New Beneficial Changes to Dominica Citizenship by Investment
The Commonwealth of Dominica Citizenship by Investment (Amendment) Regulations 2020 were recently implemented to improve the Dominica Citizenship by Investment Programme. The new changes widen the definition of ‘dependant’ and include more opportunities for family members of individuals who have already obtained citizenship through investment. There have been also price reductions for the fees for obtaining Dominica Citizenship by Investment
- NEW Changes to the definition of ‘Dependant’
The following persons can be included as ‘dependant’ in an application for citizenship
- spouse of the main applicant
- children of the main applicant or spouse who are under 18 years of age (who are financially dependant on the main applicant or spouse of the main applicant)
- Children over 18 years of age and are mentally or physically challenged (who are financially dependant on the main applicant or spouse of the main applicant)
- Parents or grandparents of the main applicant or the main applicant’s spouse who are substantially supported by the main applicant or spouse of the main applicant
- NEW: biological or legally adopted sibling of the main applicant or spouse of the main applicant between the ages of 18 to 25 who are single and childless and are substantially supported by the main applicant or the spouse of the main applicant
- NEW: ‘Biological or legally adopted siblings of the main applicant or of the spouse of the main applicant who are below the age of 18, single, childless, substantially supported by the main applicant or the spouse of the main applicant, and in receipt of consent to make an application under the Programme from all individuals with parental responsibility for that sibling’
2. NEW Changes to Investment Amount and Fees
Under the EDF the following contributions are required:
Main applicant US$100,000
Spouse of the main applicant US$50,000
Sibling of the main applicant or of the spouse of the main applicant aged 18 to 25 US$50,000
Any dependant other than the spouse of the main applicant or a sibling of the main applicant or of the spouse of the main applicant who is aged 18 to 25 US$25,000 each
Except that US$175,000 shall be sufficient for a family of four including the main applicant, the spouse of the main applicant, and two other dependants other than a dependant who is a sibling of the main applicant or of the spouse of the main applicant.
Important note example: a family composed of a main applicant, spouse, child, mother, and sibling aged 25 application under the direct monetary contribution, amount required would be: US$225,000 (US$175,000 + US$50,000)
NEW Changes to Real Estate Investment and Government Fees
The following fees are applicable under the real estate option
Main applicant US$25,000
Family of 4 (main applicant + 3 dependants but excluding any dependant who is a sibling of the main applicant or of the spouse of the main applicant)US$35,000
Family of up to 6 (main applicant and up to 5 dependants but excluding any dependant who is a sibling of the main applicant or of the spouse of the main applicant)US$50,000
Family of 7 persons or more (main applicant and at least six dependants but excluding any dependant who is a sibling of the main applicant or of the spouse of the main applicant) US$70,000
A sibling of the main applicant or of the spouse of the main applicant aged 18 to 25 US$50,000
A sibling of the main applicant or of the spouse of the main applicant below the age of 18 US$25,000
The minimum required investment in government approved real estate remains at US$200,000.
Please also note, therefore, that if a family composed of a main applicant and his or her spouse, child, mother, and sibling aged 25 were to apply for citizenship through a real estate investment, the following payments would need to be made:
Minimum investment: US$200,000
Government Fees: US$85,000 (US$35,000 + US$50,000)
The due diligence fees for both the monetary contribution and the real estate contribution have remained unchanged and the following fees are applicable under both citizenship by investment options:
Processing Fee US$1,000 (per application)
Certificate of Naturalisation Fee US$250 (per applicant)
Due Diligence Fee for the main applicant US$7,500
Due Diligence Fee for a dependant aged 16 or over US$4,000
3. NEW: Additional Family Members permitted to obtain citizenship after citizenship has been obtained:
New Born or Adopted Children can get Dominica Citizenship
Children born or adopted after citizenship was obtained, subject to the following fees:
- Processing Fee: US$500
- Certificate of Naturalisation Fee: US$250
Children born or adopted after citizenship was obtained can now be registered at all times and not merely within the first five years of birth. This new change can be applied to all persons who already have obtained citizenship through citizenship by investment.
Spouses Married After Citizenship
Spouses married after the original application was made, at a cost of US$75,000 plus the following fees:
- Processing Fee: US$1,000
- Due Diligence Fee for the original applicant (if submitted more than 1 year after the date of submission of the original application): US$7,500
- Due Diligence Fee for the spouse: US$4,000
- Certificate of Naturalisation Fee: US$250
Note that an application for the post-citizenship addition of a spouse can be made by all persons who obtained citizenship through the Dominica Citizenship by Investment Programme.
Pre-Existing Dependants
Any dependant who would have qualified as a dependant at the time the original application was made at a cost of US$75,000 for the spouse, US$75,000 for a dependant who is a sibling of the main applicant or of the spouse of the main applicant aged 18 to 25, and US$50,000 for a dependant other than the spouse or a sibling of the main applicant or of the spouse of the main applicant aged 18 to 25, plus the following fees:
- Processing Fee: US$1,000
- Due Diligence Fee for the original applicant (if submitted more than 1 year after the date of submission of the original application): US$7,500
- Due Diligence Fee for each pre-existing dependant aged 16 or over: US$4,000
- Certificate of Naturalisation Fee: US$250 per pre-existing dependant
Except that, where an application is submitted within one year of the granting of citizenship the following shall be sufficient:
- A cost of US$50,000 for the spouse, US$50,000 for a dependant who is a sibling of the main applicant or of the spouse of the main applicant aged 18 to 25, and US$25,000 for a dependant other than the spouse or a sibling of the main applicant or of the spouse of the main applicant aged 18 to 25, plus the following fees:
- Processing Fee: US$1,000
- Due Diligence Fee for the original applicant (if submitted more than 1 year after the date of submission of the original application): US$7,500
- Due Diligence Fee for each pre-existing dependant aged 16 or over: US$4,000
- Certificate of Naturalisation Fee: US$250 per pre-existing dependant
Note that post-citizenship additions of pre-existing dependants are not limited to cash investments but apply to all means of obtaining citizenship through the Programme.
Further note that an application for the post-citizenship addition of pre-existing dependants can only be made by the original main applicant.
NEW CHANGES to Application Forms and Documentary Requirements
Main applicants are now required to provide a sworn affidavit of support for dependants who are over the age of 18 that are included in an application for citizenship and must indicate whether such dependants are supported by either the main applicant or the main applicant’s spouse.
Letters of enrolment in an educational institution need to now only be signed and stamped by the competent authority and do not need to be notarized by the competent authority. Attendance of
The attendance at an institution of higher learning is no longer a requirement for children aged 18 to 30 to qualify as dependants. However, those students who are currently in a recognised institution of higher learning must still submit either official transcripts from that institution of higher learning or a letter from the competent authority confirming enrolment.
For further information about citizenship by investment contact: jennifer@jhmarlin.com
*This article does not constitute legal advice and is for information purposes only
Jennifer Harding-Marlin / Attorney / Citizenship by Investment specialist / jhmarlin.com
