Main Practice

In this area of practice, STOWE & CO. offers legal services to Landlords, Tenants, Developers and Investors. Its involvement ranges from sale of Property, Construction Contracts, Development Projects, Security Realizations to Applications for Title and Conducting Searches. It also acts as Residential and Commercial Property Management agents in the Commonwealth of Dominica.

Stowe & Co. specializes in corporate law / provides corporate law services in Dominica. Its Corporate practice includes preparing contracts, resolving claims and disputes and incorporating companies. It also advises companies on a wide range of legal issues.

Litigation is one of the  smaller but developing areas of practice at Stowe& Co.. Through its use of the latest in computer technology and being able to mobilize an experienced team of lawyers to deal with complex claims, it provides clients with prompt and reliable service. Its main areas of litigation have included Employment/Labour, Contract and Insurance, Intellectual Property, Telecommunications, Land dispute, Election Petition.

As Appointed Agents of the Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica, STOWE & CO are promoters of Dominica as an International Service Jurisdiction.

The Firm is well acquainted with the legislative requirements involved in the Incorporation of (IBC’s) International Business Companies, Exempt Insurances Companies, Offshore Trusts and Offshore Banks.

Stowe & Co.  also acts as Agents and Facilitators in the process of securing licenses for the establishment of Internet Gaming businesses in Dominica.

In the practice of international business, it’s services extend to providing corporate offices and other services on request.

Dominica has an International ship registry with offices in Dominica and the United States of America which allows ships owned by entities outside Dominica to be registered under the Dominica Flag. Registration gives ships a national identity and recognition under international law. Dominica however seeks to ensure that all ships under its Flag comply with a number of design, construction, operational and technical standards, contained in international treaties. Dominica is committed to those standards and as such promotes a “Flag of Responsibility”.

Stowe & Co. offers services in Ship registration under the Dominican Flag, Yacht registration under the Dominican Flag, Bare-boat charter registrations under the Dominican Flag, Advice on mortgages, Cancellation of register, Incorporation of Dominica Companies to own and register ships under the Dominican Flag.

Historical Background 

The Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP) in Dominica was first introduced by the government in 1993.  Back then, the programme was referred to as the Economic Citizenship Programme (ECP), since the political administration of the day was convinced that the ECP was a lucrative alternative in Dominica’s drive to diversify from a monocrop agricultural based economy to include tourism.

In the early years of the program, the funds obtained through the investment contribution of economic citizens were channeled to specific tourism oriented projects in Dominica.  Today, the money received under the programme is channeled towards different areas of the economy by the government.

Legal Basis

Dominica’s Citizenship by Investment Programme is enshrined in section 101 of the Nation’s Constitution, which requires Parliament to provide for the acquisition of Dominican citizenship for persons otherwise ineligible. The Programme is detailed in Sections 8 and 20(1) of the Commonwealth of Dominica Citizenship Act and in the Commonwealth of Dominica Citizenship by Investment Regulations, 2014. The Citizenship by Investment Unit (CBIU), which processes all applications under the Programme, was formed pursuant to Regulation No. 37 of 2014.

Options

There are two citizenship application options:

Option 1: By Donation (Non-refundable).

Single applicant US$ 100,000
Spouse of the main applicant US$ 50,000
Sibling of the main applicant or of the spouse of the main applicant aged 18 to 25 US$ 50,000
Any dependant other than the spouse of the main applicant or a sibling of the main applicant or of the spouse of the main applicant who is aged 18 to 25 US$ 25,000 each
Except that US$175,000 shall be sufficient for a family of four including the main applicant, the spouse of the main applicant, and two other dependants other than a dependant who is a sibling of the main applicant or of the spouse of the main applicant.

 


Note: The above amount will be paid directly to the Government of Commonwealth of Dominica approximately after two month from the date of receiving all the required documents from the applicant.

Option 2: By Real Estate

To qualify for citizenship of Dominica under the Real Estate Option under the Citizenship by Investment Programme, an applicant must purchase authorized real estate to the minimum value of USD 200,000.

Following approval of a real estate investment application, the following Government Fees are payable:

For the Main Applicant US$ 25,000
Family of up to four persons, including the main applicant and up to three dependants but excluding any dependant who is a sibling of the main applicant or of the spouse of the main applicant. US$ 35,000
Family of up to six persons, including the main applicant and up to five dependants but excluding any dependant who is a sibling of the main applicant or of the spouse of the main applicant US$ 50,000
Family of seven persons or more, including the main applicant and at least six dependants but excluding any dependant who is a sibling of the main applicant or of the spouse of the main applicant US$ 70,000
A sibling of the main applicant or of the spouse of the main applicant aged 18 to 25             US$50,000
A sibling of the main applicant or of the spouse of the main applicant below the age of 18             US$25,000


Due diligence and Processing Fees for Citizenship Application
The real estate must be held for 3 years and may be eligible for re-sale under the Citizenship by Investment Programme after 5 years from the original purchase date.

Required for both the Real Estate and the Government Fund Options:

Main Applicant US$ 7,500
Spouse US$ 4,000
Dependent aged 16 years and above US$ 4,000

Other fees to be paid to the Government for second citizenship

  1. Processing fee                                            USD $1,000
  2. Naturalization Certificate fees               USD $250 per person

The total amount to be paid by a client for Dominican citizenship consists of three parts

  1. Payment to the Government
  2. Payment for Due Diligence
  3. Professional Fees of Stowe & Co.                 

Post-Citizenship Additions

Please be advised that Dominica now allows for the following post-citizenship additions to be made under the Programme:

 

New Born or Adopted Children

 

Children born or adopted after citizenship was obtained, subject to the following fees:

  • Processing Fee: US$500
  • Certificate of Naturalisation Fee: US$250

Note that children born or adopted after citizenship was obtained can now be registered at all times and not merely within five years of birth.

Further note that an application for the post-citizenship addition of such children can be made by all persons who obtained citizenship through the Programme.

 

Spouses Married After Citizenship

 

Spouses married after the original application was made, at a cost of US$75,000 plus the following fees:

  • Processing Fee: US$1,000
  • Due Diligence Fee for the original applicant (if submitted more than 1 year after the date of submission of the original application): US$7,500
  • Due Diligence Fee for the spouse: US$4,000
  • Certificate of Naturalisation Fee: US$250

Note that an application for the post-citizenship addition of such spouses can be made by all persons who obtained citizenship through the Programme.

 

Pre-Existing Dependants

 

Any dependant who would have qualified as a dependant at the time the original application was made at a cost of US$75,000 for the spouse, US$75,000 for a dependant who is a sibling of the main applicant or of the spouse of the main applicant aged 18 to 25, and US$50,000 for a dependant other than the spouse or a sibling of the main applicant or of the spouse of the main applicant aged 18 to 25, plus the following fees:

  • Processing Fee: US$1,000
  • Due Diligence Fee for the original applicant (if submitted more than 1 year after the date of submission of the original application): US$7,500
  • Due Diligence Fee for each pre-existing dependant aged 16 or over: US$4,000
  • Certificate of Naturalisation Fee: US$250 per pre-existing dependant

 

Except that, where an application is submitted within one year of the granting of citizenship the following shall be sufficient:

A cost of US$50,000 for the spouse, US$50,000 for a dependant who is a sibling of the main applicant or of the spouse of the main applicant aged 18 to 25, and US$25,000 for a dependant other than the spouse or a sibling of the main applicant or of the spouse of the main applicant aged 18 to 25, plus the following fees:

  • Processing Fee: US$1,000
  • Due Diligence Fee for the original applicant (if submitted more than 1 year after the date of submission of the original application): US$7,500
  • Due Diligence Fee for each pre-existing dependant aged 16 or over: US$4,000
  • Certificate of Naturalisation Fee: US$250 per pre-existing dependant

Required forms

Required documents

  • A Recommendation letter from the school or university.
  • One Professional reference for the investor.
  • Bank Reference.
  • Bank Statements for the last 12 month.
  • Employment letter for the investor. If self-employed most recent audited financial statement of the business along with the trade license.
  • Marriage certificate or Divorce certificate.
  • Police Clearance – For every one over 16 years old
  • Six certified passport size photos. ( 2 X 2.5 Inch )
  • Birth certificate for all applicants.
  • Copies of University/College diplomas.
  • Completed medical for all applicants.
  • A detailed resume/business background report is required of all applicants
  • Fingerprints –  For every one over 16 years old
  • Military Book –  For main applicant only
  • Driving License
  • Passport Copy
  • House rent contract or ownership title or utility bill ( address )

Note: All letters should be addressed to:

The Manager
Citizenship by Investment
1st Floor Financial Centre
Roseau
Commonwealth of Dominica

Reasons why people generally apply for second citizenship

  • Citizenship for life.
  • Dominica recognizes dual citizenship, so there is no need to renounce your other citizenship
  • Dominica does not inform your country of residence of your Dominican citizenship
  • You are not obligated to reside in Dominica to maintain your citizenship
  • Visa-free travel to more than 100 countries around the world.
  • Great privacy and asset protection
  • You can work in any CARICOM member country
  • No military service required
  • No restrictions on doing business globally, including doing business in the United States
  • Tax Free (no taxation on global income)

Visa free countries

Successful applicants can benefit from visa-free travel to the countries below including most of Europe countries. It must be noted that visa-free travel to the countries listed below are subject to change. It is strongly advisable that the relevant Government authorities and agencies are contacted prior to travel arrangements made. Click here to view map of visa free countries.

Anguilla Antigua & Barbuda Aruba The Bahamas
Barbados Belarus* Belize Bhutan*
British Virgin Islands Brazil Burundi* Brunel
Cayman Islands Cape Verde Islands Comoros* Cook Islands
Costa Rica Columbia East Timor* El Salvador
Egypt* Dominican Republic Gibraltar Grenada & The Grenadines
Haiti Fiji Jamaica Jordan*
Korea (South) Hong Kong Leeward Islands Lesotho
Tanzania Laos* Liechtenstein Maldives*
Marshall Islands* Timor-Leste* Mauritania* Monserrat
Namibia Mauritius Northern Mariana Islands* Panama
Peru Netherland Antilles Turkey* Turks & Caicos
Tuvaiu Philippines Tonga Samoa (Western)
Sao Tome and Principe* Togo* St. Lucia St. Vincent & The Grenadines
Seychelles St. Kitts & Nevis Solomon Islands Trinidad & Tobago
United Kingdom Singapore Venezuela Zambia
Zimbabwe* Vanuatu Belgium Bulgaria
Croatia Austria Czech Republic Denmark
Estonia Cyprus France Germany
Greece Finland Ireland Italy
Latvia Hungary Luxembourg Malta
Netherlands Lithuania Romania Slovakia
Slovenia Portugal Sweden Spain

Stowe & Co. is one of the leading Trademark and Patent Agents/Lawyers in the Commonwealth of Dominica, managing several portfolios.

The firm represents many popular companies, protecting their trade marks and other intellectual property rights through registration in the Companies and Intellectual  Property Office, in the Commonwealth of Dominica.

It also provides advice and institutes proceedings in cases of trade mark infringement or other breaches of intellectual property rights.