Dominica VS Antigua: Which citizenship is easier to get?

BASSETERRE, Saint Kitts & Nevis - Dec. 25, 2017 - PRLog -- Here is where a second passport comes in as a solution by granting instant access to multiple countries, allowing tax optimization, and serving as an element of prestige.

All attention to the Caribbean: Why are Caribbean passports so attractive to investors?

Caribbean countries are very popular among wealthy businessmen who are planning to invest in the second citizenship. There are many reasons for this:

• Freedom of movement. A Caribbean passport opens borders of more than 100 countries around the globe, including Great Britain, Singapore, Hong Kong and the Schengen countries.

• Asset protection. Second citizenship is an excellent possibility to create a safe harbour outside your home country in case of a force majeure.

• Tax optimization. There is a very favorable tax environment in the Caribbean countries — no taxation on world income, dividends, inheritance.

• Possibility of obtaining a long-term visa to the USA and Canada.

• Absolute confidentiality. No third party will know about your second passport.

• No requirements for permanent residence. You don't need to reside in the country of your choice neither before nor after receiving a passport. The exception only exception here is Antigua and Barbuda, where, in order to retain citizenship status, the investor must spend 5 days within the first 5 years.

Dominica vs Antigua and Barbuda: which option is cheaper?

For a long time, Dominica's economic citizenship program had the most favourable cost options. With the additional fees included, the minimum investment goes just above $100k, which, understandably, became popular among foreign nationals. Dominica receives about $50 million in foreign investment each month.

To finance rebuilding and economic recovery after the latest hurricane onslaught, the authorities of other Caribbean nations were forced to reconsider the price policies of their own CBI program. Antigua and Barbuda, for instance, has also decided to allow foreign investors to donate USD$100,000 to a state fund and obtain the Antiguan passport in exchange. Today, Antigua and Barbuda offers optimal conditions for a family of 4 - with additional fees, the passports will cost about $146k (while on Dominica around $223k). However, children in the 26-28  age gap may be included in the application, while Antigua and Barbuda's CBI program does not allow this. Furthermore, the Antiguan program has suffered a serious blow when the visa-free regime with Canada was cancelled.

Thus, Dominica retains the image of the most accessible program, and economic immigration experts are still recommending it as one of the most sensible choices.

Should the investor choose to obtain the citizenship through real estate purchase, Dominica offers $200k selections, versus $400k in Antigua and Barbuda. But... real estate has its pitfalls.

Which is better - a non-refundable contribution or purchase of real estate?

Of course, in the first case, the minus is that the investment is non-refundable. The real estate can be sold after 5 years on Antigua and after 3 years on Dominica. However, the donation option is less expensive and therefore more attractive to investors.

It is worthwhile to understand that investing in real estate may be risky. First of all, because of hurricane danger. Recent Irma and Maria hurricanes destroyed almost all houses on the island of Barbuda. Nature elements in the Caribbean are unpredictable. Real estate on Dominica, although cheaper, isn't of much interest and doesn't generate much income. The main problem is absence of direct flights from the UK and the USA, where the majority of tourists come from.

One of the best locations for owning real estate the Caribbean can offer is the island of Antigua, especially seeing the undeniable potential of the local hotel industry.

In 2015, tourists spent $30 billion in the Caribbean region, which is by 4.2% higher than the previous year. The tourist flow to the Caribbean has grown in all major countries, including the USA, Canada, Europe, and South America. This is not surprising. The new airport on Antigua is the biggest and most modern in the Caribbean region, and annual passenger traffic will only grow.

Antigua gets extra image points thanks to its yacht-friendly disposition, and the annual yacht show. The English Harbor in the south of the island of Antigua is considered to be world's yacht capital and brightest, most luxurious Caribbean attraction.

Dominica leads the CBI program rating - is it reasonable?

Thanks to its low cost, the citizenship acquisition program of Dominica is popular among foreigners. Investment migration experts also appreciate other benefits of the program. In 2017 ranking conducted by the Financial Times' Professional Wealth Management magazine, the Commonwealth of Dominica led the list of 12 states that offer a second passport in exchange for investment. The Dominican program scored 90% in the CBI Index based on various criteria: affordability, ease of registration, freedom of movement, lack of conditions for compulsory travel or residence, ease of security screening, living standards.

Dominica's popularity is largely based on tolerant due diligence procedure that allows investors from Iran, Iraq, and Yemen to apply. But this doesn't mean that the procedure is not thorough.

Terms of status registration

Quick processing is one of the trademark features of Caribbean programs. Dominican and Antiguan CBI application processing takes about same amount of time, which is 3-5 months.

Caribbean passport is a great way to take care of business and family welfare

It is rational to obtain Dominican or Antiguan investment citizenship to secure your family and assets, and not depend on political or economic environment in your home country, talkless of absence of visa processing procedures. With your Caribbean passport, the world and countless possibilities are far more accessible.