St. Lucia defends citizenship programme after UK visa decision

Ernest Hilaire, the minister responsible for Saint Lucia Citizenship by Investment Programme, has strongly defended the country’s investment citizenship programme, insisting that the United Kingdom’s recent decision to impose visa requirements on Saint Lucian nationals should not be interpreted as a condemnation of the initiative.

The statement comes amid new visa requirements for nationals of Saint Lucia traveling to or transiting through the United Kingdom. UK officials say the measure is intended to address an increase in asylum applications from Saint Lucian passport holders and to curb what they described as “back door entry” into the country.

Addressing Parliament on Tuesday morning, Hilaire said the statement from the UK Home Office has been widely misinterpreted, creating the impression that Saint Lucia’s citizenship by investment programme is responsible for a rise in asylum claims in the United Kingdom.

According to the minister, that conclusion is not supported by evidence.

“I say to this Honourable House that it is wrong to leave the impression that Saint Lucia’s CIP is responsible for this problem when, to date, the data needed to establish that claim has not been shared with us,” Hilaire stated.

The United Kingdom recently announced that Saint Lucian nationals will now require visas to enter the country, citing concerns about asylum applications and illegal work. However, Hilaire noted that UK authorities have not provided data distinguishing between natural-born Saint Lucians and individuals who obtained citizenship through the investment programme.

“We have asked repeatedly for the relevant information on any concern with the CIP,” he told Parliament. “If there are CIP citizens using Saint Lucian passports to claim asylum or work illegally in the United Kingdom, then share the data with us. Tell us how many. Tell us where they are originally from. Give us the information necessary to act.”

Hilaire stressed that Saint Lucia has consistently cooperated with international partners to safeguard the integrity of the programme.

He said the government has taken action in the past when credible concerns were raised, including barring certain nationalities from applying under the programme after potential risks were identified elsewhere in the region.

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“That is what responsible government looks like,” Hilaire said. “It does not gossip. It does not speculate. It acts.”

The minister argued that without evidence identifying specific abuses, the government cannot take targeted action against individuals allegedly misusing Saint Lucian citizenship.

“No responsible government can fix a problem that is not properly placed before it,” he said.

Meanwhile, Philip J. Pierre confirmed Monday that there will be a six-week transition period before the new visa requirement fully takes effect. However, according to a release from the British High Commission, the measure took effect on March 6, 2026.

Speaking ahead of the weekly Cabinet meeting, the prime minister said individuals who had already made travel arrangements prior to the announcement will be allowed to travel to the United Kingdom visa-free during that six-week window.

Despite the new visa requirement, Hilaire reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening the citizenship programme and maintaining cooperation with international partners.