Dominica Parliament Passes Bill to Establish Eastern Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Regulatory Authority
The Dominica Parliament on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, passed the Eastern Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Regulatory Authority (ECCIRA) Agreement Bill, 2025, paving the way for the establishment of a regional regulator to oversee Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programmes operated by five OECS Member States.
Prime Minister Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit, who presented the Bill to the Parliament, described it as a “major and important step in strengthening the governance and integrity of Dominica’s CBI Programme,” ensuring that it continues to meet “the highest international standards of due diligence, transparency and accountability.”
The legislation gives the force of law in Dominica to the ECCIRA Agreement, signed in September 2025 by the Commonwealth of Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis and Saint Lucia. The regional Authority was conceived to enhance cooperation, promote uniform standards and safeguard the credibility of the sub region’s CBI initiatives.
Prime Minister Skerrit explained that the ECCIRA will have powers to set and issue binding standards for all participating CBI Units and service providers, and will regulate application processing, due diligence and compliance across the Member States. It will also establish a regional framework for offences, penalties and administrative fines of up to US$250,000 to deter misconduct and ensure accountability.
The Bill also makes provisions for the collection of biometrics, background checks by internationally accredited due diligence firms and the use of a designated escrow account to strengthen financial transparency and prevent abuse. New requirements related to residency and name-change regulations are intended to enhance legitimacy, traceability and the connection of successful applicants to the countries granting citizenship.
“The establishment of ECCIRA gives institutional effect to the joint commitment made by OECS leaders to safeguard the reputation of our CBI programmes, strengthen regional cooperation and promote uniformity and transparency across the sub region,” Prime Minister Skerrit stated. “It is yet another expression of our solidarity and collective action.”
He noted that the Bill follows extensive national and regional consultations with CBI stakeholders, political parties, developers, bankers and civil society, as well as engagement with international partners, including the United States, the United Kingdom and the European Commission all of whom have welcomed the new regulatory framework.
Prime Minister Skerrit commended the Interim Regulatory Commission (IRC), coordinated by the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, for its work in preparing the Agreement.
He underscored that Dominica’s CBI Programme has been a key contributor to the nation’s economic and social transformation and an important source of funding for climate-resilient infrastructure and recovery from natural disasters.
“For these reasons,” he said, “it is right, fitting and appropriate that we are taking this significant step to coordinate and protect this vital programme which has brought so many benefits for the people of Dominica.”
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