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Dominica Citizenship by Investment
DOMINICA CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT PROGRAM
What is Dominica’s citizenship by investment (CBI) program?
The Commonwealth of Dominica’s program was an early addition to the citizenship by investment industry. The Economic Dominica Citizenship program was introduced in 1993, where the requirement of residency to gain citizenship was waived. This made it possible for foreigners to gain full legal citizenship to one of the most beautiful countries in the world in exchange for an investment.
The Commonwealth of Dominica has one of the most affordable economic Citizenship programs in the world for single applicants that starts at US$100,000. The country of Dominica is often confused with the country Dominican Republic, while both are beautiful islands, they are separate countries. Dominican passport holders have visa-free access to the EU and the UK.
Being a citizen by investment in Dominica offers great travel advantages
Dominica and Grenada are the only Caribbean countries that offer citizenship by investment that grant passport holders visa free to China. Dominica is a naturally beautiful country and you can choose to make it your primary residence if you wish. With the passport you can travel visa free to European countries and have increased ease of international travel. Obtaining Dominica citizenship is significantly more affordable than other options. Economic Citizens of Dominica have legal citizenship and passport. The Dominican government is stable and recognizes the importance of keeping the CBI program attractive for foreign investors.
Interested in a Dominica citizenship? J.H. Malrin can help you!
INVESTMENT TYPE & COST to become a citizen by investment in Dominica
The applicant must make either a significant non-refundable contribution to a government fund (donation route) or an investment in approved real estate (real estate route). The donation option is the most affordable route to getting Dominican citizenship. In either case, the applicant must commit to making the investment before applying to the program, although they must only make the payment in full after their application is approved.
Government Donation Option
Non-refundable monetary contribution made to the Economic Diversification Fund (EDF)
○ For single applicant: US$100,000
○ Primary applicant + spouse: US$150,000
○ Primary applicant + spouse + up to 2 children: US$175,000
○ Additional dependents: US$25,000 each
○ Eligible siblings (aged 18-25): US$50,000 each
There are additional citizenship by investment fees which include; due diligence fees of US$7,500 main applicant, US$4,000 spouse, certificate of naturalization fee of US$250 per person, expedited passport issuance fee of US$1,200 per passport, government citizenship processing fees of US$1,000 per person and legal fees.
Pre-Approved Real Estate Investment:
Government pre-approved property with a minimum value of US$200,000 and must be maintained for a minimum of 3 years from the original purchase date.
- Also expect government fees:
○ For primary applicant: US$25,000
○ Spouse: US$10,000
○ Family of up to 4: US$35,000
○ Family of up to 6: US$50,000
○ Family of 7+: US$70,000
○ Additional dependents: US$25,000 each
○ Eligible siblings (aged 18-25): US$50,000 each
What are the requirements for Dominica’s citizenship by investment?
– Applicants for citizenship must be of good character / impeccable standing
– The primary applicant must be at least 18 years of age
– Applicants must be in good health
– Primary applicant must be in good economic standing
– Must make required financial investment
– Must not be subject to international sanctions
- 3 - 6 months Processing time
- Open to almost all nationalities. *please consult us
ADVANTAGES of the economic citizenship of Dominica
There are lots of benefits to doing the Dominica CBI program.
VISA FREE TRAVEL
- Visa Free travel to over 120+ countries
- Visa Free Travel to Singapore, Hong Kong and other major countries
- One of few countries with visa waiver to China
- Easy to obtain visas when required
BUSINESS ADVANTAGES
- Tax Neutral jurisdiction (no wealth, gift, inheritance, foreign income or capital gains tax)
- Duty free trading in the Caribbean
- Stable economy
- Dual citizenship permitted
- Best priced citizenship by investment program for a single applicant (tied)
- No mandatory interview requirement
- No language exams
- No business trip to Dominica required
- No education or mandatory management experience required
- Relatively quick processing times
FAMILY ADVANTAGES
- Entire family can potentially be included in an application (Spouse, dependent children and dependent parents can obtain second passport)
- Warm Climate year round
- International Education
- Lifetime citizenship granted that is non-revocable
- Citizenship can potentially be passed to future generations
PERSONAL FREEDOM
- Irrevocable Second Citizenship
- Citizenship in 3-6 months
- Not required to reside in Dominica (absolutely no residency requirements to maintain citizenship)
- Dual Nationality Permitted
- Citizenship for Life
- Open to almost all Nationalities
- Quality of Life in the country is good
- Right to live, work and study in Dominica
- Ability to make Dominica your country of residence
Why work with JH Marlin to become a Dominica citizen by investment?
- Over the past five years we have helped hundreds of clients with different citizenship by investment programs, residency by investment programs, and offshore plans. We have a proven track record with great reviews from well known clients.
- We are a firm with professional legal qualifications and a boots on the ground approach meaning we are physically based or have presence in the jurisdiction that you intend to do something in.
- We also have a trusted network of global professionals with an international approach to serving our clients. Some people that assist our clients include accountants, attorneys, entrepreneurs, local agents and advisors who can help our clients achieve their desired results
- We are experienced and efficient. We have improved and streamlined our process to make it a simpler process for clients.
JH Marlin Law has helped clients choose the citizenship program that is right for them for years.
As an experienced licensed agent for citizenship, we can do a detailed analysis of your personal circumstances and provide further information about different citizenship by investment options and corresponding processing times. We will assist you with all the required citizenship documents for you to have a successful application and coordinate with any other parties or local agents involved in the process.
JH Marlin Law has handled hundreds of citizenship applications. We can help you throughout the entire process.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions for Dominica’s citizenship by investment
Who can be included in an application for citizenship?
– A Spouse of the main applicant
– Children of the main applicant or spouse who are below the age of 18
– Dependent Children between the ages of 18 and 30 who are financially dependent on the main applicant or spouse.
– A child of any age who is physically or mentally challenged and is financially dependent on the main applicant or spouse
– Parents or grandparents of the main applicant or spouse who are financially dependent
– A biological or adopted sibling of the main applicant or spouse who is below the age of 25 and is substantially supported by the main applicant or spouse (consent is required for siblings below the age of 18)
How does the Dominica Citizenship by investment program program rank?
The 2021 CBI index ranks various citizenship by investment programs according to nine pillars; Freedom of Movement, Standard of Living, Minimum Investment Outlay, Mandatory Travel or Residence, Citizenship Timeline, Ease of Processing, Due Diligence, Family, and Certainty of Product. The Commonwealth of Dominica along with the Federation of Saint Kitts & Nevis received top rankings for their respective programs. Dominica received perfect score under mandatory travel or residence as there is a lack of mandatory travel or residence requirements for people doing the program. Dominica also scored very high in the Minimum Investment Outlay and Certainty of Product pillars. Dominica’s program has built up its reputation over time and has maintained its reputation by conducting strong due diligence on all prospective applicants.
What is the citizenship by Investment Process?
One can expect that the application process for citizenship by investment in Dominica to include the following:
- Client contacts JH Marlin Law
- Initial due diligence checks are performed to determine eligibility
- Client agreement is signed, and retainer is paid
- Applicants choose the qualifying investment option best suited to them with the help of the team (either the donation option to the economic diversification fund or the real estate route from the list of approved real estate projects)
- Files are prepared and required documents are collected
- Application for citizenship and corresponding documents submitted to the Citizenship by Investment Unit. The unit will conduct due diligence procedures.
- Application approval in 3-5 months. The citizenship decision will be communicated to you via letter for citizenship approval.
- Applicants are given approximately one month to meet requirements and finalize economic contributions. Once the investment contribution is received, a Certificate of Citizenship (Naturalisation Certificate) will be issued.
- An application will be made at the passport office to obtain the passport
- The address of the applicant will be confirmed and all Citizenship documents that we have in our possession will be returned to you.
All citizenship by investment applications must be submitted through an authorized agent.
What documents are needed for the citizenship application?
There are several documents involved in doing a citizenship by investment application which include some of the following; notarized copies of valid passports, valid national identification such as a drivers license, certified proof of address, financial statements to show proof of source of funds, notarized birth certificate from country of birth, letter of recommendation, passport size photos, amongst other documents. Provided an applicant is doing the real estate option the original purchase agreement needs to be submitted with the application.
For US applicants, documents just require notarization and do not need to be aspostilled.
Applicants will need to do a medical examination. For Dominica, the medical examination involves a blood and urine test in addition to completing the standard medical examination form.
There is a disclosure form, verification form amongst other primary forms that need to be completed and signed by each applicant in the application.
As a client we will go over how to complete each application form and guide you through the documentation process. We can provide you with examples of documents, schedule appointments such as medical, notary and do research for your particular case. We can review documents on an ongoing basis and help you throughout the entire process.
Are there certain nationalities that are restricted from applying or have certain restrictions when doing the program?
There are certain nationalities that have restrictions which include; Iran, North Korea, Sudan, Syria. At the moment applicants from Russia and Ukraine are temporarily banned from submitting a citizenship by investment application.
Please consult us further on your particular case as the situation continuously changes.
Do I need to show proof/source of funds for the investment contribution?
Yes. Applicants are required to demonstrate that they have sufficient funds to make the investment. Applicants are required to declare their overall net worth and often Dominica requests additional documentation to show your net worth in the form of bank statements.
Donation vs Real Estate Option which is better?
The answer to this question really depends on you. The minimum investment for the donation option is more affordable, however, the government approved real estate investment option might be of interest to those seeking to spend some time in the Commonwealth of Dominica.
Is it easy to travel to Dominica?
There are commercial airlines that regularly fly to the Commonwealth of Dominica. The Douglas–Charles Airport, formerly known as Melville Hall Airport receives flights through transit hubs such as Antigua, Barbados, St Maarten, Puerto Rico, Guadeloupe, and Martinique. The Canefield Airport serves courier and private charters. Proceeds obtained from foreign investors from the CBI program are being used to build and expand an international airport for the country.
Do I require a visa to travel to the United States with a Dominican passport?
Dominica does not have visa free travel to the United States of America. In fact, all the Caribbean countries that offer citizenship by investment do not have visa free to the United States. You will need to apply for a visa or multiple entry visa to travel to the United States on a Dominica passport.
How many years is the Dominican passport valid for?
Passports for children below the age of 16 are only valid for five years. For passport holders over the age of 16, the Dominican passport is valid for 10 years.
What is the process for passport renewal?
You can either renew the passport at the Passport and Immigration Department in Dominica or at at Dominican Consulate that does renewals. The process is pretty straightforward and only minimal documentation is required. Note you do not need to travel from your location to do the renewal.
What should I disclose to the authorised agent?
It is important that citizenship by investment candidates disclose issues. Provided you have a criminal record or are subject to tax investigation, have previously experienced bankruptcy or have anything that you think might be an issue, it would be important to communicate this to the licensed agent to verify if it is something that is acceptable. You don’t want to waste your time or your money.
If I had a previous visa travel denial can I still get citizenship from Dominica?
Provided you have been denied a visa to any country, you may still be able to be approved for citizenship. It would be important to highlight previous visa denials to the licensed agent.
What might be a disadvantage of the Dominica Citizenship by investment programme?
Limited expat community and not as developed: for people wishing to relocate there are only a few expats living on the island.
Do both parents of a child need to be included in the citizenship application?
It is possible for just one parent to do the program with their minor child included in the application. However, provided that one parent is excluded from the application, they are required to consent to their child getting citizenship by completing an “affidavit by parent” along with additional documentation confirming their identity.
What are taxes like in Dominica?
There is no gift, wealth, inheritance, foreign income, or capital gains tax in Dominica. However, provided you reside in Dominica you would be liable to pay personal tax.
Is the Dominican passport recognized everywhere?
Yes. The passport from Dominica is a fully legal passport that is recognized around the world by all parties to the UN.
General Information about Dominica
The Commonwealth of Dominica is an island country in the Lesser Antilles region of the Caribbean known for its natural beauty of lush green mountains and beautiful scenery.The Commonwealth of Dominica is located southeast of Miami between the islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe. Dominica is a member of the United Nations (UN) and the Organization of American States (OAS), CARICOM and other international organizations.
It is a small island with a population of just 72,000 on 750 km2 of land. It is nicknamed “Nature Island” for its rainforests, beaches, mountains, rivers, waterfalls, and hot springs. The tropical climate year round is also a prized feature of the country. Dominica’s landscape is the country’s pride and an outdoorsman’s dream, and as a result, has been named one of the world’s happiest places to live.
Having become independent in 1978, it remains closely tied to the United Kingdom. It boasts a financial hub in the capital city and chief port of Roseau, where several distinguished educational institutions and hospitals are located. The currency is stable as it is directly tied to the US Dollar, mitigating risk of foreign investments.
Fast Facts about the country of Dominica:
Location: Lesser Antilles, West Indies (Caribbean)
Capital: Roseau
Size: 750 km2
Population: 72 k
Currency: Eastern Caribbean Dollars | USD is also accepted
Government: Parliamentary Democracy
Economy: Tourism | Agriculture | Offshore Financial Services
Official Language: English | French Creole
Religion: Roman Catholic
Cost of Living: Moderate | Tax-Friendly
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ASIA
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EVISA
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OCEANIA
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* Visa on arrival