Dominica: A Growing Tourist Destination
Dominica has become one of the most popular tourist destinations, boasting a wide range of attractions, including market visits, hiking, tours, diving, and wildlife watching.
In addition to Morne Trois Pitons National Park, the Boiling Lake, Victoria Falls, the capital city Roseau, and the Champagne Reef, Dominica offers numerous attractions for visitors.
Dominica is an island nation located in the Caribbean region, politically and administratively under British rule. The island spans approximately 750 square kilometers.
Dominica is home to a rich blend of diverse cultures, including African and European influences. The official language is English. It's now possible to obtain Dominican citizenship through the Citizenship by Investment Program. Let’s explore the benefits of this program and the steps to acquire Dominican citizenship.
Citizenship by Investment
Have you ever heard of acquiring foreign citizenship by making an investment in that country? This concept is called Citizenship by Investment, which was first introduced in Saint Kitts and Nevis in the mid-1980s.
This program allows foreign investors to make various investments, and in return, they can obtain citizenship in the country where the investment is made.
The minimum investment required to qualify for citizenship varies by country, as does the type of investment accepted.
One of the most notable advantages of the Citizenship by Investment Program is that citizenship is permanent and cannot be revoked. Additionally, the process is straightforward and quick.
Most countries offering this program provide powerful passports that allow visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to Europe, the UK, and the United States. Some of the most popular countries offering this program include:
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia, one of the top choices for citizenship by investment
- Dominica, which we’ll discuss in detail in this article
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Turkey, one of the few European countries offering this program
- North Macedonia
These are among the most notable options for acquiring second citizenship through investment. Each country has its own investment criteria, which can include:
- Real estate investment
- Investing in government bonds or funds
- Depositing a specific amount of money in a bank to support state projects
- Establishing companies or business ventures
- Making a non-refundable donation to the state
In this article, we’ll focus on one of the most attractive options—Dominican Citizenship by Investment. We’ll cover the minimum investment required, how to invest, and the key benefits of Dominican citizenship.
Dominican Citizenship by Investment Program
The Dominican Citizenship by Investment Program was established in 1993 and has become very popular among investors.
Between 2017 and 2020, 4,192 Dominican passports were issued to foreign investors. There are two main ways to obtain Dominican citizenship through investment:
- A $100,000 donation to the Economic Diversification Fund.
- A minimum investment of $200,000 in approved real estate projects.
The donation option is one of the most affordable citizenship programs in the Caribbean, while the real estate option offers the possibility of recouping your investment within three years by selling the property.
Investors can apply for this citizenship on behalf of their spouses, children, parents, and other immediate family members.
Benefits of Dominican Citizenship by Investment
Obtaining Dominican citizenship through investment offers numerous advantages, including:
- Visa-Free Travel: The Dominican passport provides visa-free access to 145 international destinations.
- Adding Dependents: After acquiring citizenship, the main applicant can add dependents, including a spouse, unmarried children under 31 who are largely dependent on the main applicant, parents, and grandparents aged 65 or older.
- Generational Benefits: Future generations are eligible for citizenship by descent.
- Freedom to Live, Work, and Study: Enjoy full freedom to live, work, and study in Dominica.
- No Restrictions on Dual Citizenship: Dominica imposes no restrictions on holding dual citizenship.
- No Residency Requirement: There is no mandatory residency period to qualify for or maintain citizenship.
What Are the Requirements for Applying for Dominica Citizenship by Investment?
Individual applicants can choose from two primary options to meet the requirements for citizenship by investment under current regulations:
- Non-refundable Donation: A contribution of $100,000 to the Economic Diversification Fund (EDF).
- Real Estate Investment: An investment of at least $200,000 in government-approved real estate projects.
Dominica's citizenship by investment program does not require the investor to physically reside in Dominica, and there are no interviews required after applying for citizenship.
Moreover, there are no specific language proficiency requirements to qualify for the program.
How to Obtain Dominica Citizenship by Investment
The Citizenship by Investment Unit (CBIU) in Dominica is a recently established government agency within the Ministry of Finance. It acts as the regulatory body responsible for ensuring that only deserving applicants are approved and for enforcing all rules under the citizenship program.
To be eligible, the principal applicant must be at least 18 years old and meet all immigration requirements set by Dominica.
Applicants and their families are required to take an oath of allegiance before a certified notary, magistrate, or commissioner of oaths. After taking the oath, the citizenship application undergoes further review and processing, and then the required citizenship certificates are issued.
Note: Investors are not required to maintain a physical address in Dominica to qualify for citizenship. However, the government actively promotes economic engagement among its citizens and offers generous incentives to make it a desirable option.
Successful applicants are free to live in Dominica at any time for any duration without mandatory residency requirements for obtaining citizenship.
Applicants who have previously failed to secure a visa from a country with which Dominica has a visa-free travel agreement must later obtain a visa from that country to qualify for this program.
Spouses of individuals who acquire Dominica citizenship through the investment program are also eligible to apply for citizenship, although additional fees may apply. Children of investors who obtain Dominica citizenship via the program and are born afterward can register for citizenship at any time.
Currently, the application review process takes approximately three months. During this period, applicants must fulfill several requirements for obtaining a Dominica passport, after which they officially become Dominican citizens.
Key Requirements for Foreign Investors:
- Legal Age: Applicants must be of legal adult age.
- Good Character: Applicants should possess a friendly and integrative personality to blend well with Dominica's local population.
- Health: Applicants must be in good health and free from communicable diseases that could impact local residents.
- Clean Criminal Record: A clean criminal record is mandatory.
- Thorough Background Check: Applicants must pass a comprehensive financial background investigation to prove the legitimacy of their investment funds.
- Practical Knowledge of English: While not mandatory, practical understanding of the English language is preferred.
Investment Options for Dominica Citizenship
Applicants can either make a significant economic contribution through a government fund donation or purchase government-approved real estate on the island. In both cases, the investment must be formally agreed upon before applying for the program, but full payment is required only after preliminary approval.
Option 1: Citizenship by Donating to a Government Fund
The Economic Diversification Fund (EDF) in Dominica finances public and private sector projects aimed at national development and progress. These include:
- Renovating hospitals.
- Constructing new schools.
- Developing a national sports stadium.
- Promoting the marine industry.
The EDF also supports private sector projects focused on Dominica’s tourism, agriculture, and IT industries. To encourage contributions to this fund, the following fee structure applies:
- Single Applicant: $100,000.
- Main Applicant and Spouse: $150,000.
- Main Applicant, Spouse, and Two Children: $175,000.
- Additional Dependents: $25,000 per person.
- Qualified Siblings Aged 18-25: $50,000 each.
Compared to other citizenship by investment programs in the region, Dominica’s program is significantly more affordable.
After receiving an initial approval letter from the CBIU, applicants under the government contribution option must pay the full required amount within 30 days.
The payment is made to a government-designated escrow account at the National Commercial Bank of Dominica after receiving conditional approval from the CBIU. If the application is rejected or withdrawn, the applicant will receive a refund (minus nominal application fees) within one month.
Once the application is approved, and citizenship is granted, the funds remain in the escrow account until the applicant and their family receive their passports and naturalization certificates. These must be signed before a certified notary.
Real Estate Investment for Dominican Citizenship
The number of visitors to Dominica increases every year as more people discover hiking, diving, bird watching, and other eco-tourism activities available on the volcanically active island.
This has significantly contributed to a noticeable increase in foreign ownership of real estate in Dominica over the past few years, alongside the growth of the tourism sector.
Due to the island’s natural beauty and tranquil lifestyle, an unprecedented number of Americans are moving there to retire. Additionally, businessmen from around the world, especially from China, Russia, and the Middle East, are strategically investing in Dominica’s luxury resorts through the Dominica Citizenship by Investment Program.
Applicants must purchase government-approved real estate in the Commonwealth of Dominica for no less than USD 200,000 and hold ownership for at least three years to qualify for citizenship through real estate investment.
Under the Citizenship by Investment Program, the applicant may sell the property after five years of ownership.
When applying for Dominica's Citizenship by Investment program under the real estate category, the following government fees and application costs apply:
- Individual Applicant: USD 25,000
- Spouse: USD 10,000
- Family up to 4 members: USD 35,000
- Family of 6 members: USD 50,000
- Family of 7 or more members: USD 70,000
- Additional dependents: USD 25,000 per person
- Eligible siblings aged 18-25 years: USD 50,000 each
Currently, several government-approved real estate development projects are being executed, which are eligible under the Citizenship by Investment program.
Applicants for economic citizenship must pay a 10% down payment on the property and sign a sales agreement to officially secure interest in the Dominican resort project, according to the CBIU laws.
The investor has seven days to settle the remaining balance of the investment after receiving initial approval for Dominica Citizenship. At this stage, they will be issued a certificate of ownership.
Proof of full compliance with the authorized real estate investment conditions is demonstrated by submitting this certificate to the Dominican authorities. Based on the developer's expected income and capital gains, purchasing partial ownership in a government-approved Dominican resort project is quick and simple, and does not require any maintenance by the investor.
It is generally expected that the capital invested and all initial fees paid will be covered by sufficient returns within five years.
Once the foreign investor fulfills all the above-mentioned requirements wisely, they and their family members are eligible for full Dominica citizenship.
Successful applicants are granted a Certificate of Naturalization and will receive their new passports by mail within a week after the Government of Dominica approves their application.
Once a person obtains Dominica citizenship, they can pass it down to future generations.
Can Citizenship in Dominica be Obtained Through Real Estate Investment?
How to Apply for Dominica Citizenship Through Investment
Applications for Dominica Citizenship by Investment are submitted through an authorized local agent. Certified agents prepare each application, which is then evaluated by the responsible authority in Dominica.
The typical review time from submitting an application for the Dominica Citizenship Program to receiving results is three months.
Applications must be accompanied by the required fees and supporting documents in order for the unit to process them.
The unit will inform the appointed agent that the qualified investment and the necessary government administration costs are due before issuing the registration certificate in cases where the citizenship application is approved.
Successful candidates are granted Dominica citizenship and are eligible to apply for a passport once they submit their investment documents.
How to Obtain Dominica Citizenship Through Investment Easily
The hardest steps to obtaining Dominica Citizenship through investment are finding a certified local agent from the Citizenship by Investment Unit in Dominica.
It is not easy to secure a certified agent, especially if you are handling the process without traveling to the island. Therefore, the easiest way to complete this process is by using the certified agents at Zajl, who can help you complete all the required legal procedures to obtain Dominica citizenship.
We can also assist you in acquiring any citizenship through investment and many other services, all of which you can explore through our Zajl app, now available for download from the Play Store here.
You can also speak with one of our representatives via WhatsApp, where you can inquire about our services and ask any questions you may have. Simply click here.
FAQ
Can citizenship be purchased through investment?
Yes, foreign citizenship can be obtained through investment in one of the foreign countries. The required investment amount and method vary from country to country.
How can citizenship be obtained through investment?
There are several ways to obtain another citizenship in exchange for investment, including:
- Real estate investment.
- Investment in government bonds and funds.
- Investment in creating bank accounts and depositing a certain amount of money that helps the country establish projects.
- Establishing companies or investment projects.
- Donating a certain amount of money to the state in a non-refundable manner.
What are the nationalities that can be obtained through investment?
Some of the countries that allow foreign investors to obtain citizenship through investment include:
- Saint Kitts and Nevis.
- Saint Lucia, which is considered one of the most important options for obtaining citizenship through investment.
- Dominica, and we will discuss in detail the Dominica citizenship through investment.
- Antigua and Barbuda, among the options for obtaining citizenship through investment.
- Turkey, one of the few European countries that apply this system.
- North Macedonia as well.
What are the benefits of obtaining Dominica citizenship through investment?
- Dominica passport provides visa-free access to 145 international destinations.
- The ability to add dependents after the main applicant has obtained citizenship, including a spouse, unmarried children under 31 years old who are largely dependent on the main applicant, and parents and grandparents aged 65 and over.
- Future generations are eligible for citizenship through descent.
- The freedom to work, study, and reside in Dominica.
- Dominica has no restrictions on dual citizenship.
- There is no residency requirement.
How can Dominica citizenship be obtained through investment?
To obtain Dominica citizenship through investment, the applicant must either make a significant economic contribution through a financial donation to a government fund or purchase an approved property on the island.
In both cases, the applicant must formally agree to make the investment before applying for the investor program, but is not required to pay the full amount until after receiving general approval.
What are the requirements for obtaining Dominica citizenship through investment?
Individual applicants can choose from the following two methods to meet the requirements for investment citizenship under the current regulations:
- Donate an irrecoverable amount of USD 100,000 to the Economic Development Fund.
- Invest in an approved real estate project worth USD 200,000 to obtain Dominica citizenship through the investment program.
The Dominica Citizenship by Investment Program does not require investors to physically reside in Dominica, nor is an interview required after applying for citizenship.
Some of the key requirements that the investor must meet include:
- Being of legal age.
- Having a good and friendly character that can integrate with the local people and citizens of Dominica.
- Being in good health and not suffering from infectious health issues that may affect the local population.
- Having a clean criminal record.
- Passing a comprehensive financial background check to prove the legitimacy of the funds used in the investment process for obtaining Dominica citizenship.
- A working knowledge of the English language is preferred.
Can a person apply for Dominica citizenship through investment personally?
No, applications for Dominica citizenship by investment must be submitted through an accredited local agent. Certified agents prepare each application for Dominica citizenship, which is then evaluated by the responsible authorities in Dominica.