A foreign national with a criminal past will not be able to obtain citizenship of Dominica by investment
What is the connection between the sustainable development goals formulated by the UN and investor passports? Granting citizenship by investment to foreign nationals, the Government of Dominica actually plays in tune with the international community goals. Please find out where your money will go if you invest in citizenship of Dominica. If you are interested in exploring this opportunity further, you are welcome to apply for a free consultation with InternationalWealth experts.
The Dominican citizenship-by-investment program has become an important instrument for financing various projects that fall in line with the sustainable development program advocated by the UN.
Hurricane Maria that hit the island in 2017 caused serious damage to the country’s infrastructure and heavily affected the lives of the people. To avoid such sad occurrences in the future, the Government of Dominica has resolved to enhance the susceptibility of the infrastructure to natural disasters paying special attention to the UN directives. Concrete goals have been formulated and it is expected that they are going to be achieved by 2030 or earlier.
As a reminder: in September, 2015, the United Nations member states discussed the priorities for sustainable development and proposed seventeen goals to be achieved by 2030. De facto, it is a plan of action for the near future that will bring peace and prosperity to the planet for years to come.
When granting citizenship to foreign investors, the Dominican authorities use the incoming money to finance important social projects. Let us discuss in more or less detail what the local authorities do in order to achieve the sustainable development goals.
1. No poverty
Dominica grants citizenship to foreigners who invest in resort property in the country. This contributes to the creation of new jobs in the construction industry and the hospitality industry as well.
The local citizenship-by-investment program has helped to give employment to more than one thousand construction workers building resort complexes. Another nine hundred jobs will be created when the hotel construction is complete. These figures are quite impressive for a country whose population is 76.1 thousand people only (World Bank data, 2018).
Over 4.5 thousand small business owners have received indirect support from foreign investors applying for citizenship of Dominica. The immigration program has indirectly contributed to creating 4 thousand new jobs for the islanders. Two thirds of the vacancies have been opened in socially significant projects.
The Dominican citizenship-by-investment program has helped finance 32 agricultural and angling projects. Besides, educational programs supported by foreign investors’ money have also contributed to the overall growth of the employment rates in Dominica.
2. No famine
With the use of the foreign investments, the Dominican Ministry of Agriculture has started working with farmers on developing a sustainable food industry and transforming the agricultural sector into a technologically advanced sector of economy. Fish and shrimp farms have received support as well as food processing enterprises on the island.
Promoting the ‘from the farm to the table’ ideology and balanced diets, the Ministry of Agriculture invites local enthusiasts to grow popular organic foods. It distributes seedlings of various nutritious plants to the farmers with the intention to promote their cultivation.
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3. Good health and well-being
The construction of Marigo hospital began in the first quarter of 2020. The construction of a two-story hospital is financed by the Dominican citizenship-by-investment program. The hospital is going to be 400 square meters in size and have 75 beds.
The patients will have access to a wide spectrum of medical services including ambulatory and emergency assistance, intensive therapy, maternity and pediatric assistance, laboratory and radiological services, and trauma care. The hospital will have state-of-the-art medical equipment.
The citizenship-by-investment program has also helped restore three hospitals and six medical centers on the island after the Maria hurricane. Dozens of children went abroad for medical treatment and complex operations.
4. High quality education
Education remains among the top priorities for the Government of Dominica. The incomes generated by the citizenship-by-investment program go to financing educational projects as well. In particular, 26 XCD (East Caribbean dollars) has been spent on supporting the young people undergoing training in top-class foreign schools and universities.
Many Dominican students enter universities in the USA, Canada, Great Britain, and other countries thus acquiring high-quality higher education and invaluable life experience that they are going to share with their compatriots when they return.
In addition to supporting students studying abroad, the Dominican authorities use the resources of the citizenship-by-investment program to modernize local schools. More effort has been required after the Maria hurricane that ruined the best part of the educational infrastructure in the country. The Dominican citizenship-by-investment program has contributed to the restoration of 15 schools on the island.
Foreign direct investments have also helped to launch a mentorship scheme in Dominica. The scheme allows paying salaries to mentors who engage schoolchildren in various extracurricular activities. Since 2013, around 4 thousand students have taken part in this program and 2 hundred of them have chosen the career paths with the mentors’ assistance and found jobs.
5. Gender equality
The Government of Dominica promotes gender equality in the country in accordance with the international directives. Various policies are in place that should guarantee that men and women, boys and girls have equal rights, equal opportunities, and equal access to the resources. Everyone is guaranteed to have an opportunity to participate in decision-making processes.
6. Clear water and sanitation
The Dominican citizenship-by-investment program has allowed the islanders to allocate 175 million XCD between 2015 and 2019 to the development of water and sanitation infrastructure. The money went to dredging 11 rivers, which will lessen the risk of floods in the future.
7. Accessible and clean energy
Around 28% of all energy is generated by hydro stations and windmills in Dominica. This figure is relatively high in comparison to other CARICOM states. (CARICOM or Caribbean Community is a regional analogue to the Schengen zone in Europe).
The local Government has also initiated the construction of a geothermal station. Six million XCD has been allocated to the construction of the 7-megawatt station. When it is put into operation, the geothermal station will increase the level of Dominica’s energy security. This, in its turn, will enhance the resistance of the island to the consequences of climate change.
8. Decent employment and economic growth
As we have noted above, the Dominican citizenship-by-investment program has contributed to the improvement of the unemployment rate in the country. It has done so directly via the construction works and indirectly via the growth of demand for goods and services on the part of the construction workers, hotel administrators, and guests.
During the period of isolation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, a national employment support program has been implemented in Dominica that costs the Government 3.7 million XCD per month. The program has helped young specialists to complete internships, improve their skills, and find jobs. It has also contributed to the growth of human potential and brought valuable benefits to local communities by supporting long-term economic growth.
The money generated by the citizenship-by-investment program has been used for employment support in Dominica since the very start of the program in 2013. It has to be noted that the financing has been increased by 12 times since then.
It is expected that the total contribution (direct and indirect) of the Dominican citizenship-by-investment program to the national budget will reach 150 million XCD in the mid-term perspective. Tax revenues associated with the program should reach about 30 million XCD.
9. Industrial innovations and infrastructure development
The citizenship-by-investment program administered by the Government of Dominica has also helped restore 15 road sections and 19 bridges ruined by the hurricane. It has allowed building 1 thousand hurricane-resistant houses in the country. Another 5 thousand such houses are going to be built in the future.
In August 2020, the Government of Dominica purchased 411 acres of land to build a new international airport. The construction of the new air haven that is financed by the citizenship-by-investment program will allow delivering goods to the market faster, enhancing the scale of business operations, and accelerating the process of economic diversification in the country.
10. Reduction of inequality
Underprivileged and vulnerable groups of people require special attention when it comes to providing for social equality. Victims of structural discrimination need to be rescued and their human rights restored.
The Government of Dominica implements several projects that help determine the groups of people that are affected by natural disasters more than others are. The money coming from the citizenship-by-investment program helps finance this cause.
11. Sustainable cities and communities
A sustainable city or a sustainable community will provide opportunities for career development and safe and affordable housing. Special efforts are taken in Dominica to improve the quality of housing in the country and to build objects of infrastructure that can withstand natural disasters.
12. Responsible consumption and production
Responsible consumption and production implies efficient use of resources with the specifics of the local ecosystem in mind. The amount of waste has to be minimized when producing goods and providing services.
The construction of the geothermal station financed by the citizenship-by-investment program enhances the use of renewable energy in Dominica thus making the country less dependent on imported energy in an ecologically friendly way. The construction of new schools and hospitals makes the local environment more comfortable, sustainable, and self-sufficient.
The use of disposable plastic items (from straws to food containers) is prohibited in Dominica, which reduces the harm to arable lands, sewage systems, and water streams. Ecologically friendly habits are promoted in the country: the people are asked to use biodegradable packaging materials and other ‘green’ products. Foreign companies that bring such products to Dominica pay a 0% import tax.
13. Fight against climate change
The hurricane made the Dominica authorities take urgent measures in fighting the consequences of climate change. New infrastructure sustainable to natural disasters is actively built in the country. Besides, the use of ecologically friendly products is promoted.
The Commonwealth of Dominica aims to become the first country that is sustainable to global warming. The program of adapting to climate change is based on three pillars: (1) climate-resistant systems, (2) intelligent systems of disaster risk management, and (3) efficient response to natural disasters.
14. Underwater life
Conservation of marine biodiversity and minimization of the risk of ecological disasters in Dominican waters plays a key role in coastline protection efforts as well as the development of coastal communities. The Government of Dominica incentivizes private businesses to invest in the ‘blue economy’, which means using the marine resources in ecologically responsible ways.
Such initiatives contribute to the protection of the coastline (the beaches, the riffs, the angling facilities) from climatic risks. In this way, sustainable development of fishery, sea tourism, and private coastal businesses is ensured.
15. Life on the land
Land ecosystems also need protection and the Government of Dominica implements various programs to protect the forests, stop the soil degradation, and avoid the loss of biodiversity on the island. The ecosystem of Dominica is truly unique and this asset is vital for tourism development as well as the national identity.
There is a local campaign called ‘Roots’ that aims to plant one million trees on the island thus contributing to the restoration of the national forests. The authorities also encourage farmers to engage in organic agriculture because this is an important factor for the overall sustainable development of the country.
The protection of lands and water streams from chemicals is another area of priority for the Dominican Government. A responsible land use program is in place that involves young people, women, and the underprivileged in caring for the land. The authorities inform the people about the importance of taking the ecological factor into consideration when planning any construction activities. This initiative contributes to the preservation of biodiversity on the island, restoration of the soils, and prevention of landslides.
16. Peace, fairness, and strong social institutes
Dominica, known as the ‘Nature Island’, is a safe and friendly country with strong social institutes. The citizenship-by-investment program that the Dominica administers confirms the truth of this statement. All foreigners bringing investments in exchange for Dominican passports undergo complex multilevel due diligence checks. The Government of the country gives all foreign nationals equal opportunities to apply for citizenship but only the decent reliable candidates can become citizens of Dominica.
17. Partnership in achieving the goals
Achieving the goals of sustainable development is possible for Dominica with international support. The aforementioned Marigo hospital, for instance, is constructed with the help of Chinese partners.
The World Bank has financed several socio-economic projects in the island. In particular, it has supplied farming machinery, contributed to the development of digital technologies in the country, and participated in the financing of the geothermal station construction.
In August 2020, Dominica joined the Travel Bubble program administered by CARICOM. The ‘Bubble’ is a free movement zone for the citizens of the countries that have been successful in combating the pandemic. This list of countries includes Dominica, Anguilla, Montserrat, Saint Kitts, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Barbados, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Antigua.
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Let us remind you that you can choose one of the three paths leading to citizenship of Dominica by investment. You can make a non-returnable donation to the state fund (Economic Development Fund), participate in the Government projects, or invest into luxury resort property on the island that is approved for the citizenship-by-investment program.
We will be happy to provide a free consultation to you that will allow choosing the optimal route to Dominican citizenship. Please contact InternationalWealth experts by email, online chat, or a messenger and apply for a personal consultation right now!
What disadvantages does the Dominican citizenship-by-investment program have?
Dominica offers wild pristine nature but some infrastructure objects have yet to be completed. For example, the local airport is expected to start accommodating long-distance international flights only in 2023. While the new airport is under construction, tourists arrive in Dominica via Barbados, Puerto Rico, or Guadeloupe.
How long does it take to acquire Dominican citizenship by investment?
The immigration authorities of Dominica will take about three months to process the application for citizenship. The period can be extended if some additional documents are requested. You also have to realize that preparing the application documents takes time too. Besides, some additional time will be required for selecting the piece of property that you want to buy in Dominica if this is the route to citizenship of the country that you prefer.
Can I resell the piece of property that I have purchased to qualify for citizenship of Dominica by investment?
Without doubt, you can but you will lose Dominican citizenship if you resell your property earlier than three years after purchasing it. If you would like to sell your property to a foreign candidate for Dominican citizenship, it should have been in your possession for five years. When these possession periods expire, you are free to sell the property and keep the Dominican passport.
