Born citizens of the Commonwealth of Dominica are experiencing significant travel complications and diplomatic stigmatization due to international reactions against the nation’s Citizenship by Investment (CBI) program. Multiple countries including Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Norway, and the United States have imposed stringent visa restrictions and travel bonds specifically targeting Dominican passport holders.
This situation creates a paradoxical reality where native Dominicans—whose only proof of citizenship is their Dominican passport—face heightened scrutiny, profiling, and suspicion at international borders. The article cites firsthand accounts of travel experiences, including one citizen who was detained for 45 minutes at Amsterdam’s airport after immigration authorities indicated he ‘fit the profile’ of wealthy individuals involved in human trafficking using Dominican passports.
The core issue stems from the perceived exploitation of Dominica’s CBI program, which critics argue has enabled passport acquisition without genuine ties to the country. This has led to international authorities associating Dominican passports with financial transactions rather than legitimate citizenship, resulting in systemic discrimination against all passport holders regardless of their birth origin.
Government officials including Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit and Immigration Minister Dr. Henderson are being urged to address these diplomatic challenges and protect the travel rights of native citizens who are increasingly finding their passport more a liability than a privilege in international travel.