Changes to the Definition of “Dependant”

Under Dominica’s Citizenship by Investment Programme, the meaning of “dependant” has been amended to include a wider range of family members. Please refer to the Commonwealth of Dominica Citizenship by Investment (Amendment) Regulations, 2020 for further detail.

The following dependants may now be added to an application:

Ø A spouse of the main applicant

Ø A child of the main applicant or of the spouse of the main applicant who is below the age of 18

Ø A child of the main applicant or of the spouse of the main applicant aged 18 to 30 who is substantially supported by the main applicant or the spouse of the main applicant

Importantly:

· It is no longer required that an adult child dependant be in attendance at an institution of higher learning, although this may assist a showing of ‘substantial support’

· There must be a showing of ‘substantial’ support – not ‘full’ support

· Substantial support must be provided by the main applicant or the main applicant’s spouse

Ø A child of the main applicant or of the spouse of the main applicant aged 18 years or over and physically or mentally challenged and who is substantially supported by the main applicant or the spouse of the main applicant

Importantly:

· There must be a showing of ‘substantial’ support – not ‘full’ support

· Substantial support must be provided by the main applicant or the main applicant’s spouse

Ø A parent or grandparent of the main applicant or of the spouse of the main applicant who is substantially supported by the main applicant or the spouse of the main applicant

Importantly:

· It is no longer required that qualifying parents and grandparents be aged 55 or over, or live with the main applicant

· There must be a showing of ‘substantial’ support – not ‘full’ support

· Substantial support must be provided by the main applicant or the main applicant’s spouse

Ø A spouse of a person who qualifies as a dependant parent or grandparent, who is substantially supported by the main applicant or the spouse of the main applicant

Ø A biological or legally adopted sibling of the main applicant or of the spouse of the main applicant who is aged 18 to 25, single, childless, and who is substantially supported by the main applicant or the spouse of the main applicant

Ø A biological or legally adopted sibling of the main applicant or of the spouse of the main applicant who is below the age of 18, single, childless, substantially supported by the main applicant or the spouse of the main applicant, and in receipt of consent to make an application under the Programme from all individuals with parental responsibility for that sibling

Importantly:

· Biological or legally adopted siblings of the main applicant or the main applicant’s spouse may now be included as dependants

· The sibling must be aged 25 or under, single, childless, and substantially supported by the main applicant or the spouse of the main applicant

· ‘Single’ includes people who have never been married, were married but subsequently divorced, or have lost their spouse

· Additionally, if the sibling is under 18, there must be a showing of consent to make an application under the Programme by all individuals with parental responsibility for that sibling

· Provision of consent is therefore not limited merely to parents of the underage sibling, as parental responsibility may be held by an individual other than a parent

DEVELOPMENT UPDATE 03.08.2020