Dominica

What Is The Dominica Citizenship By Investment Program

The Dominica Citizenship by Investment Program is designed for investors and single applicants looking to obtain an alternative citizenship. To be eligible for the program, applicants are required to make a financial commitment of at least USD 100,000 as a government donation, or USD 200,000 in a real estate project. Upon successful completion of the program, applicants and their families are granted citizenship for life in Dominica.

The Benefits

Citizenship and Family Inclusion

  • Citizenship for life, applicable for future generations.
  • Dual citizenship is permitted.

Dependents parents:

    • Spouse.
    • Children of the applicant or spouse under 18.
    • Children betweeen 18-30 years old if studying and supported.
    • An unmarried daughter under 25 living with the applicant.
    • Parents and grandparents over 65 if supported.

Travel and Residency

  • Ability to live, work and settle in any other member of the  CARICOM.
  • Visa-free access/entry to over 140 countries.

Requirements and Taxation

  • No residency requirement.
  • No education or management experience required.
  • Fast physical processing times.
  • Attractive tax regime; no capital gains or inheritance taxes.
  • No language requirement.

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    The Requirements

    • Be over 21 years old.
    • Have no criminal record.
    • Provide all the required documents in English.
    • Provide a letter of application for economic citizenship addressed to the Minister responsible for Citizenship.
    • Make a qualifying donation or investment.
    • The application must be submitted through a government authorised agent.

    Investment Options

    The Donation Option

    Approved applicants can qualify by making a minimum financial contribution to the government.

    • USD 100,000 for a single applicant
    • USD 150,000 for applicant accompanied by a spouse
    • USD 175,000 for applicant accompanied by up to three qualifying dependents
    • USD 25,000 per additional dependent under 18
    • USD 50,000 per additional dependent over 18

    The Real Estate Option

    Approved applicants can purchase an authorized real estate project with a minimum value of USD 200,000, which must be held for 3-years.

    Government-approved real estate projects for Citizenship by Investment

    • Award-winning, limited collection of sustainable luxury villas.
    • Located on a serene clifftop promontory overlooking the azure Caribbean Sea and currently operational.
    • Rare opportunity to own a residential-style villa managed and marketed by one of the world’s most acclaimed eco-luxury boutique resorts.
    • Starting minimum investment of at least USD 216,000.

    The Process

    Arrows process

    Due Diligence and Application

    • Prepare all the documents required and pay due diligence and government fees
    • Application preparation and submission via an authorized agent to the citizenship by investment unit

    Approval and Investment

    • Upon approval-in-principle, the applicant will need to complete the required investment and pay remaining government fees

    Citizenship and Passport

    • The passport will be issued following completion of the qualifying investment and final approval of the citizenship

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    With 30 years of immigration experience, each of Harvey Law Group’s lawyers carefully studies each client’s needs, resources and determines the immigration solution that best aligns with our client’s vision and values.



      Frequently Asked Questions

      Dominica is one of the oldest and most respected citizenship by investment program in the world. Are you considering applying? Here are the most Frequently Asked Questions about the program.

      Where is Dominica?

      Part of the Commonwealth, Dominica (not to be confused with The Dominican Republic) is an English-speaking, mountainous Caribbean island famous for its natural hot springs and tropical rainforests. Geographically, it is located in the Lesser Antilles in the eastern Caribbean Sea near the French overseas territories of Guadeloupe (to the north) and Martinique (to the south). 

      Why should I get a second citizenship from Dominica?

      Dominica is the most cost-effective citizenship program in the world and one of oldest countries that has successfully operated such a program since 1993. It has a solid reputation with a robust and effective due diligence process. Like most CIPs in the Caribbean region, the applicant and qualifying family members do not need to reside or visit Dominica in order to qualify. Once approved, a Dominica passport grants access to over 140 countries without a visa, including the UK, the EU, Brazil, Russia (and many more) along with the intrinsic benefits of being a Commonwealth passport holder.

      How to get Dominica citizenship?

      Dominica’s citizenship-by-investment currently has two options, meaning the applicant can choose which stream they prefer to apply for. 

      The first option is to make a contribution of at least USD100,000 (this amount will increase depending on the family composition; USD100,000 being for a single applicant) that directly benefits the economy and therefore helps to finance projects in renewable energy, agriculture, infrastructure and tourism.

       

      The second option is an investment into a government-approved real estate project of at least USD200,000 (this amount is fixed, regardless of the family composition). Most – if not all – investments in Dominica are into hotels, villas or resorts. 

      Though most people know Dominica for its spectacular mountainous topography and hot climate, there’s a lot more to the country to be discovered. Nicknamed the “Nature Island of the Caribbean”, Dominica boasts an extensive national park system, including the Morne Trois Pitons rainforest, which is a designated UNESCO World Heritage site. Home to several rare plants, animals and bird species, perhaps the most famous being the Sisserou Parrot (also known as the Imperial Amazon) found only in Dominica and designated national emblem and notably figures proudly on Dominica’s flag. The mountainous and volcanically active island makes it a paradise for trekkers to explore its hiking trails and hot spots which includes Dominica’s Boiling Lake, the world’s second-largest hot spring – also a World Heritage site. 

      One of the reasons why Dominica is still pristine and unspoilt is that the country has limited international flights, which is considered a benefit by many. At the moment, travelers often choose to transit through Barbados, Puerto Rico, Guadeloupe or Martinique.

      To qualify for citizenship, the primary applicant must be over 21 years old, of good character, without a criminal record, and make an investment or contribution in one of the qualifying investment options.

      Restricted applicants are those who are nationals of:

      • Iran
      • North Korea
      • Sudan
      • Syria
      • Russia
      • Belarus

      Nationals of the listed restricted countries (other than Russia and Belarus) may be eligible to apply for citizenship through the Dominica CIP if they:

      • Have not lived in any of the restricted countries for the last 10 years;
      • Have no substantial assets in any of the restricted countries; and
      • Are not performing and have not performed any business or similar activity, in whole or in part, with or within any of the restricted countries
      • Spouse of the main applicant
      • Children of the main applicant or spouse under 18 years old 
      • Children aged 18-30 years old who are attending a recognized institution of higher learning and are substantially supported by either the applicant or spouse
      • Dependent children over 18 years old who are physically and/or mentally challenged
      • Dependent parents or grandparents of the applicant or spouse who are over 65 and substantially supported by either the applicant or spouse
      • An unmarried daughter of the applicant or spouse who is under 25 and is living with and fully supported by either the applicant or the spouse

      No, there is no requirement to travel or reside in Dominica prior to, or after, obtaining citizenship.

      Before the global lockdowns, Dominica was witnessing an emerging eco-tourism sector that received international acclaim. The island’s real estate options had garnered the attention of leading publications such as Travel + Leisure, Caribbean Travel Awards and Conde Nast Traveller. Additionally, Dominica’s tourism sector has been boosted in recent years, thanks to the island’s citizenship program. The CIP has helped fund globally-renowned brands like Hilton and Kempinski on its shores while also supporting unique boutique resorts like the 6-star Secret Bay. 

      Investing into The Residences at Secret Bay is a qualifying investment under the program. A single share of the resort is set at USD216,000. Detached villas are also available for sophisticated investors looking for full ownership. 

      It is no secret that many real estate developments associated with CIP, both in the Caribbean region and in Europe, are often overpriced (and in many cases are never actually completed) with rare exceptions; Secret Bay is one of the exceptions.

      First and foremost, Secret Bay is an existing and operating resort with proven financial performances and positive returns, but also with a solid resale value backed by a strong demand from lifestyle buyers. In terms of exit strategy, while economic citizens are permitted to sell the investment to others seeking citizenship from Dominica only after five years of the grant of citizenship, resale is allowed outside the citizenship by investment market after three years.

      Secondly, the remoteness of the island and the friendliness of its inhabitant makes it a logical choice to setup a unique and sustainable resort. Secret Bay offers a rare opportunity to own a residential-style villa managed and marketed by one of the world’s most acclaimed luxury boutique resorts. 

      Lastly, Secret Bay Dominica is a cost-friendly option. Considering the average total outlay, Dominica’s government fees are lower than the neighboring islands providing a similar citizenship program making it an even more attractive investment within a competitive program. 

      The most obvious benefit is the citizenship and passport of Dominica.

      The investment itself into The Residences at Secret Bay entitles the investor to dividends paid quarterly in US dollars. There are no yearly maintenance, service or hidden fees. The quarterly returns are of course based on the hotel and the facilities performances. 

      In addition to the above, investors are entitled to 7 complementary nights per year at the resort or deposited in an independent exchange program allowing for stays at other luxury resort properties in 80+ countries around the world.

      This will greatly vary depending on the family composition.  

      As a tentative overview, an investor applying alone i.e., a Single Applicant can expect a total outlay of around USD287,000 while a family of four would be around USD308,000. We will of course provide a detailed breakdown for each family based on their unique composition. 

      Yes. However, the law prescribes that under the Dominica CIP, the investor must hold the investment for at least 5 years, before it can be sold to another CIP investor. However, the investment can be sold to a non-Dominica CIP buyer after 3 years instead of 5 years. 

      If the client decides to proceed with a real-estate Investment the client will be required to make an initial deposit, once we have identified that the client is likely to be eligible for the program. 

      It typically takes between 1-2 months to complete all of the application formalities and submit the application. From the moment we submit an application, 2-3 months would be considered as an average processing time for the Government of Dominica to take a decision on an application. From time to time, we do have applications that may take longer (up to 6 months); this could be due to the complexity of the application, or a delay from the applicant’s end in providing further documents that have been requested. 

      Once an application is approved the citizenship certificate and passport are generally issued within a month of payment of the government donation and any other fees and costs due.

      The investment is paid in 2 stages. An initial deposit will be paid upon submission of the citizenship application. Once the application is approved, then the balance will become payable.

      Yes, applicants are required to show that they have enough funds to make the investment. The type of documents required will vary depending on the source of the investment funds.

      Yes, applicants can include money that has been gifted by a friend or family member for the investment. In most cases, additional documents will be required from the sponsor regarding their source of funds. The type of documents required will vary depending on the source of the investment funds.

      A tailored and detailed checklist is given to all our clients based on their own situation. The following is a general overview of the key documentation required: 

      Personal documentation notably includes:

      • All pages of current passport; 
      • ID Card; 
      • Birth & Marriage Certificates; 
      • Passport-style Photos; 
      • Police Clearance(s); 
      • Diploma of highest education; 
      • Proof of Address; 
      • Medical Report; 
      • Affidavits of Support for the accompanying dependents; 

      Professional documentation notably includes:

      • Reference Letters from a Bank and a Professional; 
      • Bank Statements; 
      • Source of Funds documents;

      No, Citizenship applications are complex and must be handled by designated professionals recognized by the government of the country you wish to apply for. Harvey Law Group is of course duly licensed and registered by the Government of Dominica to advise and assist investors with their application. 

      If you are unsure on whether or not a firm is duly registered to handle your application, do not hesitate to ask for their license as this should be publicly accessible information. 

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