Commonwealth of Dominica: World’s #1 Passport
The Commonwealth of Dominica is a tropical paradise and renown ecotourism destination located in the West Indies. Established in 1993, the Dominica citizenship by investment program was created to stimulate economic growth on the island. The Dominica government has nurtured the program’s integrity over the years and it has evolved into one of the world’s most highly respected citizenship programs. Dominica offers two established paths to citizenship for qualified applicants:
- The Economic Diversification Fund allows investors to make a non-refundable contribution starting at US$100,000.
- Investors can also qualify by purchasing government approved real estate priced at a minimum of US$200,000.
Under the program guidelines, dependents of the main applicant or spouse of the main applicant can include parents or grandparents, childless, unmarried siblings <26 years of age and adult children <31 years of age. Plus, new spouses and newborn children of any successful applicant can become citizens of Dominica.
Dominica Citizenship Benefits
- Dual citizenship is allowed with no requirement to renounce your current citizenship.
- As a citizen of the British Commonwealth you may receive assistance at British Embassies and consulates. Plus receive preferential treatment inside the UK.
- Dominica citizenship by investment is issued by a politically neutral country with a noninvasive foreign policy.
- Application process is completely confidential with no requirement to notify your country of origin.
- Dominica’s legal system is based on English Common Law.
- The citizenship program is fully authorized by Section 101 of the Dominica Constitution and Sections 8 and 20 (1) of The Citizenship Act.
- There is no requirement to ever visit the island or to reside there in order to retain citizenship.
- No tax on overseas income including capital gains tax, wealth taxes or inheritance tax.
- No personal interview requirement for the application process.
- Enjoy Easy Entry On Arrival to 144+ countries and territories.
- English is the national language and there are no fluency requirements.
- Dominica citizens have the right to live and work in any of the CARICOM countries.
- Right to indefinite stay within the independent countries of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).
Dominica Real Estate Program
In an effort to encourage development of the local tourism industry, qualified applicants may purchase government approved real estate priced at $200,000 and above to qualify for the Dominica citizenship by investment program.
Investors have the option to sell the property after a minimum holding period and retain their Dominica citizenship in perpetuity. The minimum holding period is 3 years to sell to a non-applicant buyer. However, after 5 years investors can sell to another citizenship applicant and significantly increase the pool of potential buyers.
| Real Estate Requirements | Real Estate Costs |
| Investment Amount | $200,000 minimum purchase |
| Government Processing Fee | $1,000 per application |
| Government Fees | $25,000 single applicant $35,000 family of up to four persons (main applicant + 3 dependents, siblings excluded) $50,000 family of up to six persons (main applicant + 5 dependents, siblings excluded) $70,000 family of up to seven persons or more (main applicant + 6 dependents, siblings excluded) $50,000 sibling of the main applicant or spouse of the main applicant age 18-25 years $25,000 sibling of the main applicant or spouse of the main applicant under 18 years of age |
| Due Diligence | $7,500 main applicant $4,000 spouse $4,000 dependents 16 years and over |
| Certificate of Naturalization | $250 per participant |
| Passport Application* | $1,200 per participant (accelerated processing) |
*Passport application normal processing $300 per participant
Professional fees are required on all applications and will vary in relation to the number of dependents and the complexity of the application.
Dominica Economic Diversification Fund
Alternatively, the applicant can qualify for Dominica citizenship by investment by making nonrefundable minimum contribution of $100,000 into the Economic Diversification Fund (EDF). The Dominica government will use the proceeds to fund development initiatives focusing on new schools, medical clinics, tourism, hurricane relief and infrastructure.
| EDF Requirements | EDF Costs |
| Contribution to EDF | $100,000 single applicant $150,000 married couple $175,000 family of four (includes two dependents excluding siblings of main applicant or their spouse and the spouse of main applicant) $50,000 sibling of the main applicant or spouse of the main applicant age 18-25 $25,000 any dependent other than the spouse of the main applicant or sibling of the main applicant or the spouse of the main applicant who is 18-25 years |
| Government Processing Fee | $1,000 per application |
| Due Diligence Fees | $7,500 main applicant $4,000 spouse $4,000 dependents 16 years and over |
| Certificate of Naturalization | $250 per applicant |
| Passport Application* | $1,200 per applicant (accelerated processing) |
*Passport application normal processing $300 per participant
Professional fees are required on all EDF applications and will vary in relation to the number of dependents and the complexity of the application.
Dominica Citizenship Application Process
- Investor enters iGlobal professional service agreement and iGlobal completes preliminary background check.
- (Real Estate Only) The applicant completes the reservation forms and enters the purchase and sale agreement, then submits a 10% down payment.
- Application forms are completed and all of the supporting documents are gathered. The application package is checked by our legal team.
- Investor pays processing, professional and due diligence fees in full.
- The due diligence background check starts to run and will take approximately 60 days.
- A virtual or in person interview is required for all applicants. The interviews will be conducted by an independent due diligence firm which is also responsible for the due diligence checks.
- Dominica government issues the letter of approval in principle.
- Investor transfers the remaining investment funds and government fees.
- The certificate of naturalization is received and submitted to the immigration department in addition the passport application.
- Dominica citizenship documents are issued and delivered to the investor along with the Certificate of Naturalization.
Qualified Dependents
On July 9, 2020 the government of Dominica significantly expanded the types of qualified dependent that can be included on an application for Dominica citizenship by investment. The following parameters apply to dependent applicants under both the EDF and real estate options.
- Children of the main applicant or spouse of main applicant <18 years of age.
- Adult children of the main applicant or the spouse or the main applicant age 18-30 can now be included if they are “substantially” supported by the main applicant or the spouse of the main applicant. Excludes requirement to be enrolled at an institution of higher learning or to be living with main applicant/spouse.
- Children of the main applicant or spouse of the main applicant over 18 years of age who are physically or mentally challenged and “substantially” supported by the main applicant or spouse of main applicant.
- Parents and grandparents of the main applicant or spouse of main applicant who are “substantially” supported by main applicant or spouse of main applicant, or spouse of any such parent or grandparent.
- Biological or legally adopted siblings of the main applicant or spouse of the main applicant aged 18-25 years who are unmarried and without children and are “substantially” supported by the main applicant or spouse of the main applicant.
- Biological or legally adopted siblings of the main applicant or spouse of the main applicant under 18 years of age who are unmarried and without children and are “substantially” supported by the main applicant or spouse of the main applicant, and have permission to make an application for citizenship from all individuals with parental responsibility for that sibling.
Add On Dependents
- New spouses of successful applicants can now become citizens of Dominica after the applicant became a citizen of Dominica. For example, the new spouse of the son of the main applicant who is not already a citizen of Dominica can qualify for Dominica citizenship by investment.
- Newborn or adopted children of any successful applicant.
- Any dependent who would have qualified at the time the original application for citizenship was made. An application for post-application additions of preexisting dependents can only be made by the original main applicant.
| Add On Dependent Requirements | Investment Amount |
| Investment Amount | $500 newborn or adopted children $75,000 new spouse $75,000 “add on” spouse* $75,000 sibling of main applicant or spouse of main applicant age 18-25 years* $50,000 dependent other than spouse or sibling of main applicant or spouse of main applicant age 18-25 years** |
| Government Processing Fee | $1,000 per application |
| Due Diligence Fee | $7,500 original applicant if submitted more than 1 year after submission of original application $4,000 each dependent 16 years and over |
| Certificate of Naturalization Fee | $250 per applicant |
*Reduced to $50,000 for “Add On” dependent if application is submitted within one year of original application
**Reduced to $25,000 if application is submitted within one year of original application
