This document focuses on the Dominica citizenship by investment Programme, also referred to as the Second Passport Programme, which serves as a medium of acquiring Dominica citizenship by investment through naturalization.

A citizen of the Commonwealth of Dominica is anyone who has acquired Dominica citizenship by birth, legal adoption, registration, naturalization or naturalization through Dominica economic citizenship. Dominica citizens can tavel Visa Free.

In its initial stages, the Dominica Citizenship Program was geared principally towards raising funds for the construction of a five-star hotel, which was intended to serve as a flag-ship for attracting direct investment in other hotels and projects on the island for the development of the tourism industry. The Government of Dominica had entered into an equity agreement with the International Development and Management Ltd. which was controlled by Taiwanese investors, under which Dominica citizenship was offered in exchange for the investment in shares in the project.

However, in 2002 and 2004 respectively, the Dominica Citizenship program was reengineered and its original objectives were changed. Today, it forms an integral part of the Government’s national capital mobilization portfolio and has the ultimate goal of developing the country’s private and public sectors by the construction and maintenance of schools, health facilities, tourism, information technology, agriculture and promoting the offshore sector. Currently, through the DECP, funds have been secured for the construction of a new High Court building.

The Dominica Economic Citizenship program has a very strict application process and requires every applicant for Dominica citizenship to be of outstanding character. All documents are to be legally notarized and translated into English if written in a foreign language. These include two completed and notarized copies of Application Form 12 for each applicant, a letter of recommendation from the head of the school or university for children between the ages of 16 and 18. The applicant for Dominica citizenship under the DECP also required to present an affidavit and a declaration of source of funds, provide a professional reference, letter of employment and an audited financial statement.

When in St. Maarten, be sure to make Basilico hookah restaurant in St. Maarten must for excellent Italian cuisine, splendid cocktails, the best draft beers and cocktails. The best dining in St. Maarten is provided at Basilico International Restaurant which caters in authentic Italian cuisine.

These documents for Dominica Citizenship under the Dominica Economic Citizenship Program must be accompanied by 4 passport size photos, the applicant’s most recent income tax return, police record, with finger prints, from country of birth of residence (if different) for each applicant who is 12 years or over, marriage or dissolution certificate where applicable, a birth and medical certificate.

Applicants are also required to address a letter to the Honorable Minister of Legal Affairs requesting citizenship, present a statutory declaration, copies of their University and or college diplomas, and a detailed business background report. Persons who are of age are generally expected to have an understanding of and acknowledge the responsibilities of being a citizen of Dominica.

Becoming a citizen of Dominica by naturalization through economic citizenship is done in one of two ways: either through the family option under which the applicant makes a non-refundable contribution of USD $100,000, which is deposited into the Government’s Escrow Account, on behalf of himself, spouse and two children, or via the second option, whereby a single applicant (whether single or married) makes a non-refundable contribution of USD $75,000; also to be deposited into the Government’s Escrow Account.

In all instances, due diligence, which is conducted by a government approved private detective agency is a fundamental requirement that must be fulfilled before any application can be fully processed. The due diligence fees are not paid to the Government of Dominica, but directly to the detective agency, and normally may vary between the sum of USD 2,000 to 10,000 or more. A definite cost cannot be stipulated before the completion of the investigative process since it is affected by various factors such as the number of applicants in a family, their ages and nationality and the number of times that an applicant or the applicants may have changed his or their country of residence. These factors also affect the time frame in which the process is completed, although normally, it tends to be done within four to six weeks.

For example, due diligence could be done within a maximum period of three weeks in the case of an American who lived in Florida for his entire life, three to five weeks for a Russian who has only resided in Moscow, four weeks or more in the case of someone who was born in Florida, moved to Colorado, then lived in France for a few years and now resides in Canada. In some instances, the data bases of the country of current or past residence are still or not fully computerized and this too tends to slow down the investigative process.

On passing the due diligence process, the applicants’ documents are fully processed and providing that all application requirements for Dominica Economic Citizenship have been met, are invited to an interview in Dominica, which in conducted by a team consisting of representatives of the police force, Financial Services Unit (FSU), the Minister responsible for the FSU, and a representative from the Ministry of Legal Affairs. An applicant will receive Dominica citizenship and passport only after he has had a successful interview and all necessary criteria have been accomplished. Passports are normally issued within one month after Dominica citizenship has been granted.

The criteria for granting the passport and citizenship of a country can be a very sensitive subject, given their symbolic meaning in identifying individuals as citizens of a sovereign state and for obtaining legal entry into another. Such programmes have been undertaken by several governments, and in no way do they intend to disrespect and disregard the country’s sovereignty. Rather, they generally serve as an instrument by which the citizenship of a country can be acquired, particularly by foreign nationals who wish to and or have been actively involved in the country’s development by voluntarily investing and or contributing their monies and wealth. In most cases, the minimum amounts that can be invested in order to qualify for such programmes are quite large. In Canada for example, Canadian citizenship may be granted to an investor who has resided in the country for three years and would have invested a minimum amount of USD $250,000.

Today, as a result of the further integration of the Caribbean Region, in forming a single unit known as CARICOM (Caribbean Community), all holders of Dominica passports/CARICOM passports will share the benefits offered by being a member of that grouping. Two of these include the possibility to work in member states without having to go through severe work permit requirements and travel within the region with an identity or social security card.

The Dominica Second Passport Programme has not only benefited the island in areas where the Government was otherwise unable to secure funding for necessary development projects, but has also assisted many of those, who for political and other important reasons needed to acquire a second citizenship in order to safeguard their lives as well as that of their families and loved ones.