The Commonwealth or The Commonwealth of Nations comprises 54 member states and houses 2.5 billion people — an incredible one-third of the world’s population. If you obtain citizenship of any of the Commonwealth member nations, you will be given the status of a Commonwealth citizen. Currently, six out of the 54 member states of the Commonwealth offer citizenship by investment programs to foreign investors. So if you are thinking of applying for Commonwealth Citizenship, this article will provide you with everything you need to know.

About the Commonwealth

Formerly known as the British Commonwealth of Nations, the formation of the Commonwealth dates back to the year 1926 – comprising Commonwealth countries that were mostly ruled by the British crown. The Commonwealth that you witness today was formally established after the London Declaration of 1949 which guaranteed all member nations of the Commonwealth equal status and freedom. Queen Elizabeth II currently heads the Commonwealth and Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister of the UK holds the position of Commonwealth Chair-in-office.

Be it overcoming developmental challenges, empowering the community, rallying for equality, working for climate change, or ensuring democracy and law across member states, the Commonwealth today works towards building a free, equal, and just society.

Commonwealth Citizenship – advantages

Commonwealth-citizenship-benefits

From world-class education and healthcare infrastructure to investment opportunities and visa-free travel, having Commonwealth citizenship comes with many advantages. We are listing below some of the main benefits of Commonwealth citizenship.

-The UK permits certain Commonwealth countries into its territory without the need for a visa for a period of six months in a year. The Commonwealth countries that don’t require a visa to travel in the UK include Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Australia and more.

-If you are a Commonwealth citizen traveling to a non-Commonwealth nation, you will be eligible for assistance from the British embassy in case you face any problem along the way.

-If Commonwealth citizens are devoid of diplomatic representation in non-Commonwealth borders, the UK government also will ensure no wrong is done and arrange adequate representation and counsel for them or request the local embassy for support.

– With permission from the national administration, Commonwealth citizens are also provided with a UK emergency passport in special cases where they have misplaced their essential travel documents.

-A Commonwealth citizen has access to ‘Plan B’ security.

Commonwealth – member countries

Want to know which countries constitute the Commonwealth? Read below to know about the Commonwealth passport countries.

Africa

Botswana, Cameroon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Kingdom of Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia.

Asia

Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, India, Malaysia, Maldives, Pakistan, Singapore, and Sri Lanka.

The Caribbean and the Americas

Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, St Kitts and Nevis, St Vincent and The Grenadines, Trinidad, and Tobago.

Europe

Cyprus, Malta, United Kingdom

Pacific

Australia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu.

Commonwealth Countries – Citizenship by Investment Programs

You will be added to the Commonwealth citizen list if you meet the investment requirement and the eligibility criteria. Currently, there are a number of Commonwealth countries that offer citizenship by investment programs to interested applicants. For instance, countries like Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, and Vanuatu have attractive Citizenship By Investment schemes for foreign nationals. If you are an individual applying for a Commonwealth passport, you will need to invest a minimum amount of $100,000 (plus added costs). For families, the amount of investment will be around $125,000 (plus added costs). The processing time with regards to an application for Commonwealth Citizenship is fairly quick and ranges from three-six months approximately. After the documentation and verification process, applicants acquire their passports and obtain their citizenship. Do keep in mind that the investment requirement, processing time and documentation differs in each country on the basis of the country’s Citizenship By Investment Program

Types of investment options

For immigration to the following Commonwealth country, a person needs to follow the specific citizenship by investment guidelines.

Antigua and Barbuda

-Make a government contribution or charitable donation (Financial contribution of US$125,000 for a family of four)

-Investment in real estate (Minimum purchase of $400,000 which should be maintained for at least five years)

-Setting up an approved business (Minimum investment of $1.5 million)

Dominica

-Independent investment in the Economic Diversification Fund (Contribution of $100,000 to the EDF for main application)

-Real-estate investment (Investment of a minimum $200,000 in pre-approved property, plus government fees)

Grenada

-Grenada NTF (Minimum investment of $150K or $200K for a family of four)

-Real estate investment (Minimum investment of $350K in a government-approved property)

St. Kitts and Nevis

-Investment in Sustainable Growth Fund (Minimum contribution of $150,000 to the SGF)

-Real-estate investment (Minimum investment in property at a valuation of $400,000). Do note that you need to sustain your investment for a minimum of 5 years.

St. Lucia

-Investment in National Economic Fund (Donation of $100,000 to the NEF)

-Real-estate investment (Investment of $300,000 in a pre-approved hospitality project or an investment of $300,000 in a boutique real estate project)

-Investment in an enterprise approved by the government (Investment of $3.5 million in a government-approved enterprise)

-Investment in government bonds (Investment of $500,000 in bonds)

Vanuatu

-Donation to Vanuatu’s local development fund (Investment of $130,000 for one person)

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a Commonwealth Citizen?

If you are a citizen of any of the member states of the Commonwealth, you are regarded as a Commonwealth citizen. Various Commonwealth countries also offer individuals citizenship through their citizenship by investment programs. These include countries like Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, and more.

Who is a qualifying Commonwealth Citizen?

If you are a citizen of a Commonwealth member state, or in the UK, you are considered a Commonwealth citizen.

What are the benefits of being a Commonwealth Citizen?

A Commonwealth Citizen enjoys many benefits. They include access to world-class education, healthcare, visa-free travel, profitable investment options, and Plan B security among others.

Are Commonwealth citizens British citizens?

Commonwealth citizens are not British citizens. Citizens of any member country of the Commonwealth are considered Commonwealth citizens.

Can Commonwealth citizens move to the UK?

Few Commonwealth citizens do have the right of abode in the United Kingdom. They must apply for the certificate of entitlement to ensure their right of abode in the UK.

Want to apply for Commonwealth Citizenship? You might want to check the following articles before you start your application process.