(1) Except for a citizen of the United States of America, the Republic of France, Canada or a Protocol Member State who may use his or her valid national identification card or driver's licence of such State for entry into Saint Lucia, any person who enters Saint Lucia without his or her valid passport shall be deemed to be a prohibited immigrant unless he or she establishes his or her identity and national status to the satisfaction of the immigration officer. (Substituted by Act 21 of 2014)
(2) The Minister may by Order published in the Gazette —
(a) direct that the passport of a subject or citizen of a foreign country shall not be accepted as such unless it bears a visa valid for Saint Lucia; (Amended by Act 15 of 2006)
(b) declare the circumstances or conditions under which such provisions shall not apply.
(3) The Minister may by Order published in the Gazette, exempt from the provisions of this section any person or any class of persons entering Saint Lucia, and such exemption may be general or subject to such conditions, restrictions, or exemptions as are specified in the Order.
(Amended by Act 3 of 1991)
(4) A visa required under this section shall be issued by or on behalf of the Minister, in accordance with Regulations made under section 39.
(5) An Order made under subsection (2) shall specify whether a citizen of a foreign country shall obtain a visa prior to entry into Saint Lucia or may obtain a visa on arrival in Saint Lucia.
(6) Where an Order made under subsection (2), specifies in accordance with subsection (5) that a citizen of a foreign country requires a visa prior to entry into Saint Lucia, an air operator or the operator of a maritime vessel shall not transport a citizen of that foreign country into Saint Lucia unless that person holds a valid visa for that purpose prior to entry into Saint Lucia or is exempt from the provision of this section in accordance with subsection (3).
(7) An air operator or the operator of a maritime vessel who contravenes subsection (7) commits an offence and is liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding $1,000 and shall be required to transport that person from Saint Lucia back to that person's port of embarkation as soon as is practicable on the next available flight and at the complete expense of the air operator or the operator of the maritime vessel.
(8) For the purposes of this section “air operator” has the meaning given to it under the Civil Aviation Act.
(Inserted by Act 15 of 2006)