Dominica’s second passport for Nigerians: benefits, requirements, costs and procedure
Increasing global mobility with visa-free access to 145 countries, building your business and wealth in a new territory and many more opportunities are available to Nigerians with Dominica passports.
The country’s citizenship-by-investment program allows applicants to get second citizenship within several months, without exams, relocation, or even visiting the island.
Keep reading to learn more about the peculiarities of acquiring Dominica passports by investment for Nigerian citizens. We’ll discuss requirements, the necessary action steps, costs and other details.
Author •Lyle Julien
Explains the peculiarities of Dominica’s citizenship-by-investment program
Dominica’s second passport for Nigerians: benefits, requirements, costs and procedure
Benefits of Dominica citizenship for Nigerians
Let us first discuss the benefits investors get when they acquire Dominica passports.
Visa-free travelling to 145 countries. A Nigerian passport allows one to visit 46 countries visa-free. At the same time, a Dominica one enables its holder to enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 145 states worldwide. The list includes China, Hong Kong, Singapore, the Schengen states.
A second passport makes travelling more convenient since you no longer need to go through the rigorous visa application process. At the same time, it will also allow you to save on processing fees.
Obtain a 10-year USA visa. Dominica citizens may apply for a 10-year B‑1/B‑2 visitor visa to the USA. With a Nigerian passport only, one can apply for a visa that is valid for five years.
With a visitor visa, you can stay in the USA for up to six months a year. The visa is suitable for tourism or business trips; it does not include the right to work or study long-term in the USA.
Tax benefits. Investors may benefit from Dominica’s tax system. The country has no capital gains or inheritance tax. Rates of other taxes may seem advantageous in comparison with some other jurisdictions.
However, obtaining a Dominica passport doesn’t oblige an investor to pay taxes in the country. It’s a must if one lives in Dominica, earns income or owns a property there.
Scaling up your business overseas. Acquiring Dominica citizenship for Nigerians may also open the doors to great investment opportunities. A citizen can start a new business in Dominica or invest in various sectors in the country.
Additionally, a second passport may help one open bank accounts abroad and travel for business purposes without a visa.
Dominica citizenship as a doorway to reliable banks in Europe
Hasan’s company exports its products to Spain, Portugal and Italy. The investor wished to open an account in a reliable bank to keep the business earnings in hard currency, but the procedure took too long, and he was often denied without explanation.
The investor considered participation in the European Golden Visa programs to get residency and new opportunities. But Immigrant Invest lawyers offered him another path — Dominica citizenship, requiring fewer expenses.
Now Hasan has accounts in European banks and plans business trips to Singapore and Hong Kong.
Ability to visit Dominica anytime or settle there. Dominica is well-known for stunning volcanic hot springs, beaches, rainforests, and waterfalls. A Nigerian passport allows one to visit the country visa-free and enjoy these great tourist spots; however, citizens of Dominica may stay for long and don’t have to leave after a particular time.
You may move to Dominica or create a “safe haven” to come there in case of danger in the country of residence.
Requirements for Dominica citizenship applicants
One of the ways that Nigerians can use to acquire a Dominica passport is to avail of the citizenship-by-investment program. It allows investors to obtain second passports within several months. The procedure is entirely remote.
Only investors over 18 years old may participate in the Dominica citizenship program. Other requirements include the following:
having no criminal record or prosecution;
the ability to confirm the legality of income sources;
stable financial position and sufficient income;
good health, no serious illnesses.
Investors’ spouses, children under 30 and parents over 65 may also obtain Dominica citizenship. All adult family members except a spouse must depend financially on the main applicant.
Investment options for obtaining Dominica citizenship for Nigerians
Applicants may choose one of two options: a non-refundable contribution to the state fund and the purchase of real estate. The first option requires less investment, and the second one allows investors to profit and return their money in 3+ years.
A non-refundable contribution. You can donate to the Dominica Economic Diversification Fund. The investment is non-profit and non-refundable.
The minimum investment amount depends on family composition:
$100,000 — for a single applicant;
$150,000 — for a married couple;
$175,000 — for a family of four.
If there are more than four family members, the investment amount for the additional ones is $25,000 for a minor child and $50,000 for a person over 18.
Real estate investment. You can buy a share in a government-approved project for at least $200,000. You may sell it after three years to anyone who will not use the property to participate in the CBI program or after five years to another applicant.
Additional government fees apply if an investor buys real estate:
$25,000 — for a single applicant;
$35,000 — for a family of up to four members;
$50,000 — for a family of up to six members;
$25,000 — for any additional dependant.
Applicants’ investments benefit Dominica by increasing available funds for the country’s development projects and sectors like tourism, construction, green energetics and others.
Apart from the investment, applicants pay fees for Due Diligence, application processing, and issuance of a certificate of naturalisation and a passport. Also, an investor pays for the service of the program’s licensed agent — a consulting company, like Immigrant Invest, which assists them on the way to second citizenship.
Step-by-step procedure of acquiring Dominica citizenship for Nigerians
Obtaining Dominica passports for Nigerian citizens usually takes about six months. It includes several steps, such as the preparation of documents, Due Diligence, fulfilment of investment conditions and receiving passports.
Dominica prohibits investors from applying themselves, so they must turn to licensed agents representing applicants’ interests. After choosing an agent, an investor follows the standard procedure.
Preliminary Due Diligence
The agent conducts this check to ensure that applicants satisfy the program’s eligibility criteria.
At Immigrant Invest, preliminary checks are conducted by certified Anti Money Laundering Officers. They know the peculiarities of Due Diligence in different countries, including Dominica, and examine the information from the Internet and international databases to find any possible issues.
Data from the check helps us decide on further steps. If there are any problems, we can help neutralise them with additional documents, offer a client a more suitable program or decline to proceed with the application after explaining the situation to the investor.
Because of a thorough preliminary check, Immigrant Invest has a 99% success rate.
The agent conducts this check to ensure that applicants satisfy the program’s eligibility criteria.
At Immigrant Invest, preliminary checks are conducted by certified Anti Money Laundering Officers. They know the peculiarities of Due Diligence in different countries, including Dominica, and examine the information from the Internet and international databases to find any possible issues.
Data from the check helps us decide on further steps. If there are any problems, we can help neutralise them with additional documents, offer a client a more suitable program or decline to proceed with the application after explaining the situation to the investor.
Because of a thorough preliminary check, Immigrant Invest has a 99% success rate.
Preparation of the required documents
Immigrant Invest lawyers provide the investor with a list of necessary documents, depending on the client’s situation. The essentials include the following:
all passports held;
a birth certificate;
marriage or dissolution of marriage certificate, if applicable;
police records from the countries of birth, citizenship, and residence;
proof of residential address, such as a utility bill or a lease agreement;
other documents, such as military records, diplomas, a driver’s licence, change of name documents, etc.
Also, the results of some medical tests are needed.
Lawyers help investors to collect all necessary documents; then, they translate the papers, notarise the copies and fill out government forms. The preparation of documents usually takes several weeks.
Immigrant Invest lawyers provide the investor with a list of necessary documents, depending on the client’s situation. The essentials include the following:
all passports held;
a birth certificate;
marriage or dissolution of marriage certificate, if applicable;
police records from the countries of birth, citizenship, and residence;
proof of residential address, such as a utility bill or a lease agreement;
other documents, such as military records, diplomas, a driver’s licence, change of name documents, etc.
Also, the results of some medical tests are needed.
Lawyers help investors to collect all necessary documents; then, they translate the papers, notarise the copies and fill out government forms. The preparation of documents usually takes several weeks.
Due Diligence
Once the documents are arranged completely, the next step is to apply to the Dominica CBI unit, which conducts Due Diligence.
This process can take up to six months. During this time, the unit examines the applicant’s background. The unit notifies the agent about the application approval when the check is passed.
Once the documents are arranged completely, the next step is to apply to the Dominica CBI unit, which conducts Due Diligence.
This process can take up to six months. During this time, the unit examines the applicant’s background. The unit notifies the agent about the application approval when the check is passed.
Fulfilment of the investment condition
After the application is approved, the investor must donate to the state fund or invest in real estate. They have 30 days to fulfil the investment condition.
After the application is approved, the investor must donate to the state fund or invest in real estate. They have 30 days to fulfil the investment condition.
Getting a passport
Once all the steps are complete, the final step is merely to wait for the issuance of a certificate of naturalisation and a Dominica passport. They are issued within four weeks after the investment is made; the investor gets the documents by courier.
Dominica passports for holders over 16 are valid for ten years; passports of children under 16 must be renewed every five years.
Once all the steps are complete, the final step is merely to wait for the issuance of a certificate of naturalisation and a Dominica passport. They are issued within four weeks after the investment is made; the investor gets the documents by courier.
Dominica passports for holders over 16 are valid for ten years; passports of children under 16 must be renewed every five years.
The main points on Dominica citizenship for Nigerians
Acquiring a Dominica passport can have many benefits in the long run: visa-free travelling to 145 countries, visiting Dominica anytime, and new business opportunities.
Nigerians may participate in Dominica’s citizenship-by-investment program.
Investors over 18 with legal income, no criminal records and severe illnesses are eligible to apply. They may also get Dominica passports for their spouses, children under 30 and parents over 65.
One can contribute $100,000+ to a state fund or invest $200,000+ in real estate to obtain Dominica citizenship.
The procedure of acquiring Dominica citizenship by investment takes several months. It is entirely remote.
Acquiring a Dominica passport for Nigerians through the citizenship by investment program can be a complex and challenging process, but it is highly achievable. The key to success is a careful agent selection and a thorough preparation for the application submission.
Immigrant Invest is a licensed agent for citizenship and residence by investment programs in the EU, the Caribbean, Asia, and the Middle East. Take advantage of our global 15-year expertise — schedule a meeting with our investment programs experts.
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