Dominica Says EU Sets June 2028 Deadline to End CBI Programmes or Risk Visa-Free Access

Dominica says the European Union has indicated that it and other Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States countries operating Citizenship by Investment programmes must transition away from the schemes by June 2028 to retain visa-free access to the Schengen Area.

In a statement issued on October 28, the Dominican government said it was engaging European officials on the economic consequences of discontinuing the programmes, while seeking realistic transition periods and support for affected countries.

According to the government, the EU has revised its visa suspension mechanism under Regulation (EU) 2025/2441 to include investor citizenship schemes among the grounds for suspending visa-free travel.

The development presents a significant challenge for Dominica, where the government says CBI revenue has helped finance infrastructure, disaster recovery and national resilience projects.

It said those investments support jobs and development and would otherwise have placed greater pressure on public finances. Any change to that revenue stream would therefore require careful planning.

Dominica and its regional partners are discussing possible financial and technical assistance with the EU to help develop alternative sources of revenue, diversify their economies and protect development gains.

The government said those discussions have highlighted the circumstances of small, vulnerable economies and the need to manage any transition without major disruption to public finances or ongoing projects.

Meanwhile, Dominica is continuing work with regional partners to establish the Eastern Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Regulatory Authority, known as ECCIRA.

The proposed authority is intended to strengthen oversight, due diligence and common standards across participating countries, while building confidence in the integrity of their programmes.

The government said it would continue seeking a practical agreement that addresses European concerns while safeguarding Dominica’s economic stability and development interests.

Further communication with the EU is planned by November 12, 2026, with the government promising to keep the public informed as talks progress.