Retiring in Saint Lucia as a French National: Stay, Taxation and Healthcare

France Diplomatie specifies that the length of stay with no other formality is limited to 42 days for a French national. To settle, a residence permit must be requested from the Saint Lucian authorities. No official source read describes, to date, a visa or residence specific to retirees, nor a pension amount to be proven: the Saint Lucian government portal refers to the citizenship, residence and immigration headings, whose conditions should be confirmed with the immigration service. Before selling a property in France or moving, gather proof of income (pension statement), proof of accommodation, health insurance valid for the whole planned duration and a valid passport. The guide to living in Saint Lucia details entry, safety and housing.

A trial stay of a few weeks, within the 42 days, makes it possible to compare neighbourhoods, access to care and pace of life before committing. The French embassy in Castries (+1 758 455 60 60 during working hours) registers nationals entered on the register of French nationals living abroad.

The Assurance retraite (the French pension insurance) pays the French pension in more than 180 countries, to an account in France or abroad; a change of address and bank details is reported to the regional fund. Each year, a life certificate must be completed by an authorised local authority and returned on time to keep the payment. The allowance for elderly people (ASPA) and the supplementary disability allowance require residence in France: they stop on departure and can be reapplied for on return. See the guide receiving your pension abroad.

A retiree whose tax domicile is outside France bears no CSG, CRDS or CASA on their pension; a health contribution of 3.20% may nevertheless apply when they remain attached to a French compulsory scheme or have at least 15 years of old-age insurance in France (Assurance retraite). Rights acquired in France are not aggregated with any Saint Lucian rights: the guide on quarters worked abroad explains the principle.

No tax treaty between France and Saint Lucia could be confirmed in the sources read. Without a treaty, each state’s domestic rules apply: a pension of French source remains in principle subject to French tax under the non-resident regime, with withholding tax of 0%, 12% or 20% by band (thresholds revised each year), after a 10% allowance (impots.gouv.fr). The first two bands are final, the 20% band is credited against the tax. Several pension funds may lead to an adjustment when the sum of the pensions exceeds a threshold.

On the Saint Lucian side, the Inland Revenue Department sets the taxation rules for residents and non-residents; its scales cannot be read online. To determine whether the pension is taxable locally and to what extent, ask the Saint Lucian administration and the tax office for non-resident individuals before fixing your tax residence.

The S1 form and the European Health Insurance Card are valid only in the European Union, the European Economic Area, Switzerland and the United Kingdom (Assurance Maladie, the French national health insurance). Saint Lucia does not appear in the CLEISS list of social security agreements (CLEISS is the French centre for international social security liaison): healthcare costs are no longer covered by the French Assurance Maladie after departure. Three routes are available:

• Saint Lucian public sector: the reference hospital is the Owen King European Union Hospital (120 beds, including 6 intensive care beds); the conditions of access for a foreign resident should be confirmed with the Ministry of Health, and several hospitals require payment in advance.
• CFE, retiree offer: quarterly contribution published on cfe.fr, for holders of a pension from the French basic scheme, with no medical questionnaire; no waiting period if joining takes place before departure or within three months of settling in, then 3 or 6 months depending on age.
• International insurance: direct access to the private sector and evacuation; age, pre-existing medical conditions and ceilings are decisive, because evacuation to the CHU of Fort-de-France is common for serious cases (France Diplomatie).

For stays in France, a pensioner of the general scheme with at least 15 years of contributions may be covered after registering with the Cnarefe; their spouse must join the CFE and take out a private contract covering France. See the guide health insurance for retirees abroad, the page healthcare reimbursement in Saint Lucia and the comparison of the CFE and private insurance.

No local administration consulted publishes a typical retiree budget. The Saint Lucian economy is driven by services (nearly three quarters of value added, World Bank) and by tourism, with more than a million visitors (Statistics Office): a large share of goods is imported, which makes prices sensitive to currencies and transport. Build a prudent budget from quotes for rent, energy, food and health insurance, keeping a margin for exchange: the pension is received in euros, and the “Economic benchmarks” block gives the day’s rate.

France Diplomatie describes a country placed under heightened vigilance, with a homicide rate above 40 per 100,000 inhabitants, and recommends avoiding isolated and night-time journeys, choosing accommodation whose security has been checked and preferring certified taxis. The hurricane season runs from June to the end of November: solid housing, outside flood zones, and a contract covering the home are common-sense choices for a long-term residence.

Before leaving, inform your health insurance fund and your pension fund of your change of residence: the Assurance Maladie indicates that a residence transfer form is available on ameli.fr. Then check the health situation of the host country and the likely out-of-pocket cost, then choose cover that includes medical costs and medical repatriation. Gather the documents needed for the residence permit, appoint a contact person in France for administrative matters and open an ameli account, which can be used from abroad. Finally, think about what comes next: the return to France is prepared by keeping your rights, and the CFE applies no waiting period on return.

This preparation is all the more worthwhile as local hospital equipment is judged insufficient by France Diplomatie and the embassy covers no healthcare costs. A retiree who wishes to compare options can use Expavy’s online assessment.

Three areas concentrate services, shops and care. Castries brings together the embassy, the administration and the reference hospital. The north, around Gros Islet and Rodney Bay, offers residences, restaurants and shops close to the beaches. The south, around Vieux-Fort, is served by the international airport. For a retiree, proximity to a healthcare facility, ease of access to the airport in case of evacuation and the presence of everyday services matter more than the view: visit several areas out of season, rent for a few months first and check the safety level of the neighbourhood. See also the Saint Lucia page.