Saint Lucia passport holders now need a UK visa; backlog approx. 14–24 months

Saint Lucia · Residency planning · From March 2026

Country / regionSaint Lucia
CategoryResidency planning
DateFrom March 2026
What happenedFrom March 2026, Saint Lucia passport holders require a visa to travel to the UK. The programme also has a severe processing backlog in 2026 (approx. 14–24 months). Saint Lucia retains Schengen visa-free access with approx. 147 visa-free destinations.
Impact on applicantsIf UK travel is essential or a long timeline is unacceptable, Saint Lucia is no longer suitable; time-sensitive applicants should choose another programme.
Source: {src}Industry compilation (UK visa policy and programme processing times) ↗
Note on scope: Subject to official announcement

Source: Industry compilation (UK visa policy and programme processing times) ↗ · Last verified: 2026-09-20 · For reference only; not application or legal advice. Always check the official source for current rules.

FAQ

Saint Lucia passport holders now need a UK visa; backlog approx. 14–24 months — what happened?

From March 2026, Saint Lucia passport holders require a visa to travel to the UK. The programme also has a severe processing backlog in 2026 (approx. 14–24 months). Saint Lucia retains Schengen visa-free access with approx. 147 visa-free destinations.

What does this mean for applicants?

If UK travel is essential or a long timeline is unacceptable, Saint Lucia is no longer suitable; time-sensitive applicants should choose another programme.

Where does this information come from?

Industry compilation (UK visa policy and programme processing times) (Note on scope: Subject to official announcement), verified by us on 2026-09-20.

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