British Overseas Territory of Anguilla to open RBI program

British Overseas Territory of Anguilla to open new Residency by Investment (RBI) program encouraging foreign FDI into the islands. .

The RBI scheme will allow foreign nationals to acquire permanent residency status in Anguilla by making a financial contribution to the island and after proving to be of good health and good character.

Successful applicants will, after a time, become eligible for British Overseas Territory Citizen (BOTC) passports but subjected to several conditions.

• Eligibility for British Overseas Territory Citizenship (BOTC) is governed by the British Nationality Act 1981. Citizenship is granted by the governor of the territory and Overseas Territories are not able to grant BOTC status other than in accordance with that Act.
• Residency and other requirements for BOTC status apply, so anyone who has not lived lawfully in the territory for a number of years is unlikely to qualify.
•  Criteria for the grant of BOTC include residence requirements, a good character requirement and an intention to make the principal home within the relevant territory.
•  Generally, the residency requirements are for a minimum of five years residence immediately preceding the application, during which total absences must not exceed 450 days with a maximum of 90 days absence in the last year. The applicant must not have been in breach of immigration rules at any time during those five years and the last year of residence must have been free of any immigration control.
• BOTCs do not have the right of abode in the UK unless they later become British citizens.
• BOTCs do not have the right of abode in the UK unless they later become British citizens.

The Government of Anguilla will announce minimum investment conditions and other conditions on Aug 23, 2018

According to Anguilla Government  BOTC naturalizations will not be accepted unless.

• (i) you have had Belonger Status for at least one (1) year prior to your naturalisation application. If your Belonger Status is based on your marriage to a British Overseas Territories Citizen (BOTC) (Anguilla), the one-year waiting period does not apply; OR
• (ii) you have had Permanent Resident Status for at least one (1) year immediately preceding the consideration of your application. For example, if Permanent Resident Status was granted to you on 12 April 2003, your application will not be considered unless that status had been renewed on 12 April 2004. Note that you should not submit an application for naturalisation close to the date of expiration of your Permanent Resident Status because if that status expires prior to the time that your application is being considered, you will be required to renew it;

AND

• (i) you have been resident in Anguilla for a period of five (5) years immediately preceding the date of the application; OR
• (ii) if you are married to a BOTC (Anguilla) you have been resident in Anguilla for a period of three (3) years immediately preceding the date of the application.

The naturalisation process can take several months, if you are seeking to facilitate travel overseas, please submit your application way ahead of your intended date of departure.

British Overseas Territories citizens (BOTCs) enjoy visa-free entry to a number of countries and territories. However, in some cases, foreign authorities only grant them a visa-free entry if they present a passport with an endorsement stating their right of abode in the United Kingdom. Read more on visa free countries here

Source/Credit: Caribbeannewsnow.com