The offshore jurisdiction of Saint Lucia, located in the eastern Caribbean, is an interesting and promising location for conducting cross-border business. It offers favourable conditions for investment, with priority areas including tourism, outsourcing, manufacturing and agribusiness. With our help, registering a company in Saint Lucia is quick and easy, taking only a few days and causing no inconvenience to the client.
The banking sector of the jurisdiction is well developed, and local financial and credit institutions work with foreigners and non-residents. English common law in Saint Lucia effectively protects business, creating and maintaining a favourable business environment. Tax incentives are in place, and fiscal instruments are provided to optimise the fiscal burden on legal entities and individuals. The standard legal format provided for in corporate law — International Business Company (IBC) — is applicable to virtually any business model.
One of the key advantages of the jurisdiction is its developed range of services for high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs). Therefore, asset protection in Saint Lucia does not involve any legal or judicial risks. Typical practical applications include the creation of alternative inheritance mechanisms, means of diversifying savings, and protection of personal savings.
The legislation provides for the option of obtaining Saint Lucian citizenship through investment – CIP, The Citizenship by Investment Programmes. The financial threshold is $240,000, so many investors and wealthy foreigners can take advantage of the CIP programme. A Saint Lucia passport entitles the holder to visa-free travel to more than 140 countries, making travel or cross-border business comfortable and convenient.
Imperial & Legal specialists will take care of all legal and administrative procedures for obtaining Saint Lucia citizenship. We will provide comprehensive support at every stage, assist in preparing documents, choosing an investment route and ensuring the most comfortable relocation possible.
Is this jurisdiction suitable for your goals and objectives?
Registering a company in Saint Lucia is a good option when versatility, access to a variety of corporate tools, and special conditions for wealthy individuals are important. In some cases, we will recommend alternative options, but these can only be discussed after Imperial & Legal specialists have familiarised themselves with your requirements and wishes.
Key advantages of the jurisdiction:
- minimal fiscal burden: in general, there is no tax on personal worldwide income, zero corporate tax in St. Lucia for IBC companies if the profit is earned outside the jurisdiction, zero capital gains tax;
- very high confidentiality of beneficiaries and company directors — information about them is not publicly available, and there is an option for a nominee director in Saint Lucia;
- Political, economic and financial stability, very high level of personal safety, friendly attitude towards foreigners, possibility to obtain Saint Lucia citizenship by investment (CIP).
- Lucia banks are willing to work with foreigners and non-residents;
- Investing in Saint Lucia not only allows you to make a profit, but also to create a “fallback option” where you can safely store your assets.
Who would be interested in registering a company in Saint Lucia
The jurisdiction offers favourable conditions for conducting virtually any business, with no particular restrictions. However, the Saint Lucia offshore jurisdiction is not only focused on cross-border trade. Here, you can and should launch long-term investment projects, plan asset protection and diversification, and use the jurisdiction to enter the CARICOM/OECS market, access to which creates unique opportunities and prospects in the realities of the 21st century digital economy.
We particularly recommend registering a company in Saint Lucia to the following clients:
| Business area | Key advantages |
| Digital businesses that actively use the resources and opportunities of the internet | Fast registration, optimised taxation, high privacy, lenient corporate requirements |
| E-commerce, especially if the Caribbean region (and Latin and South America in general) is a priority | Direct access to CARICOM/OECS, predictable VAT, tax and customs benefits |
| Investments in real estate and the tourism sector | Low entry threshold, tax incentives for tourism, easy access to LATAM markets, Caribbean dollar pegged to the USD |
| Saint Lucia offshore services for wealthy investors and HNWIs (High-Net-Worth Individuals) | Powerful asset protection tools through trust and holding structures, the opportunity to obtain a Saint Lucia passport for investment, confidentiality |
| IT and fintech start-ups, if they do not need a local licence | Quick start-up and business setup, good information security, flexible KYC/AML rules in Saint Lucia |
| Businesspeople and investors working in any of the US/LATAM time zones | Easy time synchronisation, no communication issues, direct access to payment systems from the US |
Additional information on corporate business conditions:
- KYC/AML requirements in Saint Lucia are fully complied with;
- information about directors is disclosed to the registration agent, but is not publicly available;
- financial reporting is mandatory in Saint Lucia.
All these factors create favourable and comfortable conditions for doing business. Therefore, the St. Lucia offshore jurisdiction is well suited for legal and secure business in a predictable legal environment. The risks associated with the unavailability of quality financial services or the freezing/blocking of corporate accounts are minimal for local companies. Therefore, before registering a company, our specialists will discuss all the details of your assignment with you to ensure that your investment in Saint Lucia is fully justified.
The main advantages of registering a company in Saint Lucia:
- soft corporate legislation — no minimum share capital requirements, 100% foreign ownership of the company is permitted, no residency requirements for directors, shareholders and beneficiaries, nominee services are permitted, flexible legal entity management structure;
- very high level of confidentiality (taking into account modern transparency requirements);
- low or zero taxation;
- No CFC (Controlled Foreign Company) rules;
- No currency controls.
Registering a business in the Caribbean provides expanded opportunities for legal tax optimisation. Saint Lucia is a modern offshore jurisdiction focused on transparent and legal business. Additional advantages of the jurisdiction include a CBI programme with a relatively low entry threshold and powerful tools for asset protection and diversification.
Personal and corporate taxation
Starting a new business or obtaining Saint Lucia citizenship through investment is in most cases associated with additional fiscal obligations. When fulfilling a client’s request, we inform them of possible changes in their tax status. The exact calculation depends on a number of individual factors and is not directly related to the registration of a company in Saint Lucia or participation in the CBI programme, so we recommend discussing the situation with Imperial & Legal specialists.
Personal taxation
The offshore jurisdiction of Saint Lucia is de facto closer to classic mid-shore jurisdictions such as Singapore or Hong Kong. In some cases, individuals are required to pay taxes, with basic eligibility requirements related to the precise determination of the source of income and residency status.
What personal income is taxable in Saint Lucia:
- income received by a Saint Lucia resident or a person ordinarily resident in the jurisdiction, regardless of the source of income (foreign or located in Saint Lucia);
- received by a resident of Saint Lucia who is not permanently resident in the jurisdiction, the source of the income must be in Saint Lucia or transferred to Saint Lucia;
- received by a non-resident, if its source is in Saint Lucia;
- received by a non-resident, if its source is outside Saint Lucia but is subsequently transferred to the jurisdiction.
Criteria for granting tax resident status in Saint Lucia (any of the following conditions must be met):
- permanent residence in Saint Lucia, provided that the person resides in the jurisdiction for at least 183 days per year;
- presence in Saint Lucia for at least 183 days in the tax year (actual tax residency is irrelevant);
- continuous presence in the jurisdiction for at least 183 days per year, provided that the person was a tax resident in the previous or subsequent tax year.
Personal income tax rates:
| Income | Basic tax | Tax on excess amount |
| Up to EC$15,000 | EC$2,250 | 15 |
| From EC$15,000 to EC$30,000 | EC$3,000 | 20 |
| Over EC$30,000 | EC$9,000 | 30 |
In addition to PIT (Personal Income Tax), Saint Lucia has other mandatory payments. However, the overall financial burden is low. For example, contributions to the NIC (National Insurance Corporation) for social security are only 5% of salary, but no more than EC$250. There are no taxes on net wealth, inheritance, property or gifts, and residential property is taxed at 0.25% of market value. The stamp duty rate depends on the type of document, ranging from 2% to 10%.
Corporate tax in Saint Lucia
The jurisdiction has adopted a standard CIT (Corporate Income Tax) rate of 30%. The rules for determining the tax base depend on the status of the legal entity. Residents pay taxes on any income (domestic and worldwide), while non-residents pay taxes only on income received in Saint Lucia.
The condition for the applicability of the rate is the absence of tax violations since 2003. If this condition is not met, an increased rate of 33.33% applies. From 1 July 2021, all IBC companies are considered tax residents by law, even if they do not meet the formal criteria (registration in Saint Lucia or management/control through a permanent establishment in the jurisdiction).
Other corporate taxes in Saint Lucia:
- VAT (Value-added tax) — 12.5%, with preferential rates of 0%, 7% and 10%;
- Commercial property tax — 0.4% of market value (a 3-year exemption is available for properties built after 1 April 2001);
- Stamp duty — similar to personal taxation, from 2% to 10%;
- tourist tax (withheld by the hotel owner from guests) — $5 or $6 (criterion — cost of a room per night, threshold — $120);
- Health and Citizen Security Levy (introduced in August 2023, HCSL) — 2.5%, with exceptions and exemptions.
Customs duties are provided for and apply only to imported goods. Excise duty rates depend on the type of goods — fuel, spirits, beer, cigarettes. There is no payroll tax.
How to register a company offshore in Saint Lucia
The procedure is described in detail in official sources, but independent actions are associated with an increased risk of errors. These can occur at any stage, from choosing a name for the legal entity to obtaining a tax number. If Imperial & Legal specialists handle the registration, the procedure is virtually invisible to the client. Their involvement in legal and administrative matters is minimal.
Our main principle is not just to provide a service, but to engage the client and give them a reason to recommend our company to friends and colleagues. We provide tax advice and offer a range of additional services, including opening bank accounts, visa support, external accounting services, and more. Our specialists work for specific clients, rather than simply registering companies in Saint Lucia.
The estimated time for registering a company in Saint Lucia is no more than 7 working days, excluding the opening of a corporate bank account. When ordering the service, ask the specialists at Imperial & Legal to tell you about the additional services available to you. Registration is carried out entirely remotely, but we can arrange a visit to Saint Lucia – not only to monitor the procedure, but also for a comfortable and secure holiday.
Saint Lucia Citizenship by Investment
Beneficiary confidentiality, zero capital gains tax in most cases, permitted nominee services, no minimum share capital requirements, direct access to CARICOM/OECS and developed offshore services are important advantages of Saint Lucia. But the jurisdiction will be of interest not only to businesspeople. Investors willing to invest in the island nation’s economy will be able to quickly obtain Saint Lucia citizenship by investment (CIP).
The financial conditions of the programme are modest, with a minimum investment of $240,000. Similar options in Europe and Asia are significantly more expensive. There are four investment routes available: the National Economic Fund – NEF, government bonds – NAB, National Action Bond, real estate investments, and the national infrastructure improvement programme (Enterprise Project). The conditions for obtaining a Saint Lucia passport are significantly more lenient than traditional naturalisation options.
You can obtain detailed information on this topic, calculate the costs of implementing the project, and learn about the specifics of preparing to obtain a Saint Lucia passport from our specialists.
The main advantages of the Saint Lucia Citizenship by Investment Programme are:
- visa-free travel to 140+ countries, no mandatory residence requirements in Saint Lucia, unlimited right to leave the country;
- return on investment with retention of the Saint Lucia passport;
- no need to renounce existing citizenship;
- several investment options, simplified application procedure, family members can be included in the application;
- tax benefits.
Financial conditions:
| Investment route | Minimum financial requirements |
| National Economic Fund | From $240,000 + additional persons in the application — from $5,000; |
| Government bonds | From $300,000 |
| Investments in real estate | From $300,000 |
| National Infrastructure Improvement Programme | From $250,000 to $3.5 million |
Additional costs:
- application processing — $2,000 for main applicant, $1,000 for dependents;
- Background check – only for persons over 16 years of age — $8,000 for main applicant, $5,000 for dependents.
Additional fees for obtaining Saint Lucia citizenship by investment for the real estate route:
- main applicant — $30,000 ;
- main applicant + spouse — $45,000;
- each dependent under 18 years of age — $5,000;
- Each dependent over 18 years of age — $10,000
Additional fees for obtaining Saint Lucia citizenship by investment for the route related to the National Infrastructure Improvement Programme:
- non-refundable administrative fee — $50,000 for each person listed in the application;
- application submission — $15,000;
- applicant + his/her spouse — $20,000;
- Applicant + 2 dependents — $25,000
- applicant + 3 dependents — $30,000;
- each additional dependent, up to a total of 6 — $10,000
A Saint Lucia passport obtained through the CIP programme is no different from standard national identity documents. It cannot be revoked or temporarily suspended. If you are interested in investing in Saint Lucia for immigration purposes without being tied to a business, please contact our specialists in a way that is convenient for you.
What we can do for you
The offshore jurisdiction of Saint Lucia is a good place to launch a project of any scale. It can be a commercial company engaged in cross-border trade. Or a custom holding structure focused on asset protection and diversification. In this jurisdiction, you can implement cryptocurrency projects, invest in agricultural production or tourism, develop a technology start-up or fintech company. The main thing is to avoid organisational problems, comply with all the requirements of current legislation, and pass the KYC/AML check in Saint Lucia. Therefore, at the preliminary stage, discuss the details of opening a new legal entity with our specialists. We know how to start a new business in Saint Lucia.
The basic and extended turnkey registration services we offer our clients include:
- detailed consultations at each stage, preparation of a complete set of documents;
- preparation of the client for successful KYC/AML verification;
- resolution of any issues related to office space, legal address and nominee services (director, shareholders);
- opening corporate and personal bank accounts;
- support for the company after registration in Saint Lucia, fulfilment of annual compliance requirements.
Conclusions
The offshore jurisdiction of Saint Lucia is well suited for company registration, asset protection or obtaining second citizenship. The reason is not one specific advantage, but a favourable combination of characteristics. An International Business Company is the standard choice for most real-life cases, as this format allows you to conduct business effectively and legally save on taxes. To register a company in Saint Lucia, contact the specialists at Imperial & Legal.
Advantages of working with us:
- the “single window” principle — all services in one company;
- extensive experience in launching and supporting commercial and investment projects of any complexity;
- Protection of confidentiality of information received from clients;
- a portfolio of successful projects in a wide range of areas — HNWI, fintech, IT, cryptocurrencies, cross-border business, investments, real estate market, asset protection, tax planning.
Do you have any questions? Need more information about specific services? Would you like to discuss the specifics of a complex case? Contact us in any convenient way!
