Dominica Citizenship By Investment Program

DOMINICA CITIZENSHIP BY INVESTMENT

Overview A small Caribbean island country that is nestled between Martinique and Guadeloupe, Dominica is the 10^th least-populated nation on Earth. Dominica’s largest city and its capital, Roseau, which sits on the southwest coast of the country is home to a fifth of the island’s inhabitants and is renowned for its 18^th-century French architecture and bustling markets.

Health and education School in Dominica is mandatory and free from ages 5 to 16. The total number of schools operating is 63, with five of them private and one a a grammar school which is the oldest educational facility on the island. The island has its own Dominica State College and there’s a teacher training college and a business training centre, as well as the All Saints University School of Medicine, The Marine Biology School and the Institute for Tropical Marine Ecology. Primary healthcare services are provided at no cost at seven health centres and 44 clinics with Princess Margaret Hospital the main one. There are some private clinics too.

Transport There are two regional airports flying domestically, but no international airport so flying in and out of Dominica requires travelling via San Juan, Puerto Rico or other Caribbean islands, such as Martinique and Barbados. Dominica has a well-developed transportation system, including a two-lane coastal highway, affordable taxis and a reliable bus service.

Lifestyle Known as the Nature Isle of the Caribbean, the entire country is forested and boasts an extensive national park system, including a rainforest that is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The island is packed full of waterfalls, hiking trails, mud ponds and mountains with rare butterflies, parrots and iguanas dominating. Natural hotspots include Dominica’s Boiling Lake, the world’s second-largest hot lake, and its Champagne Reef, home to octopuses and seahorses. It’s no surprise therefore that scuba diving is a popular activity. Fishing is also popular with fishing professionals coming to the country to participate in fishing competitions. Other popular activities include hiking, biking and golfing as Dominica boasts 26 golf courses. Life expectancy here is high with an average of 76.2 years as is basic freedoms.

Climate With a tropical climate that is hot and humid all year round, Dominic’s temperatures range from 22C to 31C. While its relatively cool and dry season lasts from January to mid-April, its hot, humid and rainy season stretches from mid-June to mid-November.

Population 71,946

Languages English is the official language and is universally understood and spoken, while Dominican Creole, derived from French, is also spoken.

Religion Dominica is predominantly Christian (90%) with 61% Catholic.

Capital City Roseau

Currency East Caribbean Dollar (ECD), but the Euro and US$ are also accepted.

GDP per capita $7,691.35

Economy Dominica holds second place in the Caribbean when it comes to the strength of its economy, with the Doing Business Report by the World Bank 2019 positioning the Caribbean island as 111^th out of 190 economies. Dominica’s three main sectors are agriculture, tourism and manufacturing and while bananas were traditionally its biggest export, in recent years the country has diversified with the production of vegetables and coffee with more than 20 per cent of its land under cultivation. Dominica plays a major role in promoting social and environmental causes, particularly sustainable development. In recent years, Dominica has successfully focused on becoming a major international financial centre.

Did you know…? The novelist Jean Rhys was born and raised in Dominica with the island obliquely depicted in her best-known book, Wide Sargasso Sea.

DOMINICA CBI PROGRAMME

Established 28 years
Minimum outlay $100,000
Processing time 45-60 days
Residency or travel requirements None
Freedom of movement 143 countries
Investment Options 2

Overview Unveiled in 1993, the Economic Dominica Citizenship programme is not only one of the most established in the industry, but in recent years has been considered to be one of the best CBI programs across all criteria, from price through to processing. It is also known for being one of the world’s most efficient and transparent options for economic citizenship and has a track record of good governance, playing a major role in promoting social and environmental causes, and having “led the way in providing clarity as to how CBI funds are used” according to the CBI Index 2021. In 2021, the programme earmarked US$370m for the construction of an international airport. According to the CBI Index 2021, for the second year running, Dominica has taken top spot in the Certainty of Product pillar, the result of “its transparent and highly renowned programme”. At 28 years old and with a track record of good governance, the programme “has

Best for Nearly everything, except freedom of movement, though according to the CBI Index 2021, “Dominica was the Caribbean nation with the greatest increase in its visa-free and visa-on-arrival offering for the second year in a row”. Plus, living an eco-friendly and healthy life. In 2021, Dominica ranked as the world’s top CBI Programme (CBI Index) for the fifth consecutive year

Pros Renowned for being one of the world’s most efficient, transparent and affordable citizenship by investment programmes with strict due diligence and offering one of the fastest processing times in citizenship, typically under two months. Dominica offers the most affordable citizenship with its Donation option (along with St Lucia) and applicants do not need to travel to or reside in the country. Dominica’s lush vegetation and investment in clean energy positions it as the best Caribbean nation for life expectancy and quality of life. Very family-inclusive, Dominica allows a number of family members the join the main applicant in becoming citizens including siblings up to the age of 25.

Cons Dominica has access to the least number, albeit only just, of destinations visa-free than other Caribbean islands. The effects of Hurricane Maria in 2018, which caused 226% losses of GDP, still impacts the economy and the island is susceptible to hurricanes.

USP Dominica set the record for the highest percentage score ever achieved on the CBI Index 2019, published by the Financial Times, and has been ranked joint first (out of 14 CBI countries) with Saint Kitts for the last three consecutive years.

Ease of processing Takes between 45-60 days, and often less than two months to gain citizenship, which is the fastest processing times of all economic citizenship by investment programs. There are no interview, travel or residence requirements, either before or after attaining citizenship and applicants do not need to learn English, nor show a minimum level of education or business experience. Along with three other countries, Dominica comes out top in due diligence according to the CBI Index 2021, requiring applicants to prove a clean criminal record, and extensive checks to assess their character including checks on the source of funds.

Freedom of movement Visa-free travel to 143 countries, slightly less than the other Caribbean countries, however of all the Caribbean CBI countries, it’s the one with the greatest increase in its visa-free and visa-on-arrival offering over the last few years.

Investment options 2

https://cbiu.gov.dm

DOMINICA CBI INVESTMENTS

Option 1 To obtain instant citizenship, applicants can make a non-refundable donation to the Economic Diversification Fund (EDF), which supports public and private projects covering industries such as education, healthcare, sport and tourism and which has been instrumental in Dominica’s national development. This donation comprises a non-refundable $100,000 for a single applicant, $175,000 for a couple and $200,000 for a family of four with fees of $8,950, $12,950 and between $12,950 (if kids are 16 and under), respectively. And a fee of $25,000 needs to be made for any additional dependents.

Option 2 Another option is to make a real estate investment, which involves purchasing a government-authorised $200,000 property. Further fees include government fees of $25,000 for a single applicant; $35,000 for a couple and family of four, $50,000 for family of six and $70,000 for a family of seven, plus due diligence and processing fees (ranging from $7,450-$9,950. The applicant must hold the authorised property for at least three years from the granting of the citizenship and can only resell under the CIP after five years of receiving citizenship. There are currently seven approved real estate projects to choose from, including eco villas, resorts and residences, and featuring brands such as Marriott, Kempinski and Hilton.