Company
Knowledge centre
Citizenship by investment
See all (14)What is citizenship by investment?
In citizenship by investment programmes, a government grants citizenship to someone who makes an approved investment or financial contribution and passes due diligence. This article explains how these programmes work, who runs them, their benefits and limits, and the questions to ask before deciding.
What an Authorised Agent is and why it matters
In Dominica's citizenship programme, an application is accepted only through an Authorised Agent: someone licensed by the Cabinet. This article explains who an Authorised Agent is, what they do, what they do not do and how to check their licence.
The Caribbean citizenship programmes at a glance
Five Eastern Caribbean countries run citizenship by investment programmes: Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Lucia. This article sets out their common features, the official bodies, the minimum agreed in 2024 and sample official amounts from two countries.
Dominica
See all (23)The Oath of Allegiance in Dominica's citizenship programme
Every applicant who obtains Dominica citizenship signs an Oath of Allegiance to the country. The signature must be made before a notary public, a justice of the peace or a commissioner of oaths. This article explains where the oath sits in the process, who signs it and the practical points.
The costs of a Dominica citizenship application: from the government contribution to the documents
The cost of a Dominica citizenship application is not only the investment. There are processing, due diligence, interview and naturalisation certificate fees, and the cost of documents such as translation, notarisation and tests. This article sets out every part from the CBIU's official pages so you can plan a realistic budget.
What is the Certificate of Naturalisation?
The Certificate of Naturalisation is the document the CBIU of Dominica issues after receiving proof of the investment payment, and it is your proof of citizenship. The passport is applied for with this certificate. This article explains when it is issued, its official fee, its uses and how to keep it safe.
Vanuatu
See all (8)The history of Vanuatu: from the Condominium to independence
Until 1980 Vanuatu was called the "New Hebrides", and Britain and France governed it together in an arrangement called the Condominium. On 30 July 1980 the country became independent as the Republic of Vanuatu. This article reviews this history briefly, with official and reliable sources.
Vanuatu citizenship by investment: the complete guide
Vanuatu is a Pacific island country that grants citizenship for a financial contribution to the government programme, after review by its Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU). This guide explains the application process with Royal Golden, the 110-day contract term, the payment stages, the refund after an official refusal and the travel changes.
Getting to know Vanuatu: islands, people, economy and government
Vanuatu is an archipelago of about 83 volcanic islands in the south-west Pacific Ocean. It has about 300,000 people and has been independent since 1980. This article gives a basic picture of its geography, history, people, languages, economy and government.
Documents and process
See all (8)Police clearance certificates for a Dominica citizenship application
Every applicant aged 16 and over must provide police clearance certificates from the country of birth, the country of citizenship, the country of residence and any country lived in for more than six months in the past ten years. The certificates must be issued within the three months before submission. This guide explains the rule, the exception for children and practical planning.
Proving the source of funds: which documents and why
In every citizenship by investment application, the applicant must show where the investment money came from. This guide explains why this is needed, which documents the CBIU of Dominica asks for and how to build a complete, convincing chain of documents.
What an apostille is and where it is needed
An apostille is a certificate that the country issuing an official document places on it, so the document is accepted in the countries of the 1961 Hague Convention without the long "legalisation" formalities. This article explains what an apostille is, who issues it, what an e-Apostille is and its place in a citizenship application.
Dubai and UAE visas
See all (17)UAE entry requirements: passport, visa, insurance and ticket
To visit the UAE as a tourist, depending on your nationality you either get a visa in advance or on arrival. There are also basic conditions such as a valid passport, health insurance and an onward ticket. This article explains the conditions and the official ways to check them, based on the UAE government portal and the ICP and GDRFA pages.
UAE Golden Residency: an overview
The UAE Golden Residency is a long-term, renewable residence granted without a sponsor to investors, entrepreneurs, specialists, outstanding students and a few other groups. This article explains the groups, the published thresholds, the family benefits and the differences seen between two official pages.
Overstaying a visa in the UAE: the rule and the fine
ICP has set the fine for staying beyond an entry visa's validity, or entering with an expired visa, at 50 dirhams for each day. This article explains how the days are counted, how to avoid it by extending or leaving on time, and what to do if you have already passed the deadline.
Travel and passports
See all (10)What passport strength is and how it is measured
"Passport strength" usually means the number of destinations its holder can visit without a visa obtained in advance. Indexes such as the Henley Passport Index count this number with a set method. This article explains the counting method, the limits of the number and the right way to compare two passports.
The countries of the Schengen area: the list of 29
The Schengen area has 29 countries: 25 EU member states and 4 non-EU countries, namely Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Bulgaria and Romania became the latest members on 1 January 2025. Cyprus and Ireland are EU members but not full Schengen members. This article gives the full list and what it means for travel.
The Schengen 90/180-day rule, simply explained
Non-European travellers may stay in the Schengen countries for at most 90 days in any 180-day period, counted together. The 180-day window is not fixed: it moves forward every day. This article explains how to count, the common mistakes and the role of the Entry/Exit System (EES).
Service and portal guides
See all (20)Refund after an official refusal: the 72-hour rule in the Vanuatu contract
Under Royal Golden's Vanuatu contract, if an official authority of Vanuatu refuses the application, everything received is refunded without deduction within 72 hours of the official notice arriving. This article explains this rule, how it differs from a voluntary withdrawal, and the Dominica rule.
A guide to the Royal Golden customer portal
The Royal Golden customer portal is where you follow your applications, documents, messages, payments and account in one place. This guide introduces the four groups of the portal menu one by one: services and applications, tasks and messages, documents and payments, and account.
Royal Golden's site tools: the programme finder, passport comparison and the cost calculator
The Royal Golden site has three free tools that help before any call or payment: the programme finder, which compares the Dominica and Vanuatu programmes for your situation; the passport comparison, which shows two passports' travel access country by country; and the cost calculator. This guide explains what each is for.