St Vincent and the Grenadines permanent residence

Foreigners who buy land or property in St Vincent and the Grenadines need an Alien's Land-Holding Licence. A local lawyer prepares the application and submits it to the Office of the Prime Minister. The application fee for the licence is $2,500, and the licence fee and stamp duty are set according to the market value of the land or property. A licence holder may then apply for permanent residence, at the higher fee shown below.

The Office of the Prime Minister names two groups who may apply for permanent residence: people with seven or more consecutive years of temporary residence, and holders of an Alien's Land-Holding Licence. Time spent as a visitor or on a six-month work permit alone is not described as qualifying; the count runs on temporary residence.

The Office of the Prime Minister's published schedule as at 1 March 2016, marked subject to change, sets a EC$200 non-refundable application fee for permanent residence. On approval, CARICOM and Commonwealth nationals pay EC$2,400, other nationals EC$3,200, and applicants qualifying through an Alien's Land-Holding Licence EC$8,000.

Applications go to the Office of the Prime Minister, 4th floor, Administrative Centre, Bay Street, Kingstown; telephone (784) 456-1703 or PBX (784) 456-1111 extension 4760. The office's forms page carries the current forms and directs applicants there for up-to-date fees and requirements. The office accepts files by mail, courier or delivery by a representative. Any document that is not in English must be accompanied by an official translation.

Permanent residence status is one of the grounds for citizenship by registration, alongside marriage to a Vincentian and seven or more consecutive years of temporary residence. The citizenship file includes the application form with a reference page, a certified photo, birth certificates and passport copies of the applicant and spouse, a marriage certificate, a medical certificate and a police certificate, all as originals that are returned at the end. The Office of the Prime Minister lists a $150 application fee and a registration fee of $1,500 or $2,200 payable on approval, and investigations take about six months to a year or more.