Revised Laws of Saint Lucia (2021)

8.   Naturalisation

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   (1)   The Minister may grant a certificate of naturalisation to any alien of full age and capacity who makes the prescribed application therefor and satisfies the Minister—

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      (a)     that he or she is of good character;

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      (b)     that he or she has an adequate knowledge of the English language and of the duties of a citizen of Saint Lucia;

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      (c)     that he or she has resided in Saint Lucia for a period exceeding 12 months immediately preceding the date of his or her application;

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      (d)     that during the 7 years immediately preceding the said period of 12 months he or she has resided in Saint Lucia or has had service under the Government, or has had partly such residence and partly such service, for periods amounting in the aggregate to not less than 7 years;

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      (e)     that he or she intends to reside in Saint Lucia or to enter or continue in the service of the Government.

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   (2)   The Minister may, in such cases as he or she thinks fit—

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      (a)     allow a continuous period of 12 months ending not later than 6 months before the date of the application to be reckoned for the purpose of subsection (1)(c) as if it had immediately preceded that date; and

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      (b)     allow periods of residence or of service earlier than the 7 years preceding the date of the application to be reckoned in computing the aggregate period mentioned in subsection (1)(d);

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      (c)     allow for special reasons any shorter period than 7 years required under subsection (1)(d).

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   (3)   An alien shall not be granted a certificate under this section unless he or she first renounces in the prescribed form the citizenship of any other country which he or she may possess and takes the oath of allegiance.

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   (4)   A person to whom a certificate of naturalisation has been granted shall become a citizen as from the date of the certificate.