Dominica TRAINING Q&A

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions (FAQs) about Dominica's Citizenship by investment program:

Q. What is the Dominica Citizenship by Investment Program? 

A. The Dominica Citizenship-by-Investment Program operates under § 101 of the nation’s constitution and § 8 and 20 of the Citizenship Act. The program allows the government to grant citizenship to persons who qualify under certain criteria and policy guidelines while boosting Dominica's economic investment.

Q. When was the Dominica Citizenship by Investment Program established? 

A. Established in 1993, Dominica’s Citizen by Investment Programme is one of the fastest, longest-running, and most affordable CBI schemes in the world.

Q. How can Dominican citizenship be obtained? 

A. Dominican citizenship can be obtained in exchange for a significant financial investment in 

the country's infrastructure.

Q. What is the aim of the program? 

A. The program aims to boost foreign economic contributions to Dominica, in order to expand its economy and meet the demands of the modern competitive global market.

Q. What are the investment options for obtaining citizenship? 

A. Applicants can make a donation towards major development projects in both the public and private sectors, or invest in government-approved real estate.

Q. What are the benefits of obtaining Dominican citizenship? 

A. Gaining citizenship also ensures that an individual has access to all the rights, responsibilities, and privileges defined by Dominican law. Citizens are able to call upon Dominica for assistance and protection and access any diplomatic establishments abroad. Unlike other CBI programs, there are no minimum stay requirements, which means that applicants are able to become Dominican citizens without visiting the country. Dominican citizens enjoy minimal taxation and engage in duty-free trading across the Caribbean with full exemption from import duties. The East Caribbean dollar currency is pegged to the US dollar at a fixed rate.

Q. What is the minimum investment required for the donation option? 

A. The minimum investment is US $100,000 for the main applicant. Additional fees will apply to any dependent applications.

Q. What is the minimum investment required for a real estate option? 

A. A minimum investment of US $200,000 must be made in one of these properties to qualify for this program.

Q. How long must an applicant hold on to their real estate investment? 

A. The applicant must hold on to the property for at least 3 years to secure lifetime citizenship.

Q. What are some personal requirements for applicants? 

A. Applicants to the Dominica Citizenship by Investment Program must be at least 18 years old, in good health, and have no criminal record. They are also required to officially commit to the investment and be able to demonstrate outstanding character and repute.

Q. What is the Economic Diversity Fund (EDF)? 

A. The Government of Dominica introduced the Economic Diversity Fund (EDF) to fund national development in the country. A non-refundable donation could be used to fund anything, from building schools and hospitals to specific projects in sectors like tourism and agriculture.

Q. What are the government fees for the donation option?

A. Government fees are not applicable to the donation option, making this the most cost-effective way for individual applicants to apply.

Q. What are some examples of government-approved real estate? 

A. Government-approved real estate includes hotels, spas, and villas1.

Q. Can the real estate investment option be financially lucrative? 

A. Though this is a more expensive option, it could prove to be financially lucrative, given Dominica’s impressive tourism industry.

Q. How does the application process work? 

A. With the help of an Authorised Agent, applicants will need to prepare a series of required documents, including a passport, birth certificate, and police record.

Q. Who is responsible for dealing with matters regarding Citizenship by Investment in Dominica? 

A. The Citizenship by Investment Unit (CBIU) is the Government Authority that deals with all matters regarding Citizenship by Investment in the Commonwealth of Dominica.

Q. What is the role of private investment in Dominica? 

A. The government recognizes the role that private investment can play in helping Dominica thrive as a country.

Q. What is the purpose of the Citizenship by Investment Programme? 

A. The Citizenship by Investment Programme is an opportunity to encourage foreign direct investment that facilitates growth in the private sector.

Q. Is there a website where I can find more information about the Dominica CBI scheme? 

A. Yes, you can visit Dominica CBIU for more information on how to apply for Dominica's CBI scheme.

Q. What are the process steps?

A. Dominica request processing steps:

1. KYC (know your customer):
   1. is for initial security and check to make sure that the customer is illegible to apply for the program.
2. Signing the contract between MI and the customer.
   1. The customer pays 5,000$ on signing contract.
3. MI document experts will start supporting the customer to collect the documents.
4. Customer provides MI with all the original documents.
5. MI reviews the documents.
6. MI ships the documents to the government unit for the Due Diligence process:
   1. The customer has to pay the Due Diligence fees before shipping the documents to the government unit.
7. Within 4 month period the government will apply with the approval of the request.
8. The customer has to transfer the rest of the amount.
9. Within 70 days the customer will receive the nationality certificate.
10. Within 30 days the customer will receive the passport