Live It Extended Stay Program
The Live It Extended Stay Program, officially branded as "Don't Just Visit, Live It," is Saint Lucia's initiative enabling foreign nationals to live on the island for up to one year while working remotely. Launched in April 2021 by the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority, the program allows remote workers, freelancers, students, and self-employed individuals with income sourced from outside Saint Lucia to obtain a one-year multiple-entry non-immigrant visa. Notably, Saint Lucia does not impose a minimum income threshold, making it one of the most accessible digital nomad programs in the Caribbean. The visa fee of USD 75 for a full year is also among the lowest in the region.
- Foreign national working remotely for employers or clients outside Saint Lucia
- Sufficient financial means to support yourself and any dependants during your stay (no minimum income amount specified)
- Valid passport with at least 6 months remaining validity
- Proof of health insurance covering the full duration of stay
- Proof of accommodation in Saint Lucia (hotel reservation or rental agreement)
- Proof of employment or enrollment from outside Saint Lucia (employment letter, contract, or enrollment confirmation)
- Must not engage in local employment in Saint Lucia
- No specific educational or professional qualifications required
- Completed Saint Lucia Non-Immigrant Visa Application Form
- Valid passport (minimum 6 months validity)
- Two certified passport-size photographs
- Proof of accommodation (hotel reservation or rental agreement with dates and address)
- Return ticket or travel itinerary
- Proof of employment or enrollment from outside Saint Lucia
- Proof of financial means (bank statements, pay slips, or pension fund statements)
- Proof of health insurance
The visa is issued for up to one year with multiple-entry capability, allowing holders to leave and re-enter Saint Lucia freely throughout the validity period. There is no minimum stay requirement or maximum absence rule. Upon expiry, a new application must be submitted. Visa-exempt nationals (including from the US, Canada, UK, and CARICOM states) who enter without the Live It visa are initially admitted for 6 weeks and may extend their stay through 30-day extensions at XCD 200 each.
Spouse and children may accompany the main applicant by each submitting separate non-immigrant visa applications to the Immigration Department. Each dependant must provide their own supporting documents and is subject to the same USD 75 visa fee. The main applicant must demonstrate sufficient financial means to support all accompanying family members.
Non-residents (present fewer than 183 days in a tax year) are taxed only on Saint Lucia-sourced income. Those present for 183 days or more who are not "ordinarily resident" are taxed on local income plus any foreign income remitted to Saint Lucia. Foreign-sourced income that is not remitted to the country is not taxed.
Applications are submitted via email to the Immigration Department at [email protected] or [email protected] at least two weeks before the intended travel date. The process works as follows:
- Complete the Saint Lucia Non-Immigrant Visa Application Form
- Gather all required supporting documents
- Email the completed application and documents to the Immigration Department
- The Immigration Department processes the application within 5 working days
- Upon approval, receive a temporary approval letter by email
- Pay the visa fee of USD 75 at the airport upon arrival in Saint Lucia
- Present the approval letter to a customs officer at the border
Alternatively, applicants may apply through SLTA-approved Island Specialists (Barefoot Holidays, Serenity Vacations & Tours, or St. James Travel & Tours), who arrange accommodation and facilitate the visa process. All travellers must also complete an electronic entry form via the online Immigration & Customs Portal (travelslu.govt.lc) up to 3 days before arrival.
Visa holders may only work remotely for employers, clients, or businesses located outside Saint Lucia. Working for any employer or business based in Saint Lucia is strictly prohibited and would require a separate work permit. The visa does not provide a path to permanent residency or citizenship.
Other Visa Programs in North America
Countryโ | Programโ | Incomeโ | Investmentโ | Capital Requiredโ | Durationโ | Dependantsโ | Citizenshipโ | Compare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
๐ฆ๐ฎ Anguilla | Residence by Investment | โ | $150,000 one-time | โ | Permanent | Yes | Yes (5yr) | ||
๐ฆ๐ฎ Anguilla | Work from Anguilla Certificate | No official minimum incom... | โ | โ | 91ย days โ 1ย year | Yes | โ | ||
๐ฆ๐ฌ Antigua and Barbuda | Citizenship by Investment Programme | โ | $230,000 one-time | โ | Permanent | Yes | Yes | ||
๐ฆ๐ผ Aruba | Investor/Shareholder Residence Permit | โ | $140,000 one-time | โ | 1ย year | Yes | Yes (5yr) | ||
๐ฆ๐ผ Aruba | One Happy Workation | No specific minimum incom... | โ | โ | 7ย days โ 90ย days | Yes | โ | ||
๐ฆ๐ผ Aruba | Retiree / Interest Rate Earner Residence Permit | $28,000 / year | โ | โ | 1ย year | Yes | Yes | ||
๐ง๐ธ Bahamas | Bahamas Extended Access Travel Stay (BEATS) | No specific minimum incom... | โ | โ | 1ย year โ 3ย years | Yes | No | ||
๐ง๐ธ Bahamas | Economic Permanent Residence Certificate | โ | BSDย 1,000,000 one-time | โ | Permanent | Yes | Yes (10yr) | ||
๐ง๐ธ Bahamas | Permit to Reside (Independent Economic Resident) | No fixed minimum income. ... | โ | โ | 1ย year โ 5ย years | Yes | โ | ||
๐ง๐ง Barbados | Special Entry and Reside Permit (Category 1: High Net Worth Investor) | โ | $2,000,000 one-time | โ | 5ย years โ Permanent | Yes | Yes | ||
๐ง๐ง Barbados | Special Entry and Reside Permit (Category 2: Retired Property Owner) | No fixed minimum income a... | โ | โ | 5ย years โ Permanent | Yes | Yes | ||
๐ง๐ง Barbados | Welcome Stamp | $50,000 / year | โ | โ | 1ย year | Yes | Yes | ||
๐ง๐ฟ Belize | Long Stay Visitor Permit | $75,000 / year | โ | โ | 6ย months | Yes | Yes (5yr) | ||
๐ง๐ฟ Belize | Qualified Retired Persons Incentive Program | $2,000 / month | โ | โ | 1ย year โ Permanent | Yes | No | ||
๐ง๐ฟ Belize | Temporary Residence Permit (Investment) | โ | $250,000 one-time | โ | 1ย year | Yes | Yes (5yr) | ||
๐ง๐ฒ Bermuda | Economic Investment Residential Certificate | โ | BMDย 2,500,000 one-time | โ | Permanent | Yes | Yes (5yr) | ||
๐ง๐ฒ Bermuda | Global Entrepreneur Work Permit | โ | โ | No fixed minimum capital ... | 1ย year | Yes | โ | ||
๐ง๐ฒ Bermuda | Permission to Reside on an Annual Basis | No fixed minimum income p... | โ | โ | 1ย year โ 5ย years | Yes | No | ||
๐ป๐ฌ British Virgin Islands | Right to Reside Permit | No fixed minimum; must de... | โ | โ | 1ย year | Yes | โ | ||
๐จ๐ฆ Canada | Digital Nomad Policy | No minimum income thresho... | โ | โ | 6ย months | Yes | โ | ||
๐จ๐ฆ Canada | Quebec Immigrant Investor Program | โ | CA$1,200,000 one-time | โ | Permanent | Yes | Yes (3yr) | ? | |
๐จ๐ฆ Canada | Self-Employed Persons Program | โ | โ | โ | Permanent | Yes | Yes (3yr) | ? | |
๐จ๐ฆ Canada | Start-Up Visa Program | โ | โ | CA$75,000 one-time | Permanent | Yes | Yes | ? | |
๐ฐ๐พ Cayman Islands | Certificate of Direct Investment | โ | $1,220,000 one-time | โ | 25ย years | Yes | Yes | ||
๐ฐ๐พ Cayman Islands | Certificate of Permanent Residence for Persons of Independent Means | โ | $2,440,000 one-time | โ | Permanent | Yes | Yes | ||
๐ฐ๐พ Cayman Islands | Residency Certificate for Persons of Independent Means | โ | $1,220,000 one-time | โ | 25ย years | Yes | No | ||
๐ฐ๐พ Cayman Islands | Zone Employment Certificate | โ | โ | $15,000 one-time | 5ย years | Yes | โ | ||
๐จ๐ท Costa Rica | Digital Nomad Visa | $3,000 / month | โ | โ | 1ย year โ 2ย years | Yes | No | ||
๐จ๐ท Costa Rica | Residencia Temporal Inversionista | โ | $150,000 one-time | โ | 2ย years | Yes | Yes | ||
๐จ๐ท Costa Rica | Residencia Temporal Pensionado | $1,000 / month | โ | โ | 2ย years | Yes | โ | ||
๐จ๐ท Costa Rica | Residencia Temporal Rentista | $2,500 / month | โ | โ | 2ย years | Yes | โ | ||
๐จ๐บ Cuba | Real Estate Resident Visa | โ | No fixed minimum investme... | โ | 1ย year | Yes | โ | ||
๐ฉ๐ฒ Dominica | Work In Nature Extended Stay Visa | $50,000 / year | โ | โ | 18ย months | Yes | Yes | ||
๐ฉ๐ด Dominican Republic | Residencia Permanente en Calidad de Inversionista | โ | $200,000 one-time | โ | 1ย year โ Permanent | Yes | Yes | ||
๐ฉ๐ด Dominican Republic | Residencia Permanente en Calidad de Jubilado o Pensionado | $1,500 / month | โ | โ | 1ย year โ Permanent | Yes | Yes | ||
๐ฉ๐ด Dominican Republic | Residencia Permanente en Calidad de Rentista | $2,000 / month | โ | โ | 1ย year โ Permanent | Yes | Yes | ||
๐ธ๐ป El Salvador | Definitive Residency for Investors | โ | Investment or donation to... | โ | Permanent | Yes | Yes (5yr) | ||
๐ธ๐ป El Salvador | Freedom Visa | โ | $1,000,000 one-time | โ | Permanent | Yes | Yes | ||
๐ธ๐ป El Salvador | Temporary Residency for Pensioners | $1,226 / month | โ | โ | 1ย year โ 5ย years | Yes | โ | ||
๐ธ๐ป El Salvador | Temporary Residency for Rentistas | $1,460 / month | โ | โ | 1ย year โ 5ย years | Yes | โ | ||
๐ฌ๐ฉ Grenada | Citizenship by Investment Programme | โ | $235,000 one-time | โ | Permanent | Yes | Yes | ||
๐ฌ๐ฉ Grenada | Remote Work Permit | $37,000 / year | โ | โ | 1ย year โ 2ย years | Yes | Yes | ||
๐ฌ๐น Guatemala | Permanent Residence for Rentistas or Pensioners | $1,250 / month | โ | โ | Permanent | Yes | Yes (5yr) | ||
๐ฌ๐น Guatemala | Temporary Residence for Intellectuals, Researchers, and Scientists | โ | โ | โ | 1ย year โ 5ย years | Yes | โ | ||
๐ฌ๐น Guatemala | Temporary Residence for Investors | โ | $100,000 one-time | โ | 1ย year โ 5ย years | Yes | โ | ||
๐ฌ๐น Guatemala | Temporary Residence for Self-Employed Workers | โ | โ | No minimum capital requir... | 1ย year โ 5ย years | Yes | โ | ||
๐ฌ๐น Guatemala | Temporary Residence for Workers with Foreign Employer | $2,000 / month | โ | โ | 1ย year โ 5ย years | Yes | Yes (5yr) | ||
๐ญ๐ณ Honduras | Investor Residency | โ | $50,000 one-time | โ | Permanent | Yes | Yes | ||
๐ญ๐ณ Honduras | Pensionado Residency | $1,500 / month | โ | โ | 2ย years โ Permanent | Yes | Yes | ||
๐ญ๐ณ Honduras | Rentista Residency | $2,500 / month | โ | โ | 2ย years โ Permanent | Yes | Yes | ||
๐ฏ๐ฒ Jamaica | Permanent Residence (Retirement) | No fixed minimum income t... | โ | โ | Permanent | Yes | Yes (5yr) | ||
๐ฒ๐ถ Martinique | Talent Porteur de Projet โ Business Creation | โ | โ | โฌ30,000 one-time | 4ย years | Yes | โ | ||
๐ฒ๐ถ Martinique | Talent Porteur de Projet โ Innovative Economic Project (French Tech Visa) | โ | โ | No minimum investment req... | 4ย years | Yes | โ | ||
๐ฒ๐ฝ Mexico | Permanent Resident Visa for Retirees and Pensioners | $7,400 / month | โ | โ | Permanent | Yes | Yes (5yr) | ||
๐ฒ๐ฝ Mexico | Temporary Resident Visa by Economic Solvency | $4,432 / month | โ | โ | 1ย year โ 4ย years | Yes | No | ||
๐ฒ๐ฝ Mexico | Temporary Resident Visa for Investors | โ | $299,000 one-time | โ | 1ย year โ 4ย years | Yes | Yes (5yr) | ||
๐ฒ๐ธ Montserrat | Permit of Economic Residence | โ | EC$400,000 one-time | โ | 5ย years | Yes | Yes | ||
๐ฒ๐ธ Montserrat | Remote Employment Stamp | $70,000 / year | โ | โ | 1ย year | Yes | โ | ||
๐จ๐ผ Netherlands Antilles | @Home in Curacao | No official minimum incom... | โ | โ | 6ย months โ 1ย year | Yes | โ | ||
๐จ๐ผ Netherlands Antilles | Investor Permit | โ | Cg.ย 500,000 one-time | โ | 3ย years โ Permanent | Yes | Yes (5yr) | ||
๐จ๐ผ Netherlands Antilles | Rentier or Retired Residence Permit | ANGย 3,000 / month | โ | โ | 1ย year | Yes | โ | ||
๐ณ๐ฎ Nicaragua | Investor Permanent Residence | โ | $30,000 one-time | โ | 5ย years | Yes | Yes (2yr) | ||
๐ณ๐ฎ Nicaragua | Residencia Temporal Pensionado | $600 / month | โ | โ | 1ย year | Yes | โ | ||
๐ณ๐ฎ Nicaragua | Residencia Temporal Rentista | $750 / month | โ | โ | 1ย year | Yes | โ | ||
๐ต๐ฆ Panama | Permanent Residence Permit for Retirees and Pensioners | $1,000 / month | โ | โ | Permanent | Yes | Yes (5yr) | ||
๐ต๐ฆ Panama | Professional Foreign Residence Permit | โ | โ | โ | 2ย years โ Permanent | Yes | Yes (5yr) | ||
๐ต๐ฆ Panama | Qualified Investor Permanent Residence | โ | $300,000 one-time | โ | Permanent | Yes | Yes (5yr) | ||
๐ต๐ฆ Panama | Short Stay Visa for Remote Workers | $3,000 / month | โ | โ | 9ย months โ 18ย months | No | No | ||
๐ฐ๐ณ Saint Kitts and Nevis | Citizenship by Investment Programme | โ | $250,000 one-time | โ | Permanent | Yes | Yes | ||
๐ฐ๐ณ Saint Kitts and Nevis | Temporary Residence Permit | No specific minimum incom... | โ | โ | 6ย months โ 1ย year | Yes | โ | ||
๐ฑ๐จ Saint Lucia | Citizenship by Investment Programme | โ | $240,000 one-time | โ | Permanent | Yes | Yes | ||
๐ฑ๐จ Saint Lucia | Live It Extended Stay Program | No minimum income require... | โ | โ | 1ย year | Yes | No | ||
๐ต๐ฒ Saint Pierre and Miquelon | Visitor Temporary Residence Card | โฌ1,443 / month | โ | โ | 1ย year | Yes | Yes (5yr) | ||
๐น๐จ Turks and Caicos Islands | Independent Means Residence Permit | No fixed minimum. Must de... | โ | โ | 1ย year โ 3ย years | Yes | โ | ||
๐น๐จ Turks and Caicos Islands | Permanent Residence Certificate (Investment) | โ | $300,000 one-time | โ | Permanent | Yes | Yes | ||
๐น๐จ Turks and Caicos Islands | Self-Employed Work Permit | โ | โ | No fixed minimum capital ... | 1ย year โ 5ย years | Yes | โ | ||
๐บ๐ธ United States | EB-1A Extraordinary Ability | โ | โ | โ | Permanent | Yes | Yes (5yr) | ||
๐บ๐ธ United States | EB-2 National Interest Waiver | โ | โ | โ | Permanent | Yes | Yes (5yr) | ||
๐บ๐ธ United States | EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program | โ | $800,000 one-time | โ | Permanent | Yes | Yes | ||
๐บ๐ธ United States | International Entrepreneur Parole | โ | โ | $311,071 one-time | 30ย months โ 5ย years | Yes | โ |