4 ways to obtain Dominica citizenship
According to the Commonwealth of Dominica Citizenship Act, one can become a Dominica citizen by birth or descent, marriage, naturalisation, or investment.
1. Citizenship by birth or descent. A child born on the territory of Dominica can automatically get Dominica citizenship, no matter the nationality of their parents. A person can also obtain citizenship if at least one of their parents is a Dominica citizen.
2. Citizenship by marriage. A person who marries a Dominica citizen can obtain citizenship. However, it is required that the couple is married for three years before a person can get a passport.
3. Citizenship by naturalisation. The citizenship of Dominica is granted to someone who lives permanently in the country. The required period is at least seven years.
Those seeking citizenship by naturalisation must also meet other requirements. The following are among them:
- be of a good character;
- know Dominica citizen’s rights and responsibilities;
- be proficient in English at level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR);
- has resided in Dominica for 12 months immediately preceding the date of the application;
- have the intent to live in Dominica after obtaining their passport.
4. Citizenship by investment. Wealthy foreigners can seek Dominica citizenship by investing at least $100,000 in the country’s economy.
The program allows the investor to add family members to the application, including spouses, children, parents, and grandparents.
The process is remote and confidential, and the passport is issued within 2—6 months.
Requirements for obtaining Dominica citizenship by investment
An investor who seeks to obtain Dominica citizenship has to meet several requirements:
- be over 18 years old;
- have no criminal records or prosecutions;
- be able to prove the legality of the income;
- have no severe illnesses; for example, HIV-positive people can not participate in the program.
The investor can add family members to the application, including a spouse of the opposite sex and without criminal records, dependent children under 30, and dependent parents and grandparents over 65.
Getting the Dominica passport by investment: investment options and expenses
Investment is the fastest way to become a Dominica citizen: the process usually takes 3 to 6 months. All matters regarding the program are regulated by the Citizenship by Investment Unit.
To qualify, the investor needs to either make a non-refundable contribution to a state fund or buy real estate in Dominica.
Contribution to the Dominica Economic Diversification Fund must be at least $100,000. It is not refundable.
Real estate purchase is $200,000+, and the government must approve the chosen property.
Real estate can be sold after three years if the investor sells it to someone who does not participate in the CBI program and after five years if the person does participate.
Examples of investment real estate in Dominica
Additional expenses. Besides the investment, the investor pays other expenses, such as Due Diligence, passport fees, and issuing of the naturalisation certificate. The total cost depends on the number of people in the citizenship application.
If the investor adds their spouse or partner to the application, expenses for Due Diligence, state and other fees, and contribution to the state fund increase. However, the minimum sum of investment in real estate stays the same.
A family of four consisting of a married couple and their children has higher expenses than a married couple alone. For example, every family member over 16 must pay the Due Diligence fee; additionally, state fees and investments in the state fund increase.
Expenses for Dominica citizenship by investment
| Expense item | Investor | Married couple | Family of 4 |
| Fund contribution or real estate purchase | $100,000 / $200,000 | $150,000 / $200,000 | $175,000 / $200,000 |
| State fee for the real estate purchase | $25,000 | $35,000 | $35,000 |
| Due Diligence fee | $7,500 | $11,500 | $11,500 for the spouses + $4,000 per family member over 16 |
| Processing fee | $1,000 per application | $1,000 per application | $1,000 per application |
| Interview fee | $1,000 | $1,000 | $1,000 |
| Naturalisation certificate | $250 | $500 | $1,000 |
| Expedited passport issuance fee | $1,200 | $2,400 | $4,800 |
| Total | $110,950 — with a fund contribution $235,950 — with a property purchase | $166,400 — with a fund contribution $251,400 — with a property purchase | $194,300+ — with a fund contribution $254,300 — with a property purchase |
Documents to apply for Dominica citizenship
When applying for citizenship by naturalisation or other grounds, the applicant must provide a document package. These include:
- completed application forms;
- a letter addressed to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Immigration and Labour requesting citizenship;
- a police record;
- a birth certificate;
- 4 passport-sized photos;
- a medical certificate, including an HIV test;
- a bank statement or a recommendation from a banker;
- a marriage certificate, if applicable;
- two testimonials;
- a treasury receipt as proof of payment of the application fee;
- a recent copy of work or residence permit, if applicable;
- a copy of the bio-data page of the passport and the pages with the date of issue and the expiration date.
If the application is approved, the applicant must take an oath at the registry and pay a registration fee of $2,000 at the Treasury Department.
Step-by-step procedure for obtaining Dominica citizenship by investment
Obtaining Dominica citizenship usually takes around 3—6 months and consists of several steps. Immigrant Invest agents accompany the investor through the whole procedure.
During it, agents check the investor and their family members against different databases. It helps to reduce any refusal risks. If the risks can’t be avoided, we offer some solutions: for example, choose another program or gather additional documents.
Immigrant Invest gives the investor a list of required documents that must be gathered. When the package is ready, we translate, notarise, and fill in the government forms.
The Dominica authorities conduct the main Due Diligence. They check that the investor and their family members over 16 comply with the program terms and conduct an interview.
The investment must be made only after the application approval. The investor contributes or buys real estate.
After the investment condition is fulfilled, the Dominica authorities issue naturalisation certificates that confirm that the applicant became a Dominica citizen. After that, Immigrant Invest submits a separate application for passports. When passports are issued, the investor can receive them by courier.
How long is a Dominica passport valid?
The Dominica passport is valid for 10 years for people over 16 years and 5 years for those under 16.
Citizenship is given for life, so the only thing you need to do is update your passport.
When a passport is expired, it must be renewed, as using an expired one is against the law and can lead to imprisonment.
The applicant does not need to come to Dominica to renew a passport. The procedure can be done via the Dominica consulate in your country of origin. The application must be filed two months before the passport expires.
It is necessary to provide the following documents:
- a completed application form;
- an old Dominica passport;
- a copy or an original of the birth certificate or an extract from the birth record;
- a certificate of naturalisation;
- two photos sized 4.5 × 3.8 cm;
- a confirmation of the fee payment from the treasury.
The copies of documents must be notarised and translated into English. The passport renewal fee is $150 for adults and $75 for children.
Does Dominica allow dual citizenship?
Dominica fully recognises dual citizenship. It means the country does not require people to renounce their existing citizenship when obtaining a passport of Dominica.
However, some countries do not allow their citizens to have dual citizenship. Among them are Afghanistan, Iran, Thailand and others, so if you come from one of them, you will need to renounce your first citizenship.
6 benefits of Dominica citizenship
1. Travels to 143 countries visa-free. Dominica citizens can travel freely to countries like the Schengen countries, China, Hong Kong, and Singapore.
A visa-free stay in the Schengen Area is 90 out of 180 days. China and Singapore are open for 30 days of visa-free stay, and Hong Kong is available for 90 days.
2. A business visa to the USA for 10 years. Dominica citizens can obtain a B-1/B-2 visa to the US for 10 years at once. The allowed period of stay is 180 days per year. The visa allows investors to travel around the US, attend business meetings and conferences, and seek treatment in US clinics.
3. A backup plan. Dominica citizens can enter the country anytime, even if the borders are closed to foreigners. Therefore, Dominica can become the investor’s safe haven, allowing them to move there if something happens in the investor’s country of origin.
4. Tax optimisation. Dominica citizens do not pay taxes on dividends, interests, or royalties from abroad. There are also no taxes on capital gains or inheritance in the country.
5. Opening bank accounts in Dominica. The investor can open a bank account in Dominica in person or remotely. To do that, they must fill in the application form at the bank or on its website and undergo banking Due Diligence. If you are a citizen of Dominica, the process can take a few minutes, and foreigners must wait for several days.
The National Bank of Dominica, Commonwealth Bank and Trust and Paxum Bank are among the reliable Dominica banks.
6. Business development. The investor can open an international company on the country’s territory with Dominica citizenship. It protects the company, its assets, and the owner, as the founder’s data is not recorded in the commercial register, and their name cannot be found upon request.
Learn about unique opportunities that the Dominica investment program can offer
Key points on ways of obtaining the Dominica passport
- Dominica citizenship can be acquired in four ways: birth, marriage, naturalisation, and investment.
- Investment is the fastest way to get the Dominica passport: the whole process takes around 3—6 months. To qualify, the applicant has to invest at least $100,000 in the state fund or $200,000 in real estate and pay Due Diligence and other fees. The investor can include their family members in the application.
- The Dominica passport grants its holders an opportunity to travel visa-free to 143 countries, get a 10-year business visa to the US, optimise taxes, and do business in the country.
Frequently Asked Questions
The time a person will need to get citizenship in Dominica depends on the way of getting it. For example, to become a citizen by naturalisation, you must live in the country for seven years.
The fastest way to obtain a Dominica passport is by investment. The whole process usually takes from 2 to 6 months.
The Dominica passport can be obtained by:
- birth;
- marriage;
- naturalisation;
- investment.
All these ways have different requirements.
The fastest way is to get the Dominica passport by investment. It will take from 3 to 6 months.
There are two investment options:
- a non-refundable contribution of $100,000+ to the Dominica Economic Diversification Fund;
- a real estate purchase for $200,000+.
There are two investment options under the Dominica citizenship by investment program.
A non-refundable contribution to the state fund is the first option. The minimum investment is $100,000.
The second option is a purchase of real estate. The investor needs to invest at least $200,000 in the government-approved property.
A Dominica passport allows its holder to enter 143 countries without a visa. Among visa-free destinations are the Schengen countries, China, Hong Kong, and Singapore.
Yes, Dominica allows dual citizenship. That means you do not need to renounce your first citizenship when you obtain a second passport in Dominica. However, some countries do not allow their citizens to have dual citizenship. Therefore, you should check it in advance.
The Dominica passport is valid for 10 years if it is owned by someone over 16 years old and for 5 years if it is owned by someone under 16.
No, you cannot work in the UK without a special working visa as a Dominica citizen.
Yes, Dominica citizens are allowed to travel visa-free to countries of the Schengen Area. They can stay there for 90 out of 180 days.
Additionally, the Dominica passport gives its holders the right of visa-free entry to 143 countries.
