Econômico Nacional (NEF)

Non-refundable qualifying investment in the Saint Lucia National Economic Fund (NEF): US$240,000 for an applicant applying with up to three qualifying dependants (SI 106/2024, effective 1 July 2024), plus per-dependant add-ons (+US$10,000 each additional dependant under 18; +US$20,000 each additional dependant over 18; US$5,000 newborn ≤12 months of a citizen; US$35,000 spouse of a citizen; US$25,000 other qualifying dependant of a citizen). The NEF is a statutory special fund established by the NEF Act No. 18 of 2019 (repealing CBI Act s.33). No residency / physical presence / language / civics test (NOTE: Act 22/2025 inserts s.30A residency/genuine-link, statutory effective 1 Jan 2026 — see PND interaction; contested implementation date). Application via licensed authorised agent; oath/affirmation of allegiance; ~90-day official CIU processing guideline. Statutory basis CBI Act No. 14 of 2015 (Cap 1.20) + NEF Act 18/2019; current pricing SI 106/2024; OECS US$200,000 floor (MoA, 3 Jun 2024). CROWN signature route.

• The NEF is a statutory special fund established by the NEF Act No. 18 of 2019 (which repealed and replaced s.33 of the CBI Act 14/2015); qualifying investments of cash are paid into the Fund, governed by a 5-7 member NEF Board (chaired by the Director of Finance). Under SI 106/2024 reg 9(2) the Board pays US$200,000 of each minimum NEF qualifying investment to the NEF (the OECS floor mechanism); SI 57/2026 reg 5 substitutes reg 9(2) so the Board retains 25% of each NEF monetary contribution for marketing and promotion of the programme. - CBI residency / genuine-link requirement: Act 22/2025 s.8 inserts a new s.30A requiring an applicant and each qualifying dependant to comply with prescribed residency and genuine-link requirements; s.30A(2) provides that the requirement 'takes effect from the 1st day of January, 2026'. - CBI mandatory denial grounds: the Board shall deny an application where the applicant (i) provides false information, (ii) has been convicted of a criminal offence except a minor traffic offence, (iii) is the subject of a criminal investigation, (iv) is a potential national-security risk, (v) is involved in activity likely to cause disrepute to Saint Lucia, or (vi) has been denied a visa by a country with which Saint Lucia has visa-free travel and has not since obtained one; and (per Act 22/2025) the Board MAY deny where the application has been denied by an OECS Member State. - CBI due-diligence and identity-verification process: the CIU engages independent professional persons/bodies to conduct due-diligence checks on applicants (CBI Act s.34), and an applicant may be required to attend an interview in Saint Lucia or at an embassy/High Commission. From 1 September 2023 applications are subject to an interview (in person or virtual) and an identity-verification process; SI 57/2026 reg 10 adds a new reg 15A requiring successful applicants to provide biometric data (including fingerprints). Due diligence is conducted on applicants and dependants 16 years and older. - CBI authorised agent requirement: every CBI application must be submitted by an authorised agent licensed by the Citizenship by Investment Board; the agent must maintain a place of business in Saint Lucia, be of good repute with no criminal record, pass background checks, and pay an application fee of US$1,000 and an annual licence fee of US$10,000 (due by 31 January each year). Direct applicant submission is not permitted; only the authorised agent may check application status. - CBI official processing time: the CIU's stated guideline is that from the date of notifying the authorised agent that an application has been accepted for processing, it takes approximately ninety (90) days to the grant of citizenship. - CBI review of a denied application: where an application for citizenship by investment is denied, the applicant may request a review by the Minister in writing within 60 days of the letter of denial; the request may not introduce new information and must show one or more grounds (incorrect application of law, irrelevant/relevant-matters error, decision-making irregularities, or absence of supporting evidence). The Minister considers the request within 21 days. - CBI change-of-name restriction (Act 22/2025 new s.36A): a citizen shall not change his or her name within five years of being issued a certificate of registration, except for changes legally required by marriage/divorce/adoption/legitimization, witness-protection/anti-trafficking programmes, or clerical/transliteration corrections; any post-certificate name change requires written notice to the Unit, a certified Deed Poll, the prescribed change-of-name due-diligence fee, and a fresh due-diligence check. - CBI Sovereign Wealth Fund allocation: Act 22/2025 s.6 inserts a new s.19A requiring that no less than 10 per cent and no more than 25 per cent of any end-of-financial-year balance resulting from the Unit's activities (after full allowance for the Unit's operations) be paid to t

Primary statute: Citizenship by Investment Act No. 14 of 2015 (Cap 1.20); National Economic Fund Act No. 18 of 2019; SI 106/2024. Operative 2015-08-24–present. Authority: Citizenship by Investment Board / Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU).