Your first 90 days in St Lucia: the arrival checklist
The visa got you in — this is what turns you into a functioning resident: the registration clock, the ID number everything else depends on, and the money, healthcare, and license steps in the order they actually unlock. Each step links the official source so you can verify the current rule.
Checked against official sources · September 2026 · how we verify
The catch that burns new arrivals
Watch the length of the entry stamp rather than the visa-free headline — six weeks is common, people plan for three months, and overstaying is treated seriously at departure. Diary the actual date written in your passport on the day you land.
The checklist, in the order it unlocks
Apply to the Immigration Department for an extension of stay or residence permit, or activate a Live It approved long-stay arrangement
Before the entry stamp expires — visitors are commonly admitted for up to 6 weeks and extensions are applied for at Immigration in Castries
The initial stamp here is often shorter than in neighbouring islands, so check what the officer actually wrote rather than assuming a three-month default. Extensions are routine but must be applied for in person.
Get your TIN (taxpayer identification number) from the Inland Revenue Department
Local employment income, property and business activity key off it; St Lucia taxes income arising in St Lucia, and foreign-source income of long-stay remote workers is generally outside that net.
Registered at the Inland Revenue Department with your permit and passport; National Insurance Corporation registration is separate and applies to local employment.
Open a bank account
Bank of Saint Lucia, Republic Bank and CIBC Caribbean open accounts for permit holders on references and proof of address. The EC dollar is pegged at 2.70 to the US dollar. St Lucia also runs a CBI programme, which has the same knock-on effect on compliance scrutiny seen across the region.
Enrol in healthcare
Owen King EU Hospital in Castries is the main public facility, with St Jude in the south, and public care carries modest fees. Serious cases are referred to Martinique, Barbados or the US, so evacuation cover is the part of an insurance policy that actually matters here.
Sort your driver's license
A temporary local driving permit is issued on presentation of a valid foreign licence and a fee, which is how most arrivals drive legally; residents convert to a full St Lucian licence. Driving is on the left, on genuinely steep and narrow roads.
Deadlines and requirements vary by nationality, visa type, and region, and they change — this is information current as of 2026, not legal or immigration advice. Verify each step with the official source before you rely on it.
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Information only, not legal advice — we never file anything with any government. Requirements change; verify with the official source or a licensed immigration advisor before you apply.
First 90 days in St Lucia: FAQ
What do I have to do first after arriving in St Lucia?
Apply to the Immigration Department for an extension of stay or residence permit, or activate a Live It approved long-stay arrangement — Before the entry stamp expires — visitors are commonly admitted for up to 6 weeks and extensions are applied for at Immigration in Castries. The initial stamp here is often shorter than in neighbouring islands, so check what the officer actually wrote rather than assuming a three-month default. Extensions are routine but must be applied for in person. Verify the current rule with the official source before you rely on it.
What is the TIN and do I need one?
TIN (taxpayer identification number) from the Inland Revenue Department is St Lucia's personal tax/ID number. Local employment income, property and business activity key off it; St Lucia taxes income arising in St Lucia, and foreign-source income of long-stay remote workers is generally outside that net. Registered at the Inland Revenue Department with your permit and passport; National Insurance Corporation registration is separate and applies to local employment.
Can I drive in St Lucia on a US license?
A temporary local driving permit is issued on presentation of a valid foreign licence and a fee, which is how most arrivals drive legally; residents convert to a full St Lucian licence. Driving is on the left, on genuinely steep and narrow roads. Rules differ by nationality and change — check the official source before the window closes.
How do I get healthcare after moving to St Lucia?
Owen King EU Hospital in Castries is the main public facility, with St Jude in the south, and public care carries modest fees. Serious cases are referred to Martinique, Barbados or the US, so evacuation cover is the part of an insurance policy that actually matters here. See our healthcare-systems guide for how St Lucia's system treats foreign residents.