Dominica to inform the EU of its position on CBI by November 12.

ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC – The Dominica government said Wednesday it is seeking “a practical agreement” to address the concerns raised by the European Union (EU) about the island’s Citizenship by Investment (CBI) program.

It said it will “communicate further” with the EU by November 12 this year. Under the CBI, foreign investors are granted citizenship in return for making a substantial investment in Dominica’s socio-economic development.

In a statement, the Roosevelt Skerrit government said it is taking the opportunity to update the public on “its ongoing engagement” with the EU concerning the future of the CBI program.

“We aim to maintain strong relations with our European partners while safeguarding Dominica’s economic stability and development interests,” the government said in the two-page statement.

It said the EU has indicated that Dominica and other Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) countries that operate CBI programs must transition away from them by June 2028 to retain visa-free access to the Schengen Area.

The statement said the EU has revised its visa suspension mechanism to include the operation of investor citizenship schemes as grounds for suspending visa-free travel.

“For Dominica, CBI revenue has helped finance major infrastructure, disaster recovery and national resilience. These investments support employment and development, and might otherwise have placed substantially greater demands on public finances. Any change to this source of revenue therefore requires careful consideration and planning.”

The government said it is also working with regional partners towards establishing the Eastern Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Regulatory Authority (ECCIRA), adding that this initiative is intended to “strengthen oversight, due diligence and common standards across participating states, and build confidence in the integrity and robustness of our programs.

“Alongside this work, Dominica and its OECS partners are discussing with the EU the economic and fiscal implications of discontinuing CBI programs. Our countries have highlighted the circumstances of small, vulnerable economies and the importance of realistic timeframes and appropriate transitional support.

“These discussions include consideration of financial and technical assistance to develop alternative revenue sources, advance economic diversification and protect development gains,” the statement said.

It said that the government will “continue this engagement in a spirit of cooperation, seeking a practical agreement that addresses the EU’s concerns and allows any transition to be managed responsibly, with minimal disruption to public finances and ongoing development projects”.

The government is promising to “communicate further with the European Union by 12 November 2026 and keep the Dominican public informed as discussions progress”.

Antigua and Barbuda, one of the OECS nations with a CBI program, has hinted at suspending its program by November 12 to preserve visa-free access to Europe’s Schengen Area.

Prime Minister Gaston Browne said on his weekly radio program that while no firm decision had been taken, the matter will be discussed at the weekly Cabinet meeting this week.

“That we can continue our programs as we wish, but we would not continue to enjoy visa-free access into the Schengen area,” Browne said, adding that the alternative was for participating countries to commit by November 12 to suspending their programs, allowing their citizens to retain visa-free travel privileges.

“No final determination has been made, but based on the preliminary discussions, it’s very likely that Antigua and Barbuda will suspend its CIP program come November 12th,” he said.

The European Commission has repeatedly identified programs operating in Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, and St Lucia as potential risks to the integrity of the EU’s visa-free travel arrangements.

In December 2025, revised European Union rules took effect, strengthening the bloc’s ability to suspend visa-free travel for countries operating investor citizenship programs in which citizenship is granted in exchange for investment without a genuine link to the issuing country.

The legislation made such schemes a possible independent ground for suspending visa exemptions, placing additional pressure on Caribbean governments that have sought to maintain both investment programs and international travel privileges.