Dominica Citizenship by Investment Unit (CBIU) has announced that it will be implementing mandatory interviews for all applicants 16 years of age and over, effective July 17, 2023. The interviews will be conducted by the CBIU to ensure that all applicants meet the program’s requirements and that their applications are genuine.
The CBIU has also announced that the Republic of Iran will be considered a “specified country region” under the CBI Program, effective July 17, 2023. This means that all applicants from Iran, whether citizens or domiciled, will be subject to enhanced due diligence measures. The applicable fees for enhanced due diligence for Iranian applicants are as follows:
- US $25,000 for the main applicant
- US $15,000 for the spouse
- US $15,000 for each dependent 16 years of age and over
- US $10,000 for each dependent 12 to 15 years of age
The CBIU has stated that these changes are being implemented to strengthen the integrity of Dominica CBI Program and ensure that only qualified applicants are granted citizenship. The CBIU has also stated that it will be providing more information on the mandatory interviews and enhanced due diligence measures in the coming weeks.
The CBI Program is a government-approved program that allows foreign investors to obtain Dominica citizenship by making a qualifying investment in the country. The program has been very successful, with over 10,000 citizenships granted since its inception in 2010.
The mandatory interviews and enhanced due diligence measures will likely significantly impact the CBI Program. The interviews will add an additional layer of scrutiny to the application process, and the enhanced due diligence measures will be more costly for applicants from Iran. However, the CBIU believes these changes are necessary to protect the program’s integrity and ensure that only qualified applicants are granted citizenship.