Citizenship & Passport Programme
Commonwealth of Dominica, West Indies

Background Dominica is a member of the British Commonwealth, the United Nations, the OAS, and CARICOM. The Commonwealth of Dominica is a Caribbean republic with a parliamentary democracy. The capital city is Roseau and the population is approximately 70,000. The language is English. French Patois is also spoken and the currency is the East Caribbean Dollar.

The Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica realizing that an Economic Citizenship Programme could generate much needed revenue for the country, competitively structured their Programmes to cost substantially less than that of St. Kitts/Nevis. The legislation which provides for full citizenship is authorized by an amendment to the Dominica Citizenship Act. The cost of citizenship through the programme is less than that of the St. Kitts/Nevis programme...

Advantages of Citizenship

As a citizen of Dominica, you can take advantage of a range of personal benefits which include:

• Becoming a citizen of this peaceful and welcoming country for life through one of the oldest and most trusted citizenship by investment programmes
• Visa-free travel to 95 countries, including the United Kingdom, Singapore, Hong Kong and Ireland
• Minimal taxation – no wealth, gift, inheritance, foreign income or capital gains tax
• Full residence status, with the right to live and work in Dominica
• Dual citizenship is allowed
• There is no requirement to reside in Dominica before or after citizenship is granted
• The application process is confidential.

Lifestyle benefits

Dominica has been named as one of the world’s happiest places to live. Boasting a high number of centurions (people who have lived to be older than 100 years), it offers an easy lifestyle within a safe, peaceful and pristine environment with a culturally vibrant and friendly community.

The “Nature Island of the Caribbean” is a green tropical paradise and one of the most beautiful islands in the Caribbean. It is practically untouched nature with countless rivers and waterfalls, and emerald green mountains dropping dramatically into the turquoise sea.
Dominica hosts the world’s second-largest hot spring, Boiling Lake and features lush, mountainous rainforests, which are home to many rare plant, animal, and bird species. Dominica’s clear and calm oceans offer excellent opportunities for diving and snorkelling and have spectacular dive sites including shipwrecks and even underwater hot springs.

In 1998, Dominica’s Morne Trois Pitons National Park was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Since 1997 Dominica has actively participated in the work of Green Globe to develop a model for ecotourism within Dominica.

Business advantages

• Minimal taxation – no wealth, gift, inheritance, foreign income or capital gains tax and no personal income tax for residents
• Dominica is signatory of double taxation treaties with the USA and Caricom
• There is No restriction on the repatriation of profits and imported capital
• Generous incentive packages including corporate tax incentives, full exemption from import duties, tax relief benefits and export allowance
• Currency pegged to US Dollar
• Duty Free Trading in Caribbean

International mobility

Passport holders can use their citizenship to benefit from greater ease of international travel, including to the United Kingdom, Singapore, Hong Kong and Ireland. Dominica will shortly also be able to offer visa-free travel to the European Schengen states. Moreover, the government of Dominica has provided a number of fiscal and other concessions which aim to make doing business in this island paradise even more attractive, these include generous tax holidays, import duty and tax waivers, and streamlined processes.

Fees

Investment requirement:

Government Fund
The Government Fund was established through the economic citizenship programme as one component of a national capital mobilization portfolio towards an ultimate goal of national development for Dominica.
Generated funds are utilised for public and private sector projects where a need is identified. Public sector projects identified for financing under the programme include (1) building of schools, (2) renovation of the hospital, (3) building of a national Sports stadium and (4) towards the promotion of the Offshore Sector. With respect to private sector projects, government emphasis is on the tourism, information technology and agricultural sectors and therefore public sector projects to be financed under the programme will fall within one of these sectors.
To qualify for citizenship under this investment option, there are four investment categories with different contribution amounts, based on the number of dependents included in the application, which are as follows:

1. Single Applicant: a contribution of USD 100,000 is required
2. Main Applicant and Spouse: a contribution of USD 175,000 is required
3. Applicant with up to three dependents (Applicant plus spouse and two children below the age of 18): a contribution of USD 200,000
4. Applicant with up to four dependents or more (Applicant plus spouse and more than two children below the age of 18): a contribution of USD 200,000 (plus USD 20,000 for each additional dependent under the age of 18 years and USD 50,000 for each additional dependent aged 18 and over*)

Real Estate
To qualify for citizenship of Dominica under the Real Estate Option under the Citizenship by Investment Program, an applicant must purchase authorized real estate to the minimum value of USD 200,000.

Fees Applicable

Government fees
In addition to the capital investment required for the selected investment option, additional fees are payable by each family member.

DUE DILIGENCE FEES (required for both the Real Estate and the Government Fund options)

• Main Applicant – USD 7,500*
• Spouse – USD 4,000
• Dependant aged 16 years and above – USD 4,000

*In some cases, an enhanced due diligence may be required depending on the citizenship the applicant holds.

GOVERNMENT FEES FOR THE REAL ESTATE OPTION ONLY
The minimum required investment for the Real Estate Option is USD 200,000
The following government fees are applicable for the main applicant and any accompanying dependents:

• USD 50,000 for the Main Applicant
• USD 25,000 for the Spouse
• USD 20,000 for a dependent under the age of 18
• USD 50,000 for a dependent aged 18-25 years

There is currently no mandatory interview requirement for the Dominican Citizenship by Investment Program, however an interview may be required at the discretion of the government.
If an interview is required, it would usually be held in Dominica. However, should the applicant be unable to attend an interview in Dominica, interviews may be held at certain centres outside of Dominica, subject to the applicant paying the applicable costs.
We can assist with the preparation of the interview and ensure that applicants are fully up to date with the background and historical information.

Application Documents Required

1. Disclosure Form
2. Verification Form
3. Two (2) completed and notarized copies of Application Form 12 for each applicant
4. One (1) professional reference
5. Letter of Employment / Financial Statements
6. Recommendation from applicant's Bankers
7. Two (2) Personal references
8. Police Record, with fingerprints, from country of birth and country of residence (if different) for each applicant sixteen (16) years and over. For children twelve to fifteen (12-15), sworn affidavit by parent that child does not have criminal record
9. Eight (8) passport size photographs for each applicant
10. Marriage Certificate / Dissolution of Marriage is required
11. Birth Certificates
12. Medical Certificates of good health including HIV Negative
13. Letter of recommendation from the head of the school/university for children between 12 and 18 years old
14. Proof of payment of relevant fees
15. Affidavit of Source of Funds
16. Detailed Business Background Reports/Resume
17. Notarized copies of University/College Diplomas

Note: Applications will only be processed if accompanied by:

1. all documents included in the above list (provided), and
2. payment of the appropriate fee to International Management & Trust Services Inc.