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The diaspora
St Lucia’s diaspora is made up of citizens of St. Lucia by birth residing in different parts of the world, foreign nationals with St. Lucian origins and their spouses.
Benefits for Returning Nationals
Persons in the diaspora who plan to relocate to St Lucia may qualify for the Customs and Excise Returning Nationals, Exemptions of Customs Duties on Personal and Household Effects.
Who qualifies as a returning national?
To access these benefits, applicants must meet one of the following criteria:
- A citizen of St. Lucia by birth, who is eighteen (18) years and above, returning to St. Lucia to settle after at least ten (10) years residing abroad.
- A citizen of St. Lucia by descent who is eighteen (18) years and above, who is coming to St. Lucia to settle, after a minimum of ten (10) years’ residing abroad.
- An alien spouse of a citizen of St. Lucia by birth or descent, coming to St. Lucia to settle, after at least ten (10) years’ residence abroad, and ten (10) years of marriage.
Important Exclusion Criteria
A returning national will not qualify for the exemptions if he/she has visited and stayed in St. Lucia for a continuous period of more than six (6) months on more than two (2) occasions.
Returning National Checklist
The following documents are commonly required as part of the application process. This list is not exhaustive, but it’s a helpful starting point:
- Birth certificate and baptism certificate
- Marriage certificate (if applicable)
- Death certificate of a Saint Lucian spouse or parent (if applicable)
Why might a death certificate be needed?
If your Saint Lucian parent or spouse has passed away, this document may be required to verify your connection to the island and support your eligibility under descent or marital criteria.
Get Local Legal Assistance
To ensure your application is complete and properly submitted, it is highly recommended that you work with a local attorney in Saint Lucia. A legal representative can:
- Submit all necessary forms on your behalf
- Liaise with government agencies
- Represent your interests while you are still overseas
This ensures a smoother, more efficient process — especially if you are managing your relocation remotely.
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