Dominica, St Kitts and Nevis may top the CBI Index 2022

Dominica: There are many programmes that allow investors to have Citizenship in exchange for a financial contribution toward the country’s development. Over the last decade, these economic citizenship programmes are notably considered by the investor(s) who are finding a path to their wealth and diversifying their portfolio. 

These programmes are also famous for offering benefits that most investors cannot find anywhere else. 

Many countries worldwide offer these kinds of programmes, but Caribbean countries, like Dominica, St Kitts and Nevis and Saint Lucia, have been emerging as the world’s best Citizenship by Investment Programme, as these nations offer countless profitable benefits to the applicants.

The CBI programmes of these three countries come with plenty of benefits, including favourable opportunities to plan and spread one’s wealth, extending Citizenship to the family, a wide range of investment programmes, high living standards and enjoying the general benefits that come with living in modern, diverse countries. 

For providing the benefits mentioned above, these countries have been top ranked in the CBI Index, published by Professional Wealth Management (PWM) Magazine of Financial Times. 

Basically, the CBI Index is a comprehensive ranking system that calculates operational Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programmes globally. The programmes are evaluated thoroughly and then gain ranking as per their efficiency. This report is calculated based on nine pillars that are considered the highest priorities for investors seeking to apply for economic Citizenship. 

The nine pillars are:  Freedom of Movement, Standard of Living, Minimum Investment Outlay, Mandatory Travel or Residence, Citizenship Timeline, Ease of Processing, Due Diligence, Family, and Certainty of Product.

The PWM Magazine releases the Index in August every year, and Dominica has secured the top rank for the past five consecutive years. This year, there are beliefs that Dominica will once again top the ranking as the country has been doing enough development for the locals and offers numerous opportunities to the investors to expand their businesses. 

There are plenty of reasons why Dominica secure the top position: 

• Low cost and affordable CBI for investors and their families

• New Biometric passport strengthening security standards

• Excellent property market attractive to invest in hotels

• Wise use of CBI funds in sustainable development

• Due diligence checks

As per the 2021 annual report, Dominica shared the first position with St Kitts and Nevis. It was a new experience for St Kitts and Nevis to secure the top spot. Both countries bagged the first position for their due-diligence procedure, under which the CBI Unit and an international independent third party firm perform background checks and ensure that the alternative Citizenship is granted to an honest and credible investor. 

For two decades, Dominica and St Kitts and Nevis have been offering alternative Citizenship and adopting new changes as per their need to meet new challenges. 

Citizenship by Investment Programme: 

Dominica: The small Caribbean country has been offering alternative Citizenship for investors since 1993 and is known and famous for being the world’s largest-running, safest and most secure. 

The Caribbean country has been providing Citizenship in exchange for significant financial Investment toward developing and uplifting the country’s infrastructure. The programme has been contributing to helping Dominica to expand the economy and to meet the international market competition.

Dominica: The small Caribbean country has been offering Citizenship since 1993 and is known as the world’s largest-running, safest and most secure. The Caribbean country has been providing Citizenship in exchange for significant financial Investment toward the development and upliftment of the country’s infrastructure. The programme has been contributing to helping Dominica to expand the economy and to meet the international market competition.

There are two ways through which applicants can apply for Citizenship – Economic Diversification Fund (EDF) and Real Estate Investment Option. 

Under the Economic Diversification Fund, popular EDF, the investor(s) invest in the country’s social-economic development. This fund option has contributed to the construction of bridges, roads, houses, schools, as well as healthcare centres and hospitals. The Investment under EDF starts from USD 100,000.

If any investor is planning to invest through Real Estate Investment Option, they must invest in government-approved real estate property. The Investment starts from USD 200,000. 

St Kitts and Nevis:  The Citizenship of Investment Programme was established by the twin-island Federation in 1984. The programme is the oldest yet most reputed CBI Programme. The CBI Programme is globally famous because it offers Citizenship to reputable individuals and their families through a robust and efficient due diligence process. St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment programme are committed to delivering value and opportunities to investors and citizens alike in a responsible way, contributing to the social and economic success of the Federation.

Applicants can apply for alternative Citizenship with the help of the Sustainable Growth Fund, which is popularly known as Fund Option. SGFwas launched in 2018 and has been known as the most affordable, direct route to apply for alternative Citizenship.

The funds generated are used to support areas like infrastructure advancement, tourism development, social assistance and local entrepreneurship. The minimum Investment starts from USD 150,000.