Antigua vs Dominica Citizenship

You will find everything you need to make your decision in this Dominica vs Antigua citizenship comparison article. If you are interested in obtaining a Caribbean passport, learn how you can be granted citizenship in exchange for an investment in the country of your choice. 

Both citizenship by investment programs offer investors a legitimate and straightforward way to obtain a valuable Caribbean passport and second citizenship. The basic requirements to apply for economic citizenship are to be over 18 years old; have no criminal record; have excellent health; and have the ability to make a qualifying investment. There is no language test or residency requirement. 

Benefits of Antigua and Dominica Citizenship by Investment Programs

Antigua vs Dominica Citizenship: At a Glance

Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship

Antigua and Barbuda is a two-island nation located between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Tourism represents most of Antigua and Barbuda’s GDP, which is unsurprising for such a stunning place with 365 beaches – one for each day of the year. Other points of interest include Heritage Quay shopping complex and Nelson‘s Dockyard, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For those looking to catch one of the nation‘s stunning sunsets, Shirley Heights is the place to be while the pristine beaches provide ample opportunity for water activities such as swimming and snorkeling.

The country’s citizenship by investment program was created in 2012, offering foreign investors the chance to obtain Antigua and Barbuda citizenship in exchange for an investment in the country. Investors can choose between making a donation, investing in a business, or purchasing pre-approved real estate.

Investment options:

• Donation of at least $100,000 to the Antigua and Barbuda National Development Fund
• Purchase of pre-approved real estate or shares of real estate worth a minimum of $200,000, to be held for five years
• Business investment of $400,000 in an enterprise worth $5 million in total, or $1.5 million as a single investor
• Donation of $150,000 or more to the University of the West Indies Fund – this option is available for families of six members or more and entitles one person to a one-year scholarship

Residents and citizens of Antigua and Barbuda enjoy relatively relaxed tax conditions. There is no capital gains tax, inheritance tax, income tax, or wealth tax on worldwide income or assets. Antigua and Barbuda passport holders also can enjoy visa-free access to over 140 countries, including the European Union, the UK, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Russia. While the country has no stay requirements, successful CBI applicants must spend five days in the country during their first five years of citizenship.

The following family members are eligible for the investment program: 

• Spouse or future spouse 
• Children under the age of 18 
• Children aged 18 to 30, if they are supported by the main applicant or spouse (as well as their spouse and dependent children) 
• Dependent children aged 18 or over that are physically/mentally challenged 
• Parents or grandparents of the main applicant or spouse if aged 55 or above and financially dependent on the main applicant or spouse 
• Unmarried siblings of the main applicant or spouse 

Dominica Citizenship

Known as the “Nature Island” of the Caribbean, Dominica offers plenty of opportunities for hiking, an ocean teeming with fluorescent-colored sea life, bubbling natural hot springs, and a variety of festivals throughout the year. 

In 2022, for the fourth year in a row, Dominica received the title of “Best Citizenship by Investment Program in the World,” granted by the CBI Index, the most prestigious study of CBI programs in the world. The country’s citizenship by investment program scored the highest of all – together with St Kitts and Nevis – in categories such as affordability, freedom of movement, processing time, and many others. So, if you decide to apply for Dominica citizenship, you can rest assured that this is one solid CBI program. 

Dominica ranks in the 78th position on the Global Passport Index, granting its citizens visa-free access to over 140 countries, including the European Union, Singapore, Hong Kong, Russia, and China. In order to apply for the program and become a Dominica passport holder, you must choose between making an economic donation or making a real estate purchase.

Investment options:

Economic Diversification Fund (EDF) – Minimum Donation: 

• Single applicant: $100,000
  Main applicant + spouse: $150,000
  Family of up to four: $175,000
  Additional family members under 18: $25,000 each
  Additional family members 18 or over: $50,000

Real Estate:  

In this case, the investor must purchase shares of real estate in one of the developments previously approved by the government.

• Minimum amount: $200,000 

The real estate option also includes government fees, worth $25,000 for a single applicant and $50,000 for a family of four. There are additional taxes for additional family members.

You will need to be eligible to apply. The citizenship requirements define that the primary applicant must:

• Be over 18 years old
• Have an outstanding character
• Have excellent health
• Hold no criminal record
• Pass a detailed background check

Family members can also be included in the application and receive citizenship. The Dominica CBI Unit announced in September 2022 that it would no longer accept the inclusion of siblings in applications. It means that even though the country’s family requirements are still quite flexible, they currently have the most stringent legislation regarding the inclusion of relatives among the Caribbean citizenship by investment programs.

The following family members are eligible for economic citizenship:

• Spouse
• Children of the main applicant or spouse under 18 years old
• Children aged between 21 and 30 attending an institution of higher learning and supported by the main applicant or spouse
• Unmarried daughters under 25 supported by and living with the main applicant or spouse
• Mentally or physically challenged dependent children supported by the main applicant or spouse
• Dependent parents and/or grandparents of the main applicant or spouse, over 65 years old

Which program to pick?

As we can see in this passport comparison article, both Caribbean countries offer solid popular citizenship programs with similar positive points. 

Visa-free travel 

Both of these Caribbean passports allow visa-free travel to over 140 countries, including the Schengen Area, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Russia. Additionally, Dominica citizens can travel to China visa-free, while Antigua and Barbuda citizens can travel to the UK without a visa.  

Tax-friendly policies 

Both countries offer tax-friendly policies for Caribbean citizens, including no income tax, wealth tax, or inheritance tax. You can read more in our articles: Dominica Taxes for Individuals and Companies – Your Guide and Antigua and Barbuda Tax Guide. 

 Flexible requirements 

A benefit of applying to the Caribbean CBI programs is that they offer flexible stay requirements. If you want to obtain second citizenship in Antigua and Barbuda, you will need to spend a total of five days in the country during your first five years of citizenship. Dominica has no residency requirements. The application process for both programs can be completed remotely from the comfort of your home.   

 Dual citizenship 

Both countries recognize dual citizenship, meaning you can maintain your first nationality when looking to obtain second citizenship in either of these countries. 

Strong points of the Dominica program: 

• It’s the most affordable citizenship for a single applicant: the total program costs (donation + fees) are less than $110,000. 
• A Dominica passport allows for visa-free entry to China. 
• A Dominica passport is valid for five years (if under 16 years) and ten years (if 16 and older). 

 Strong points of the Antigua and Barbuda program: 

• Most affordable for families: program costs for a family of four (donation + fees) can be $148,000. Larger families opting for the University Fund may pay less than $180,000 for all the program costs (donation + fees). 
• Family-friendly requirements: in your application, you can include siblings, children up to 30 (in study or not), parents and grandparents aged 55 or over. 
• An Antigua passport allows visa-free travel to the UK, while a Dominica passport does not.
• An Antigua and Barbuda passport is valid for five years (first passport) and ten years (second passport and beyond). 

If you prefer to contact our experts at Global Citizen Solutions, we have extensive experience in Caribbean citizenship programs and local representatives in each of the five countries in the region that offer citizenship by investment. So, after discussing the preferences and lifestyle of your family, we can help you find the best Caribbean citizenship to suit your needs.

How to Obtain Dominica or Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship 

When applying to one of these Caribbean programs, the process is fairly straightforward and includes the following steps: 

1. Preliminary due diligence with Global Citizen Solutions 
2. Document preparation 
3. Due diligence 
4. Payment of investment 
5. Receiving your passport 

As you can see, your investment payment is only required once you have received a letter from the country’s Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU) stating that your application is approved in principle.  

The Citizenship by Investment Unit does not accept applications directly from applicants but only from Authorized Agents. As such, it is essential to use an agent like Global Citizen Solutions.

Read more on the role of the CIU in our articles: Antigua and Barbuda Official Unit and Citizenship by Investment Unit Dominica.

Why work with Global Citizen Solutions?

• Global approach by local experts. We are corporate members of the Investment Migration Council, with local expertise in all five Caribbean CBI programs.
• 100 percent approval rate. We have never had a case rejected and will offer you an initial, free-of-charge, due diligence assessment before signing any contract.
• Independent service and full transparency. We will present to you all the investment options available, and all expenses will be discussed in advance, with no hidden fees.
• An all-encompassing solution. A multidisciplinary team of immigration lawyers, investment specialists, and tax experts will take into consideration all your and your family’s mobility, tax, and lifestyle needs.
• Confidential service and secure data management. All private data is stored within a GDPR-compliant database on a secure SSL-encrypted server.

To see the full list of reasons why to work with Global Citizen Solutions for your Caribbean citizenship application, click here.

Don’t forget to check our other Caribbean citizenship programs and comparison articles:

• Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Comparison Guide
• Antigua vs St Kitts Citizenship
• St Lucia vs Dominica Citizenship 
• St Kitts and Nevis vs Dominica Passport
• Grenada vs St Kitts Citizenship
• Grenada vs St Lucia Citizenship
• St Kitts vs St Lucia Citizenship
• Grenada vs Dominica Citizenship
• Antigua vs St Lucia Citizenship
• Antigua vs Grenada Citizenship

 

FAQs:

Can I acquire Antigua citizenship?

If you are interested in obtaining citizenship from Antigua and Barbuda, the country’s citizenship program is the best way to receive a Caribbean passport in exchange for an investment in the country. There are four investment options: buying shares of a real estate project, making a minimum contribution of $100,000 to a national economic fund, investing in a University Fund, or making a business investment.

Can I acquire Dominica citizenship?

Five Caribbean countries offer citizenship by investment to foreigners who are interested in contributing to the development of the region in exchange for Caribbean passports, and Dominica is one of them. In order to obtain citizenship in this Caribbean country, you must make an investment, which can be a donation to the Economic Diversification Fund (EDF) starting at $100,000, or the purchase of real estate worth $200,000, pre-approved by the government. After a few months, you and your family will receive a Dominica passport and lifetime citizenship.

Antigua vs Dominica citizenship: which one to pick?

Both investment programs offer excellent benefits: having a Caribbean passport means visa-free access to over 140 countries, a favorable tax regime, and many more advantages. The Dominica passport also allows you to visit China without the need for a visa.

Dominica has a minimum investment of less than $110,000 for a single applicant (including government fees and due diligence fees), whereas if you are applying as a family, Antigua and Barbuda is the better choice. You can acquire this Caribbean citizenship with a minimum investment of $148,000 (family of four) or $180,000 (family of six or more). The final cost depends on the age of family members, as due diligence fees may change.

Which countries offer Caribbean citizenship by investment?

Five Caribbean countries offer investors the opportunity to acquire Caribbean citizenship by investment: Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Lucia. To apply to one of these investment programs, you must be over 18 years, have no criminal records, and make an investment in the Caribbean country of your interest, usually a non-refundable contribution to a national fund or an investment in a pre-approved real estate development. Other attractive investment opportunities are government bonds or university donations.

You and your family can receive Caribbean citizenship (and therefore Caribbean passports) in a few months, with tax benefits and the chance to travel to over 140 visa-free countries worldwide. All five countries recognize dual citizenship.