Everything You Need To Know About A Saint Lucia Visa
Saint
Lucia is a British Commonwealth nation. But it is not a British Overseas
Territory. Therefore, it has its own visa policy. But, the entry regulations
are really lenient. As a British citizen, you can enter Saint Lucia without a
visa for a stay of up to 42 days.
A visa-free entry is issued to UK residents
for purposes of tourism, business, air-transit, and studies.
However,
once you arrive at the airport, the immigration authorities will check your
stated purpose and stamp the allowed stay period on your passport (although the
official allowable stay period is 42 days). In any case, you cannot overstay
this timespan.
If you decide to extend your stay, you require to apply for an
extension via the St Lucia Immigration Department.
If
you reside in the UK but you don’t hold a valid British passport, you must
check whether you need a visa. Nationals of 50 countries can obtain a visa on
arrival once they land in Saint Lucia and are granted a 6-week stay in the
country. If you are not eligible for either visa exemption or a VOA, you have
to visit the nearest Saint Lucia diplomatic mission and submit an application
in person.
In
order to check if you need a visa to enter Saint Lucia, please visit the official portal of the
High Commission of Saint Lucia in London.
Entry requirements to enter Saint Lucia under the visa-exemption regime
Just like the case of any international travel, you need to carry your passport when you travel to Saint Lucia. Your ordinary British passport should not be older than 10 years and it should have a remaining validity of at least six months from your date of arrival in St Lucia.
Do note that your passport also has a minimum of two blank visa pages for necessary stamping at points of entry into and exit from Saint Lucia.
It is very common for immigration authorities to ask you for proof of onward/return travel. So, remember to carry your return tickets to the UK or ongoing tickets to the next destination.
If your itinerary includes another country, you should also have the necessary documentation (visa, residence permit) that grants you entry into the nation.
You must be able to prove that you have sufficient funds to cover your said stay period in Saint Lucia (in the form of cash, cheques, or bank statements)
Before planning your travel, remember to check with your airline if they allow boarding without a visa. Additionally, confirm if your itinerary has international connecting flights. If yes, crosscheck if the individual countries in the journey require separate transit visas.
UK Emergency Travel Documents
The government of Saint Lucia accepts UK emergency travel documents at points of entry, airside transit and exit from the country.
Additional Notes
The nation of Saint Lucia does not hold a risk of yellow fever transmission. But it does follow a certificate requirement.
According to the International Health Regulations, a yellow fever vaccination certificate is mandatory for all travellers aged above 9 months if they are arriving from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission or have air-transited for more than 48 hours from a region that holds a threat of yellow fever transmission.
You should know that UK health authorities have classified St Lucia as having a risk of Zika virus transmission. Cases of Chikungunya virus have also been cited in the region. Hence, you should obtain a comprehensive travel and medical insurance before you travel to the country.
For additional consular assistance, you can contact the British High Commission in St Lucia.