By: Staff Writer
January 7, 2021
Without a doubt, COVID-19 has impacted and shaped the world in which we currently find ourselves. 2020 was a year of uncertainty. With the weight of heavy restrictions and lockdowns globally felt, it has forced many to think about their options, particularly regarding safety, security and future in their home country. Through Citizenship by Investment, investment immigration has become an industry that has thrived as companies such as legal advisory firm, CS Global Partners, help people worldwide gain back some of their freedom.
Micha Emmett, CEO of CS Global Partners, has noted the marked increase in applications over the past year. “The coronavirus has hit us all hard. Whether it is through the personal loss of loved ones, loss of income or the general loss of freedoms we took for granted. The way various governments have handled the pandemic has also made people second guess their homeland’s safety and stability. As citizenship experts, what we have seen as a result is an increase in clients wanting to gain mobility in a world that has suddenly become less mobile. From a business perspective, people need to travel to stay competitive. From a family perspective, people are wanting a Plan B – an opportunity to use should they need it, or a change of lifestyle should they want it. It’s all about diversifying your options,” Emmett says.
With many borders having to close, reopen, then suddenly close again, it has made travel hugely difficult this year. Obtaining second citizenship in the Caribbean means you are more easily able to travel. A second citizenship, especially in the Caribbean, also means that you can work remotely by the beach while knowing you’re in one of the least pandemic impacted areas in the world.
“Obtaining visas this year has been near impossible. Those with dual citizenship have definitely had an advantage. Citizenship in Dominica or St Kitts and Nevis, for example, allow you visa-free access to countries across the globe with Dominica citizenship opening doors to 140 countries and St Kitts and Nevis to nearly 160 countries. These countries also have the lowest number of cases due to their early intervention and robust healthcare systems. You cannot overemphasise the value that ease of travel has in this current time. And, with the pandemic unlikely to be fully eradicated for some time, the stability of dual citizenship is an investment in your, and your family’s future,” says Paul Singh, Director at CS Global Partners.
Citizenship by Investment Programmes have long been an avenue taken to obtain a second citizenship. By contributing to specific programmes in the country you are applying to or investing in real estate, you can secure your citizenship via a quick and easy process. It takes 90 days to obtain citizenship through the Dominica Programme and around 60 days for the St Kitts and Nevis Programme.
“The pandemic has changed the world. It has changed how we work, how we live and how we travel. Dual citizenship is now more coveted than ever and, with many reputable Citizenship by Investment programmes in place, it is an accessible option for many,” concludes Singh.
Going further with respect to Dominica’s programme, CS Global prefaces their support for the programme by saying the country is working on becoming the world’s first climate-resilient nation. Recently, Prime Minister Dr Roosevelt Skerrit stated that more climate-resilient homes will be constructed in 2021. The goal is part of Dominica’s national housing initiative that aims is to build over 5,000 climate-resilient homes capable of handling any powerful category five catastrophes. Thousands of homes have already been constructed and given to families across the island.
This massive feat is attributed to the Skerrit administration and its efficient management of funds collected through the island’s Citizenship by Investment Programme. Inevitably, in time, Dominica’s ‘Housing Revolution’ will transform the island, restoring the lives of many while equally preparing for the future despite climate change.
“This is a mission that we are going to continue until every family in the country is in a comfortable home. In 2021, even more, homes will be constructed all across the country,” stated Dominican Prime Minister. “COVID-19 is calling for us to create a kinder, more caring country and world. Perhaps, it should motivate us to construct a world that is more respectful of Mother Earth and the family of humanity,” PM Skerrit added.
The extensive project also demonstrates the transparency of Dominica’s Citizenship by Investment Programme. It remains a tool for empowering the native community, bolstering economic growth and building international relationships as the global community comes together to create structures that will last for many generations. Dominica takes pride in showing exactly where investors’ contributions go.
By contributing to the Economic Diversification Fund under Dominica’s Citizenship by Investment Programme, foreign investors are rewarded with the country’s valuable citizenship. While there is no requirement to reside on the island to qualify for citizenship, all applicants must first pass the Programme’s due diligence checks, ranked second to none in the entire CBI industry.
According to the CBI Index, published by the Financial Times’ PWM magazine, Dominica remains the best country for citizenship by investment. Alternatively, applicants can invest in pre-approved hotels that are establishing a thriving ecotourism sector on the island.