Commonwealth of Dominica Citizenship by Investment
Dominica's Citizenship by Investment (CBI) program, established in 1993 and administered by the Citizenship by Investment Unit (CBIU), is consistently ranked among the most efficient programs in the Caribbean. Two investment routes are available: a non-refundable contribution to the Economic Diversification Fund (EDF) or the purchase of government-approved real estate. Under the 2024 Caribbean accord harmonising minimum contribution floors across CARICOM CBI jurisdictions, the EDF donation rose to USD 200,000 for a single applicant and approximately USD 250,000 for a family of four, up from the previous USD 100,000 entry point. The real estate route also begins at USD 200,000 for qualifying approved developments. No residency, language test, interview, or physical visit requirement applies at any stage of the process. Dominica is routinely cited as the fastest-processing Caribbean CBI programme, with approval timelines of three to six months from a complete file submission — a function of the CBIU's streamlined single-tier review structure. The Dominican passport provides visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to more than 130 destinations, including the United Kingdom and the Schengen Area, though precise destination counts vary by passport-index source. Dual citizenship is fully permitted; applicants need not renounce their existing nationality. Due diligence is conducted by the CBIU in conjunction with licensed third-party screening firms and encompasses criminal records, source-of-funds verification, adverse media screening, and international sanctions database checks. Since 2022 Dominica has participated in the CARICOM Enhanced Due Diligence framework, which standardises background check protocols across Caribbean CBI programmes. EU and UK authorities have in recent years applied enhanced scrutiny to Caribbean CBI passports at points of entry, including requiring biometric checks and, in some cases, secondary screening; Dominican passport holders are not restricted from entry but should expect increased attention at select borders. No Dominica income tax, capital gains tax, wealth tax, or inheritance tax applies to non-resident citizens; a Dominican passport held while living outside Dominica creates no Dominican tax liability.
Program Details
- Individual Cost
- $200,000
- Family of 4 Cost
- $250,000
- Processing Time
- 4 months
- Residency Required
- None; no physical presence required before or after citizenship grant
- Due Diligence
- Enhanced
- Visa-Free Destinations
- 144
- Dual Citizenship
- Accepted
- Renunciation Required
- No
Cost Breakdown
| Item | Amount (USD) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Economic Diversification Fund (EDF) contribution — individual | $200,000 | Non-refundable government donation. Raised to USD 200,000 (individual) under the 2024 CARICOM minimum-price accord. Family of 4 is approximately USD 250,000 under current schedules. |
| Due diligence fees — main applicant | $7,500 | |
| Due diligence fees — spouse | $4,000 | |
| Processing fees | $1,000 | Per applicant |
| Legal/agent fees (estimate) | $12,000 | Authorised agent required; fees vary by firm and family size |
Nationality Restrictions
This program does not accept applications from nationals of: Nationals of OFAC-, UN-, and EU-sanctioned states are ineligible or subject to heightened review, Nationals of states with active CARICOM travel restrictions may be declined
Investment Routes
| Route | Amount (USD) | Lock-up (years) | Exit-Value Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Government Fund Donation | $200,000 | — | Non-refundable contribution to the Economic Diversification Fund (EDF). Single applicant: USD 200,000 (raised from USD 100,000 under the 2024 CARICOM minimum-price accord). Family of 4: approximately USD 250,000. Fastest route — typical approval 3–6 months from complete submission. Source: cbiu.gov.dm |
| Real Estate | $200,000 | 5 | Purchase of CBIU-approved real estate development. Minimum USD 200,000 (shared unit) or USD 200,000 sole ownership in eligible projects. Mandatory 5-year holding period before resale to another CBI buyer. Dominica's property market is small and illiquid; fractional resort interests and eco-resort shares predominate approved inventory. Capital recovery is uncertain — treat primarily as a sunk cost with uncertain upside. Only CBIU-approved developments qualify; verify developer status before committing. |
Realistic Total Timeline
3–6 months
End-to-end from application submission to passport issuance, based on recent reported timelines. Times assume a complete file; source- of-funds gaps or refusals can extend significantly.
Due Diligence
- Provider
- Dominica Citizenship by Investment Unit (CBIU) + licensed external due-diligence firms; CARICOM Enhanced Due Diligence framework applies from 2022
- Depth Level
- enhanced
Common Disqualifiers
- ⚠Any criminal conviction, regardless of jurisdiction or severity
- ⚠Nationality of or significant ties to OFAC-, UN-, or EU-sanctioned states
- ⚠Source-of-funds inadequately documented or inconsistent
- ⚠Prior CBI application denial in any Caribbean or other jurisdiction
- ⚠Health conditions posing a public-health risk (medical screening required)
- ⚠Misrepresentation or material omission on any part of the application
- ⚠Adverse findings in international law-enforcement or financial intelligence databases
Approved Agents
Applications must be submitted through a licensed agent approved by the programme authority.
Official approved-agents directory →Family Inclusion
- Siblings
- Not included
- Parents Min Age
- 65+
- Max Child Age
- 25
- Grandparents
- Not included
Spouse and dependent children under 18 included as standard. Dependent children aged 18–25 in full-time education are eligible as additional dependants. Financially dependent parents aged 65 or above may be added for supplementary processing and due-diligence fees. Siblings are not eligible as dependants. No physical residency or return-visit requirement applies to any family member after citizenship is granted.
Travel Benefits
- Visa-Free Destinations
- 144
- Schengen
- ✓
- UK
- ✓
- US E-2 Treaty
- —
- Canada eTA
- —
Post-Citizenship Tax Implications
Dominica operates a territorial and remittance-based tax system. Personal income tax applies only to income sourced in Dominica or remitted to Dominica. There is no capital gains tax, inheritance tax, or wealth tax. Non-resident citizens owe no Dominica income tax regardless of how long citizenship has been held. Acquiring Dominican citizenship creates no automatic tax-filing obligation in Dominica. Holders who are citizens of countries with citizenship-based taxation (notably the United States) remain subject to their home-country tax obligations regardless of any second passport held.
Recent Changes
Dominica joined the CARICOM Enhanced Due Diligence framework, introducing standardised background-check requirements shared across Caribbean CBI programmes, including mandatory third-party screening for all adult applicants.
source →IMF Article IV consultation confirmed Dominica's CBI revenues represent a material share of government receipts. IMF noted improvements in AML/CFT compliance, transparent reporting, and due-diligence standards.
source →2024 CARICOM Caribbean CBI minimum-price accord raised the EDF donation floor to USD 200,000 for a single applicant (previously USD 100,000), aligning Dominica with a region-wide effort to improve programme quality and reduce low-cost 'passport shopping' risks. Family-of-four pricing rose to approximately USD 250,000.
source →
Programme FAQs
Why is Dominica considered one of the fastest Caribbean CBI programmes?
Sources: cbiu.gov.dm
Did the 2024 Caribbean accord significantly raise the cost of Dominican citizenship?
Sources: cbiu.gov.dm
Can I travel to the UK visa-free on a Dominican passport?
Sources: cbiu.gov.dm
Is the real estate investment genuinely recoverable after the five-year holding period?
Sources: cbiu.gov.dm
Related Guides
Zero and low-tax residencies: the real list
Countries with zero personal income tax, territorial-only taxation, or special expatriate regimes — and what each one actually requires from you to qualify as a resident.
Exit tax: countries that charge you to leave
Country-by-country reference of departure taxes, deemed-disposition rules, and wealth-locking regimes that trigger when tax residency ends.
Other CBI Programs
Sources & last verified
- Official source
- Last verified