3 Reasons to Retire to St. Lucia
There are plenty of options when it comes to choosing a new country to call home. That’s especially true if you’re looking for a nice, beachy vibe, ideal for relaxation in your retirement years. What makes you choose one option over another?
When it comes down to it, the best option is the one that best suits your own personal needs, and that’s different for everyone. However, if you’re looking for a country with plenty of beautiful landscapes, yacht and/or sailing harbors, and plenty of room to get out on the water, and a large expat population to help you feel welcomed and right-at-home among like-minded individuals, your choices can be narrowed down.
Most likely, the first place that comes to mind that checks each of those boxes is the Caribbean. From there, you’ve got an array of options. You can choose a place then based on a few other factors, but there is likely one that meets each of the needs listed above, and that one is St. Lucia.
St. Lucia’s Landscape
St. Lucia is made up of bays, scuba and snorkeling spots, hiking trails and peaks and beaches. It’s also got plenty of high-end restaurants, hotels, and boutiques for those who would otherwise miss those types of things when traveling to another country.
The most famous feature of St. Lucia’s landscape is The Pitons. The Pitons are twin mountains that you see in nearly any picture of the island are made of volcanic materials, and they create quite the picturesque landscape for hiking and exploring.
Anse Chastanet is said to be the best beach on St. Lucia for snorkeling and diving, thanks to its clear waters and abundance of marine wildlife. There are plenty of beaches on St. Lucia to choose from, but this one and also Reduit Beach are among the favorites. Reduit Beach is a bit busier than Anse Chastanet, but it is loved for its cleanliness, close proximity to bars and shops, and clear waters. The also very famous Pidgeon National Park is visible just off these shores as well.
Yachting and Sailing in St. Lucia
St. Lucia is a paradise for water and boating lovers. It has two well-established internationally-loved harbors for sailboats and yachts – the Marigot Bay, on the west coast and Caribbean Sea, and The IGY Rodney Bay Marina on the east coast and Atlantic Ocean.
The Marigot Bay is the most famous, because it is located on the calmer waters of the Caribbean Sea, which is more comfortable for beginners. The IGY Rodney Bay Marina is situated within a lagoon for safety, and both harbors are nearby all of the shopping, dining, and amenities you could hope for. These harbors offer a strong plus-side to choosing St. Lucia for your retirement location if your dream is to spend most of your time out on the water.
St. Lucia’s People & Expat Population
This country was owned by the French and the British, back and forth, for hundreds of years. Many who have since settled there are from either of these parts of Europe or are expats from Canada and the United States. The overall economic status is upper middle class, and with a popular citizenship by investment program (CIP) there, it continues to grow among the high net worth population. Because of all of these factors, there isn’t any shortage of expats or other like-minded individuals looking for a sailing or yachting-focused beach escape.
The people are said to be among the friendliest most expats say they’ve ever met. There are social places for people to gather and meet, such as busy restaurants that host events on the regular, jazz festivals, and non-profit volunteer organizations, such as SLAPS, which is an expat-run organization that helps animals.
Moving to St. Lucia
You can visit this Caribbean nation for up to six weeks without any type of visa, but once you’ve decided to stay permanently, the CIP is the way to go. With this method of gaining residency, citizenship can be acquired in as few as three months.
To apply, choose a method of investment from the approved ones: government bonds, real estate projects, an economic fund for the country, or an enterprise project, pass a background check, and you’re good to go! Once you’re approved and you’ve made your generous donation (the minimum qualifying amounts vary depending on the investment vehicle of your choosing), you get a Certificate of Citizenship right away. Citizenship in St. Lucia allows for all benefits you’d get if you were a natural born citizen. Once all is said and done, you can relax and enjoy your island retirement!
I hope you got value from reading our article: 3 Reasons to Retire to St. Lucia. If you are ready to make the move to St. Lucia and would like to start the process to retire there, please reach out to our office HERE. I’ve also included some great reading material below about St. Lucia, enjoy!
Residency Options in St. Lucia
Get a Second Passport in St. Lucia
Qualifying for St. Lucia’s Citizenship by Investment Program
Investment Options for St. Lucia Citizenship
