Frequently Asked Questions

Citizenship by investment allows individuals to gain citizenship and a passport by investing in a country's economy, usually through a non-refundable contribution to a government fund or an investment in government-approved real estate. Dominica's programme, for example, began in 1993 and is one of the longest-running in the world. Main applicants must generally be 18 or older, in good health, without a criminal record, pass due diligence checks and show confirmed investment sources. Residency by investment programmes such as Portugal, Malta, Cyprus and Hungary grant a residence permit rather than a passport.

Dominica has the lowest Caribbean entry point, with a minimum of $200,000 as a donation to the Economic Diversification Fund or $200,000 in government-approved real estate. It is followed by Antigua and Barbuda ($230,000 donation), Grenada ($235,000 donation), Saint Lucia ($240,000 donation) and Saint Kitts and Nevis ($250,000 donation). Outside the Caribbean, Vanuatu starts from USD 130,000 for a single applicant. Government, due diligence and processing fees apply on top of the investment amount.

Yes. Every programme allows you to include your spouse and dependent children, and most also accept dependent parents; the age limits vary. Dominica accepts children aged 18-30 attending higher learning and parents or grandparents aged 65 and over, Saint Lucia and Grenada accept children under 30, Saint Kitts and Nevis accepts children under 25 and parents above 55, and Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada and Saint Lucia can also include unmarried siblings under set conditions. Family pricing is tiered: in Dominica, for example, a main applicant with up to 3 dependents contributes USD 250,000 to the Economic Diversification Fund.

For most citizenship programmes, no. Dominica, Saint Lucia, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Vanuatu and Turkey have no physical residency requirements, while Antigua and Barbuda requires a 5-day physical residency within the first five years, which can be satisfied all at once or in parts. Among residency programmes, Portugal requires a visit of 7 days per year in the first 5 years, Cyprus requires all applicants to visit at least once every 2 years, and Hungary has no minimum stay.

The Caribbean citizenship programmes have an expected timeframe of 4-6 months, Turkey is typically 3-6 months, while Vanuatu is typically 2-4 months. For residency, Malta takes 3-4 months, Cyprus 4-5 months, Hungary 4-6 months and Portugal 6-12 months. Document collection can vary in length depending on how quickly you gather your documents, and the review stage is subject to each government's schedule.

Yes. Dominica, Saint Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Vanuatu and Turkey all permit dual citizenship, so there is no need to renounce your current citizenship(s). Your home authorities are not notified of your new citizenship.

Caribbean passports include visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to the Schengen Area: Dominica, Saint Lucia and Grenada offer access to 145+ countries and territories, and Antigua and Barbuda and Saint Kitts and Nevis to 150+. Residency in Portugal, Malta or Hungary gives visa-free circulation in the Schengen Area. Cyprus is not part of Schengen, so Cyprus residency does not allow free travel within the Schengen Area.

Yes, for Dominica and Grenada. Dominica's mandatory interview is conducted by an independent professional firm commissioned by the CIU, either virtually or in person, with an interview fee of USD 1,000 per application. Grenada requires an interview for every main applicant, and for dependants aged 17 or over if deemed necessary, at USD 1,000 per person.

Grenada is the only Caribbean citizenship by investment programme that offers an opportunity to obtain an E-2 Investor visa in the United States of America, allowing citizens to live and work in the U.S. Turkish citizenship also enables you to apply for the United States E-2 investor visa.

It can. In Portugal, residents may be eligible for Portuguese citizenship after 5 years once they have fulfilled the minimal requirements. Cyprus residency can also lead to Cypriot citizenship if requirements are met.

Every application must pass government due diligence checks, so any issue in an applicant's background can lead to rejection. We are one of the few companies in the industry with our own Compliance Department, and we conduct a preliminary due diligence check for each client, which increases the chances of your application being approved to 99%. If we find points that could result in a rejection, we offer a suitable alternative solution or decline to proceed after explaining the situation to you.

We start by pre-screening your passport copy for government pre-approval, with a response typically in 24-48 hours, and a down payment of the professional fees opens your application. Our professional team then assists and advises you with collecting the documents required according to the government checklist. The balance of the professional fees is paid once your certificate and passport are issued.

WhinChester is headquartered in Roseau, Commonwealth of Dominica, with central branch offices at Unit 1602B, City Tower 2, 16th Level, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, where clients can meet our specialists for face-to-face consultations. We also maintain physical offices in China (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen), Hong Kong, Nigeria (Lagos), Turkey (Istanbul) and India (Chandigarh), along with numerous global partnerships.

Yes. For new citizens of Dominica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada and Saint Lucia, our post-citizenship services include baby passports, driver's licences, Police Clearance Certificates, social security and taxpayer registration, bank account opening and company formation. We support our clients from their initial consultation onward, including securing and renewing a passport or residence permit card.