DOMINCA
DOMINCA
Named “the Nature Island” for its unspoiled natural beauty, Dominica is arguably the most breathtaking island in the Caribbean, boasting one of the best standards of living in the region.
GDP
TIME DIFFERENCE
UTC-4
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TOTAL AREA
751 sq. km
AGE DEMOGRAPHICS
0-14: 22.1%, 15-24: 16.7%,
25-54: 41.5%, 55-64: 9.2%,
65+: 10.4%
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LANGUAGES SPOKEN
English (official) French
patois
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POPULATION: 73,449
Population Growth: 0.22%
14,300 USD
GDP (per capita)
GDP (purchasing power parity)
1.015 billion USD
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VISA FREE COUNTRIES: 112
LOCATION
Caribbean, Islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about half way between Puerto Rico and Trinidad and Tobago
CAPITAL
Roseau
RELIGIONS WORSHIPPED
Roman Catholic 61.4%, Protestant 20.6%, Jehovah's Witnesses 1.2%, other
Christian 7.7%, Rastafarian 1.3%, other or unspecified 1.6%, none 6.1%
GOVERNMENT TYPE
Parliamentary democracy
CURRENCY
East Caribbean dollars (XCD), tied to USD
EXCHANGE RATE
1 USD = XCD 2.70 (2014)
Dominica
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Established in 1993, Dominica’s Citizen-by-Investment (CBI) Programme aims to boost foreign economic contributions to Dominica, in order to expand its economy and meet the demands of the modern competitive global market. Citizenship can be obtained in exchange for a significant financial investment in the country’s infrastructure. Applicants can make a donation towards major development projects in both the public and private sectors, or invest in government-approved real estate.
Why Dominica?
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“Named “the Nature Island” for its unspoiled natural beauty, Dominica is arguably the most breathtaking island in the Caribbean, boasting one of the best standards of living in the region.”
Officially the Commonwealth of Dominica, the beautiful island boasts pristine sandy beaches, lush green mountains, acres of unspoiled tropical rainforests, and some of the best diving and hiking in the Caribbean. A diverse blend of English, French, African and Carib peoples and cultures, Dominica is also one of the most politically and economically stable states with the lowest crime rate in the region.​​
Benefits
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No physical residency requirements;
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Inclusion of dependent children up to 30;
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Inclusion of unmarried daughters under 30 living with and fully supported by the main applicant;
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Inclusion of dependent parents and grandparents over 55;
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No education or managerial experience required;
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Visa-free travel to over 125 countries including Europe’s Schengen zone, the UK, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and Turkey;
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No taxes for non-residents;
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Dual citizenship
Eligibility
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The Program offers many benefits in exchange of several requirements that applicants must meet. To qualify for citizenship in Dominica applicants need to meet the following criteria:
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Over 18 years old;
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Be of outstanding character;
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Hold no criminal record;
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Have excellent health;
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Have a basic knowledge of English.
Minimum Investment Requirements
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Citizenship by investment in Dominica is available through two options. The first is by making an economic contribution (donation) to the country under the government’s investor visa programme. The second option is through real estate investment.
Economic Diversification Fund
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The Economic Diversification Fund (EDF) was established through Dominica’s CBI Programme for supporting socio-economic initiatives and driving national development. The non-refundable donation could be used to fund anything, from building schools and hospitals to specific projects in tourism and agriculture sectors. Applicants can acquire citizenship to Dominica by making a financial contribution to its EDF.
The contribution requirements are as follows:
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Single applicant: USD100,000
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Spouse of the main applicant: USD50,000
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Siblings of the main applicant/spouse aged 18-25: USD50,000
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Any other dependents (excluding the aforesaid spouse or siblings): USD25,000 each
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Family of four (main applicant, spouse, two other dependents): USD175,0002.
Real Estate Investments
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To qualify for Dominican citizenship under the real estate option, an applicant has to purchase an authorized property with a minimum value of USD200,000 for a period of 3 years. Further, the property can only be resold after 5 years subsequent to the acquisition of citizenship.
Government Fees (for real estate investments only)
Following the approval of Dominica citizenship by real estate investment, additional government fees apply as follows:
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Single Applicant: USD25,000
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Family of four (Main applicant and three dependents): USD35,000
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Family of six (Main applicant and five dependents): USD50,000
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Family of seven or more (Main applicant and six dependents or more): USD70,000
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Siblings of main applicant aged 18-25: USD50,000
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Siblings of main applicant aged below 18: USD25,000
Additional Fees (applicable to both EDF and Real Estate Investments)
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In addition to the minimum contribution requirements above, the following fees are also applicable:
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Processing fees: USD1,000 per application
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Due diligence fees:
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Main applicant: USD7,500
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Spouse: USD4,000
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Dependents aged 16 or above: USD4,000
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**Additional due diligence fees may be required depending on the circumstances
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Certificate of naturalization fee: USD250 per person
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Expedited passport issuance fee: USD1,200 per person
The application for citizenship usually takes 3 months to proceed. Upon approval, the validity of Dominican passports will last for up to 10 years whereas passports for children under 16 are issued for 5 years. The passport can then be renewed at the Passport and Immigration Department in Dominica or through any Dominican Consulate, subject to the fulfilment of the investment requirements.