Saint Lucia
Saint Lucia "Don't Just Visit, Live It" Extended-Stay Program: health insurance requirements
Yes: health insurance is required
Saint Lucia's "Don't Just Visit, Live It" program lets remote workers, the self-employed and online students live on the island for up to 12 months on a multiple-entry visa, with income earned outside the country. There is no published minimum income, but you must show sufficient funds and private health insurance for your stay. The program does not grant access to public healthcare, so the insurance you carry is the only cover you have on the ground.
The requirements at a glance
| Local-licensed insurer required | No: compliant international IPMI is accepted |
|---|---|
| Accepted proof | Proof of private health or travel-medical insurance covering the full period of stay, submitted with the application; documents are typically uploaded online and the visa fee is paid on arrival. |
Income must originate outside Saint Lucia. No fixed minimum income is published, but applicants show sufficient funds (commonly 3 to 6 months of bank statements) plus an employment letter, contract or proof of self-employment, or a school enrolment letter for online students. Applicants must be in good health with no criminal record. Valid for up to 12 months on a multiple-entry visa (a 3-month single-entry option also exists). Fee around EC$190 for multiple entry / EC$125 single entry, paid on arrival; processing about 5 to 7 working days. Note: nomads on this program cannot use the public healthcare system.
Our take
Saint Lucia names health insurance as a requirement but, like several Caribbean programs, sets no official minimum coverage amount. A figure of around EUR 30,000 is sometimes quoted online; treat that as commonly cited rather than confirmed, and verify current requirements with the immigration authority before you rely on it.
Because the program explicitly excludes you from public healthcare, your private policy is doing all the work. On a single island where the most serious cases are flown abroad, the clause that matters is medical evacuation and repatriation, not the headline sum insured.
What happens if you get it wrong
Buying a thin travel policy that covers cancellation and lost bags but caps medical low and excludes evacuation. An air ambulance to Martinique, Barbados, Puerto Rico or the US can run into five figures, and that is exactly the scenario a single-island posting creates.
Assuming home-country or employer health benefits will cover treatment in Saint Lucia. They generally do not apply locally, and private hospitals expect payment up front rather than billing an overseas insurer, so you pay and then claim.
Interactive
Verified pricesWhat would it cost in St. Lucia without insurance?
You pay, out of pocket
$2,500–$10,000
A serious private admission or common surgery.
Bars to scale. A flight home is in another league.
That is the bill you carry alone. Insurance exists for exactly this.
See what cover costsTypical private-care estimates for illustration, not a quote. Actual bills vary by hospital, city and severity.
FAQ
Yes. You must show private health insurance covering your stay. It matters more than usual because the "Live It" program does not give you access to the public healthcare system, so your policy is the only cover you have.
No official minimum is published. A figure of around EUR 30,000 is commonly cited online but is not confirmed in the rules, so focus on whether the policy includes medical evacuation rather than chasing a specific number, and verify with the immigration authority.
No fixed income figure is published. You instead show sufficient funds to support yourself and any family, with income coming from outside Saint Lucia, usually evidenced by several months of bank statements plus proof of remote work or online study.
It runs up to 12 months on a multiple-entry visa, with a 3-month single-entry option also available. The fee is around EC$190 for multiple entry or EC$125 single entry, typically paid on arrival, with processing of about 5 to 7 working days.
No. The program states that participants cannot access public healthcare, which is why private insurance is required. Given that serious cases are flown off-island, make sure your policy includes medical evacuation.
Reviewed by Lukas Schönberg, Founder & researcher, Nomad Insurance Broker OÜ
Nomad Insurance Broker OÜ (Estonia) is an information and matching platform, not currently registered as a regulated insurance intermediary in any jurisdiction. See /how-it-works for the full disclosure.
Source: stlucia.orgLast verified
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