Siblings can now be added to the application for citizenship
The Government of Dominica expanded the definition of dependant under Dominica Citizenship by Investment legislation. The changes will allow main applicants to add siblings of the main applicant or of the spouse who are 18 years or older.
Following the announcement that Saint Lucia has allowed applicants to add siblings to the application, Dominica has also expanded the definition of dependant in order to make its citizenship by investment programme more attractive. Dominica thus becomes the third country in the Caribbean region which allows applicants to add siblings to the application. The other two countries being Saint Lucia and Grenada. Dominica's Prime Minister Roosevelt Skeritt held that such amendments are aimed at accelerating family reunification in a world where being able to live in a stable and safe jurisdiction is a right.
The New Amendments of the Dominica Citizenship by Investment Programme
While the age ranges to include children and parents have not changed, it is now became possible to include:
- Biological or legally adopted siblings of the Main applicant and of the spouse, provided they are 18 years or older, un-married, and childless.
- Children of the Main Applicant and of the spouse who are between the ages of 18 and 30 are no longer required to be attending a higher learning institution or living with their parents. Showing that the main applicant or their spouse supports the child is sufficient.
- Parents and Grandparents of the main applicant or of the spouse do not need to show they live with the main applicant provided that they are still economically dependent on the Main Applicant.
- Spouses and children even if married or born after the Main Applicant receives citizenship. This is applicable to the Main Applicant and also the dependants.
The latter amendment makes it possible for the son or daughter of a main applicant who then marries a non-Dominican citizen to include the new spouse as a Dominican citizen.
Dependants aged 16 or over who are added to an application must first pass due diligence checks. The Main Applicant must also repeat them, along with any new dependant other than a new-born child, if a calendar year has passed since the date of their original submission.
