CaribbeanPolicy Updates

Saint Lucia Citizenship by Investment Program Re-Opens to Iranians

Christian Henrik Nesheim ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  ,  , 
Editor
Christian Henrik Nesheim

In a memorandum circulated yesterday, Saint Lucia’s Citizenship by Investment Unit informed stakeholders that it had resumed the processing of applications from Iranian citizens.

“The Unit,” explained the circular, “has been able to secure relationships with due diligence service providers who are able to perform the usual thorough standard of due diligence on Iranians.”

Speaking to IMI today on the occasion of an interview on separate topics, Mc Claude Emmanuel, the CIU’s Chief Executive, provided additional context as to which changes had taken place with the program’s vetting parties that had enabled it to once more accept Iranian nationals.

“Due to instability [in previous years], our due diligence partners were not able to have their people on the ground [in Iran] to visit the requisite agencies to verify documents and conduct the necessary background checks,” says Mr. Emmanuel, adding that his CIU’s official due diligence providers have provided assurances as to their boots-on-the-ground presence and access in Iran.

With the re-opening to Iran, Saint Lucia now only imposes an outright ban on two nationalities: Russians and Belarusians. Saint Kitts & Nevis’ CIP now remains the sole Caribbean CIP that still does not accept Iranian applicants. Iranians also remain excluded from Malta’s MEIN policy.

See detailed nationality restrictions among citizenship by investment programs

Applicant Origin Antigua & Barbuda Dominica Grenada Malta St Kitts & Nevis Saint Lucia Turkey Vanuatu Egypt Jordan Cambodia
Afghanistan Ineligible* Eligible Eligible Ineligible Ineligible Eligible Eligible Eligible Eligible Eligible Eligible
Armenia Eligible Eligible Eligible Eligible Eligible Eligible Ineligible Eligible Eligible Eligible Eligible
Belarus Ineligible Ineligible Ineligible Ineligible Ineligible Ineligible Eligible Eligible Eligible Eligible Eligible
Cyprus Eligible Eligible Eligible Eligible Eligible Eligible Ineligible Eligible Eligible Eligible Eligible
DR Congo Eligible Eligible Eligible Ineligible Eligible Eligible Eligible Eligible Eligible Eligible Eligible
Iran Ineligible* Eligible Ineligible Ineligible Ineligible Ineligible Eligible Ineligible* Eligible Eligible Eligible
Iraq Eligible Ineligible* Eligible Eligible Ineligible Eligible Eligible Ineligible* Eligible Eligible Eligible
Israel Eligible Eligible Eligible Eligible Eligible Eligible Eligible Eligible Ineligible Eligible Eligible
North Korea Ineligible* Ineligible* Ineligible Ineligible Ineligible Eligible Ineligible Ineligible* Eligible Eligible Eligible
Russia Ineligible Ineligible Ineligible Ineligible Ineligible Ineligible Eligible Eligible Eligible Eligible Eligible
Somalia Ineligible* Eligible Eligible Ineligible Eligible Eligible Eligible Eligible Eligible Eligible Eligible
South Sudan Eligible Eligible Eligible Ineligible Eligible Eligible Eligible Eligible Eligible Eligible Eligible
Sudan Ineligible* Ineligible* Eligible Ineligible Eligible Eligible Eligible Eligible Eligible Eligible Eligible
Syria Eligible Eligible Eligible Ineligible Eligible Eligible Eligible Eligible Eligible Eligible Eligible
Venezuela Eligible Eligible Eligible Ineligible Eligible Eligible Eligible Eligible Eligible Eligible Eligible
Yemen Ineligible* Ineligible Eligible Ineligible Eligible Eligible Eligible Ineligible* Eligible Eligible Eligible