Getting help with living in Saint Lucia
Help from the Saint Lucian government
For any questions about moving to or living in Saint Lucia, you may be able to get help from the:
The UK government and the British High Commission in Castries cannot give personalised advice on moving to, living or retiring in Saint Lucia.
Professional help in Saint Lucia
You can also get help from professionals in Saint Lucia, including:
- lawyers
- notaries
- funeral directors
Help from the UK government
Read the travel advice for Saint Lucia to understand the risks you may face if you live in or visit Saint Lucia. This includes the latest information on:
- visas and entry requirements
- laws and cultural differences
- safety and security
Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad.
Get help from the UK government abroad, including in an emergency.
Visas, residency and citizenship
Make sure you meet the entry requirements for Saint Lucia before you travel. This covers visa requirements and how to extend your stay in Saint Lucia.
Visas and residence permits
Check which visa or residence permit you need to live in Saint Lucia.
For more information, contact the Saint Lucian Immigration department:
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: +1 (758) 456 4055
For general information you can also visit the Saint Lucian government website.
Citizenship
Saint Lucia recognises dual citizenship. This means that you do not have to give up (renounce) your British citizenship to become a Saint Lucian citizen.
To find out if you’re eligible for Saint Lucian citizenship:
Help with visa, residency and citizenship applications
The British High Commission in Castries cannot help with Saint Lucian visa, residency or citizenship applications.
For any questions or issues, contact:
Passports and travel
Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:
- apply for a British passport from abroad
- travel urgently without your British passport
Dual citizens travelling to the UK
When travelling to the UK, British citizens must carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement. Read guidance on dual citizenship.
Healthcare in Saint Lucia
Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:
- plan your healthcare
- take medicine abroad
Saint Lucia does not have a reciprocal health agreement with the UK.
Make sure you have appropriate health insurance to cover any healthcare costs. Healthcare can be very expensive in Saint Lucia. You can get insurance from Saint Lucian or international providers. If you work in Saint Lucia, your employer may also arrange health insurance for you.
You may need to pay for treatment yourself and claim the costs back from your insurance provider.
To find out how to get medical treatment:
Working in Saint Lucia
Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers working abroad, including documents you may need from the UK government.
To work in Saint Lucia, you need a work permit. You can apply for a work permit from the Ministry of Equity, Equity, Labour, Gender and Elderly Affairs, Social Justice and Consumer Welfare.
Contact the Ministry on:
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: +1 (758) 468-5108
Fax: +1 (758) 453-7921
You may also need a work visa. Read the entry requirements for Saint Lucia for information on visas and extending your stay in Saint Lucia.
Driving in Saint Lucia
Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:
- drive abroad legally
- take your UK vehicle abroad
- get driving licence letters
You need a Saint Lucian driving licence to drive in Saint Lucia.
The Saint Lucian government provides information on driving in Saint Lucia, including how to:
For more information, read guidance on road travel in Saint Lucia, in safety and security in the travel advice for Saint Lucia.
Disabled drivers
Contact the Ministry of Infrastructure, Ports Services and Energy for information on any available support for disabled drivers:
Physical Address:
Union Complex
Union
Castries
Saint Lucia
Postal Address:
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: +1 (758) 468 4300
Fax: +1 (758) 453 2769
If you have a UK Blue Badge and live in Saint Lucia, you must return it to the original UK issuing authority.
Tax
Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers tax, including paying UK tax and National Insurance.
The UK has a double taxation agreement with Saint Lucia so that you do not pay tax on the same income in both countries.
Contact the Inland Revenue Department of Saint Lucia for any questions about double taxation relief.
Consider getting professional advice on paying tax in Saint Lucia. To do this, find a lawyer in Saint Lucia.
Pensions
Claiming your UK pension
Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers:
- how to claim your UK State Pension
- where the UK government pays an annual increase in the State Pension
Claiming a Saint Lucian pension
You may be able to claim a Saint Lucian retirement pension if you have worked and paid contributions to the Saint Lucia National Insurance Corporation (NIC).
Contact the NIC to find out whether you can claim.
Benefits
Claiming UK benefits
Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to claim UK benefits abroad, including Child Benefit.
Claiming Saint Lucian benefits
You may be entitled to some Saint Lucian benefits if you have worked and paid contributions to the Saint Lucia National Insurance Corporation (NIC).
Contact the NIC to find out whether you can claim.
Buying and renting property in Saint Lucia
Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers buying and renting property abroad.
You must have an alien landholding licence to buy property in Saint Lucia. Contact a lawyer in Saint Lucia if you’re considering buying property or land.
Voting in Saint Lucia
UK elections
Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:
- vote in UK elections from abroad
- register as an overseas voter
Saint Lucian elections
You may be eligible to vote in Saint Lucian elections.
For more information:
Studying in Saint Lucia
If you plan to study in Saint Lucia, you must get a student visa.
For more information on student visas and entry requirements:
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: +1 (758) 456 4055
For more information on studying in Saint Lucia:
Children
Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers moving abroad with children, including:
- getting permission to take your child abroad
- claiming UK Child Benefit abroad
- child maintenance payments if a parent lives abroad
Schools and education
The Saint Lucian Ministry of Education, Youth Development, Sports and Digital Transformation provides information about the school system in Saint Lucia.
All children aged 5 to 15 must attend school or home school in Saint Lucia.
Many foreign residents choose to send their children to private schools.
Childcare
The Early Childhood Education Unit is responsible for childcare services in Saint Lucia.
Births, deaths, marriages and civil partnerships
Births
If your child is born in Saint Lucia, register the birth with the Saint Lucian authorities. You can do this at the nearest District Registrar of Births and Deaths to where your child was born.
Read the Saint Lucian government’s guidance on registering a birth in Saint Lucia.
Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:
- register the birth with the UK authorities to get a UK birth certificate
- apply for your child’s first British passport
Deaths
Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers:
- what to do after someone dies abroad
- how to register the death with the UK authorities
If someone dies in Saint Lucia, read guidance on:
Marriages and civil partnerships
Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to get married or get a civil partnership abroad.
The Saint Lucian tourist authority provides information on getting married in Saint Lucia.
Same sex marriages and civil partnerships are not legally recognised in Saint Lucia. For information about LGBT+ rights in Saint Lucia, read guidance on safety and security in the travel advice for Saint Lucia.
Divorce and separation
Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to get a divorce or end a civil partnership.
Consider taking legal advice from a lawyer in Saint Lucia.
Documents for British people in Saint Lucia
Read our guidance on documents for British people abroad. This covers:
- legalising and certifying UK documents
- marriage and civil partnership documents
- affirmations and affidavits
- witnessing signatures
Lawyers, translators and notaries
To find an English-speaking lawyer, translator or notary in Saint Lucia, read guidance on professional services if you’re abroad.
Pets
If you want to bring your pet with you to Saint Lucia, read guidance on:
Returning to the UK
Read returning to the UK permanently. This includes information on bringing family members back to the UK, tax and access to services.
Disclaimer
We provide this information as a guide only. For definitive information, contact the Saint Lucian authorities.
Read our consular information disclaimer.
