Dominica citizenship
by investment
New opportunities for travelling the world for cosmopolitans
Download the guide Calculate the costThe Dominica Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Programme is one of the most inexpensive in the Caribbean and globally.
The programme has been steadily operating since 1993, and its budget is highly transparent. The country’s government not only grants citizenship to investors but also regularly reports on the distribution of the programme investments.
Dominica citizenship can be obtained by contributing to a government fund or participating in a real estate project. Investors buy shares in large hotels built by international hotel corporations and leave the project after 5–7 years.
The whole family can participate in the Dominica economic citizenship programme: a spouse, children, parents and grandparents. The Dominica passport is issued within 2 to 6 months. The process is remote and confidential.
8 main benefits of the Dominica programme
Low investment threshold
An applicant invests at least $100,000 in the country’s economy to become a citizen by investment in Dominica.
Fast processing time
A citizenship application is processed within 2 to 6 months.
Visa-free entry to 145 countries
The Dominica passport allows its holder to travel to 145 countries visa-free. The list of visa-free destinations includes the European Union, the United Kingdom, China, Hong Kong, and Singapore.
Dominica citizens can apply for a 10-year visitor visa to the USA at the nearest consulate and get it in two weeks.
Preferential education
The investor’s children can attend some schools and universities in the UK on favourable terms.
European bank accounts
The Dominica passport makes it easier to open an account with European banks to keep savings in hard currency and make quick currency transactions.
Tax optimisation
Non-residents of Dominica pay taxes only on income earned in the country. Residents have no taxes on dividends, inheritance and capital gains.
Tax rates in Dominica:
- 15% — withholding tax;
- 2–4% — stamp duty;
- 6% — property transfer tax.
Investment return
Dominica offers investors to acquire a share in tourism infrastructure projects. During ownership, the investor can earn a rental income of 2 to 5% per annum. After 5 years, the property can be sold at a profit.
Convenient service
The citizenship obtaining procedure is remote and confidential.
Get maximum information
about the process
- Step-by-step procedure
- Requirements for applicants
- Necessary documents
- Answers to frequently asked questions
PDF, 36 pages, 12 MB
Who gets Dominica citizenship
- Over 18 years old
- Without criminal records
- Without visa refusals
- Without citizenship refusals
- With legal income
- Has passed Due Diligence
- Adult children over 18 must be financially supported by their parents
- Over 65
- Financially dependent on the investor
Investment options and requirements for obtaining Dominica citizenship
Non-refundable contribution
$100,000+
A non-refundable contribution goes to the Economic Diversification Fund. The Dominica Government uses the fund money to develop education and healthcare. Another important area is green energy projects using thermal lakes.
The investor also pays government fees. There is also a fee for Due Diligence. The total expenses for participating in the Dominica CBI programme depend on the number and age of family members.
Investments in the Dominica state fund, including fees
Contribution to the Economic Diversification Fund |
$100,000 — for an investor $150,000 — for a married couple $175,000 — for a family of 4 people $25,000 — per applicant, starting with the fifth family member under 18 $50,000 — per applicant, starting with the fifth family member over 18 |
Due Diligence |
$7,500 — for an investor $4,000 — per spouse, parent and child aged 16 and over $0 — free of charge for children up to 16 |
Processing fee | $1,000 — for a family |
Purchase of government-approved real estate
$200,000+
The investor chooses a property from a list of government-approved projects. The list includes more than 50 facilities, mostly five-star hotels. There are infrastructure facilities, such as marinas. The investor can buy a share in the project. In the case of a hotel, investors can buy apartments or cottages.
Under the terms of the Dominica real estate citizenship programme, the property can be sold after 3 years. However, if the property is sold after 5 years, it can be bought by the next programme participant. Thus, such properties are more in demand. As a result, the citizenship cost will equal the Due Diligence and other fees.
As project shareholders, investors receive rental income in proportion to their shares. If an investor buys a whole property in ownership, they can either live in it or rent it out. In the latter case, it is convenient to use the services of a management company as you won’t have to look for tenants and monitor the condition of the apartment or villa.
Renting generates an income of between 2 and 5% per annum. The tourist season on the islands lasts all year round. Therefore, the demand for rentals is consistently high.
Dominica is a well-known ecotourism destination, so most hotels are built with stringent eco-standards to minimise environmental damage.
Investments in Dominica real estate, including fees
Investment amount | $200,000 — regardless of the number of applicants, for a minimum of 3-year ownership |
State fee |
$25,000 — for an investor $35,000 — for a married couple or a family of up to 4 people $50,000 — for a family of up to 6 people $70,000 — for a family of over 6 people |
Due Diligence |
$7,500 — for an investor $4,000 — per spouse, parent, child aged 16 and over $0 — free of charge for children up to 16 |
Processing fee | $1,000 — for a family |
Examples of investment properties in Dominica
Shares in a five-star hotel complex
The hotel is located on the northwest coast of Dominica, off Picard Beach in Prince Rupert’s Bay. An international hotel corporation manages the complex. Next to the hotel is Cabrits National Park, which has several hiking trails of varying degrees of difficulty.
The complex includes apartments, presidential suites and private suites with swimming pools. The complex also has public swimming pools, spas, restaurants and bars, a fitness centre, shops, and a water sports centre.
An investor can buy a share in the project. Shareholders can have a free holiday at the hotel for 1 week per year.
I will tell you which object is of the best quality of construction and in an attractive area for living or renting out.
Expenses on obtaining citizenship for a family of 4 people
Individual cost
calculation for Dominica
citizenship
Get an individual calculation for your family with all
associated costs and government fees
6 steps to obtaining Dominica citizenship by investment
Choosing a licensed agent
Only a licensed programme agent can apply for Dominica economic citizenship on the investor’s behalf.
Immigrant Invest is a licensed agent of the Dominica CBI programme. The company has a Compliance Department. It allows us to perform a preliminary Due Diligence check and assess the rejection risk under the programme.
Preliminary Due Diligence
The preliminary check helps prepare an investor for the key stage of the programme — Due Diligence at the Dominica CBI Unit.
An Immigrant Invest expert who is a certified Compliance Anti Money Laundering Officer confidentially checks the applicant against international legal and business information databases and warns of potential risks.
If any issues arise during the check that may cause the investor’s application to be rejected, Immigrant Invest will offer other citizenship by investment programmes.
Entering into an agreement
If the preliminary Due Diligence check is successful, the investor enters into a cooperation agreement with Immigrant Invest.
Document preparation
Immigrant Invest collects documents for citizenship application, translates and apostilles them, fills in government forms, and prepares an affidavit, if necessary.
Due Diligence by the Dominica CBI Unit
The process begins with the citizenship application and lasts 2 to 6 months. Due Diligence takes place remotely, and the investor does not need to be present.
Receiving citizenship documents
Investors collect their Dominica passports and naturalisation certificates at a licensed agent’s office or have them delivered by courier to a convenient address.
Frequently asked questions
The Dominica Citizenship by Investment Programme is one of the cheapest in the world. The programme was launched in 1993. The Dominica Government strictly check the programme budget to keep a high degree of transparency.
The main advantage for investors is the freedom to travel to 145 countries without visas. It is possible to travel visa-free to the UK, the EU, China, Singapore, and Hong Kong.
- Low investment amount — to become a Dominica citizen, you must invest at least $ 100,000.
- Fast processing time — the CBI Unit checks the investor and their family within 2–6 months and issues passports.
- Convenient service — Due Diligence and application processing are done remotely and confidentially.
A person who obtains Dominica citizenship by investment hets all the rights of a citizen. For example, Dominica citizens travel to 145 countries freely: they visit the UK, the EU, China, Singapore, and Hong Kong, without visas.
As a Dominica citizen, the investor also:
- Obtains a 10-year visitor visa to the USA at the country’s nearest consulate.
- Educates children in some institutions in the UK on preferential terms.
- Opens accounts with European banks to keep savings and make currency transfers.
- Receives income from the real estate if they choose it as an investment option under the CBI programme. Income from renting out real estate in Dominica is between 2 and 5% per annum.
- Can become a tax resident of Dominica and optimise taxes.
The investor must choose one investment option and make a money transfer.
Investment options under the Dominica Citizenship by Investment Programme are:
- Non-refundable contribution. The investor contributes at least $ 100,000 to the Dominica Economic Diversification Fund. The total investment amount depends on the number of applicants.
- Purchase of real estate. An investor chooses a property from the proposed list of projects. The minimum property price is $ 200,000.
In addition, the investor pays state and Due Diligence fees.
The Dominica Government grants economic citizenship to foreign investors within 2 to 6 months.
Most of the time is spent on the Due Diligence check. The CBI Unit checks the investor’s financial assets, documents and family records. The main task of the CBI Unit is to verify that the investor’s capital has been obtained legally.
The cost of Due Diligence for an investor is $ 7,500, plus an additional $ 4,000 per family member over 16.
Only government-approved properties can be purchased under the CBI programme. More than 50 properties are listed, mostly five-star hotel complexes.
Investors buy shares, apartments or villas. The minimum investment amount is $ 200,000.
The programme terms allow the investor to sell the property after 3 years. But we advise investors to sell real estate after 5 years: in this case, the next owner will also be able to participate in the CBI programme.
Investors receive rental income in proportion to their shares in a project. The yield is 2–5% per annum. The island’s tourist season lasts all year, so the rental demand is high.
Besides investing in the country’s economy, the investor pays government and Due Diligence fees. For convenience, we provide the cost calculation in the table below.
Investor’s expenses under the Dominica CBI programme when contributing to a state fund
Expenses | Amount |
Main investments — a fund contribution | $ 100,000 |
Due Diligence | $ 7,500 |
Processing fee | $ 1,000 |
Total | $ 108,500 |
If the investor includes family members in the application, the investment amount increases by:
- $ 50,000 — for a spouse;
- $ 75,000 — for a spouse and two children.
Starting with the fifth family member, the investor pays an additional $ 25,000 per child under 30 and sibling under 18. If a sibling is over 18, an additional $ 50,000 are paid.
The investor is entitled to include family members in the application:
- a spouse;
- children under 30;
- parents and grandparents over 65.
The investor must enter into an agreement with a licensed programme agent to participate in the Dominica Citizenship by Investment Programme as the investor cannot apply by themselves.
Immigrant Invest is a licensed agent of Caribbean government CBI programmes. We help to choose a programme to suit the investor’s goals and conduct a preliminary Due Diligence check that minimises the rejection risks.
Yes, Dominica allows its citizens to have dual citizenship. Therefore, investors don’t have to give up their first passports to get Dominica citizenship. However, it only works if the country of origin allows multiple citizenships, too.
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