CBI in Dominica: Laws and Process for a Second Passport

Why Might You Need Legal Help with Citizenship by Investment?

You may need legal help to choose the correct route, meet statutory requirements, and avoid refusals under Dominica’s tightened due diligence standards. A lawyer can also structure family applications, handle real estate compliance, and manage appeals or administrative reviews.

Recent regional harmonisation increased minimum CBI investment levels and scrutiny. Lawyers liaise with the CBIU, the Immigration and Passport Department, and the Labour Division, ensuring your documents, funds sources, and declarations meet the Money Laundering Prevention and due diligence standards now expected by the Government of Dominica.

How Does the Immigration Process Work?

The process depends on your goal: short stay, work, residence, naturalisation, or CBI. All routes involve eligibility checks, document gathering, government processing, and, increasingly, interviews and enhanced background checks.

In Dominica, the Chief Immigration Officer manages entry, extensions, and residence, the Labour Division handles work permits, and the CBIU processes investment-based citizenship. Timeframes range from days for tourist extensions to several months for CBI and naturalisation. Working with an authorised agent is mandatory for CBI applications, and legal counsel can coordinate all agencies and steps.

1. Confirm your route: visitor, WIN visa, work and residence, family, naturalisation, or CBI.
2. Check eligibility: nationality, income or job offer, clean police record, health insurance, and investment capacity.
3. Prepare documents: passports, birth and marriage certificates, police certificates, bank references and source-of-funds evidence, medicals, and qualifications.
4. Submit to the right authority: Immigration and Passport Department, Labour Division, or CBIU via an Authorised Agent.
5. Undergo due diligence: background checks, interviews, and verifications; respond promptly to requests.
6. Receive decision: approval, refusal, or request for further information; for CBI, complete the investment after approval-in-principle.
7. Collect status: visa label, residence endorsement, certificate of naturalisation, and passport.

What are the Specific Dominica Legal Requirements?

Dominica requires lawful entry and status for visitors and residents, work permits for non-citizens employed in Dominica, and full due diligence for naturalisation and CBI. CBI applications must go through an Authorised Agent and meet investment thresholds, fees, and vetting set in law.

Below are the main routes and their core requirements in Dominica.

Visitor entry and extensions

• Entry: Many nationals are visa-exempt for short stays; others may require a visa or entry clearance. On arrival, you receive a fixed period of stay stamped by an Immigration Officer.
• Extensions: Apply at the Immigration and Passport Department in Roseau before expiry with a valid passport, proof of funds and accommodation, and extension fee. Typical processing is days to 2 weeks.

Work permits and residence

• Work permit: Required for non-citizens to work in Dominica. Employers apply through the Labour Division with job details, proof of labour market need, applicant’s police certificate, medical certificate, and qualifications. Processing is often 4-8 weeks.
• Temporary residence: Granted by the Immigration and Passport Department to persons lawfully employed, studying, or with other lawful purpose. Renewable while the qualifying activity continues.
• Permanent residence: Usually available after several years of continuous lawful residence with good character. Timelines vary; a common benchmark is 5 years of lawful residence.

Naturalisation by residence or marriage

• Naturalisation: Applicants generally need a qualifying period of ordinary residence in Dominica, good character, intention to continue residing, and knowledge of responsibilities of citizenship. The Minister may grant a certificate of naturalisation under the Citizenship Act.
• Marriage to a Dominican citizen: A spouse may apply for citizenship by registration subject to proof of a genuine marriage, good character, and lawful residence as prescribed by the Citizenship Act and Regulations.

Work In Nature (WIN) remote worker visa

• Purpose: Allows remote workers and families to live in Dominica while working for overseas employers or businesses.
• Key criteria: Minimum annual income threshold, valid health insurance, clean police record, and remote-work capability.
• Typical fees and timing: Application and visa fees apply for single applicants and families; processing often completes within 1-3 weeks once documents are complete.

Citizenship by Investment (CBI)

Dominica’s CBI is one of the longest-running programmes, governed by the Commonwealth of Dominica Citizenship Act and the Citizenship by Investment Regulations. As of 2024-2025, applicants should plan for a minimum USD 200,000 investment in line with the Caribbean Five price harmonisation, plus due diligence and processing fees.

• Routes:
  • Economic Diversification Fund (donation): New minimums aligned to a USD 200,000 floor for single applicants in 2024-2025. Family pricing varies by composition.
  • Approved real estate: Minimum USD 200,000 property investment in a government-approved project, plus government fees and due diligence.
• Mandatory authorised agent: You cannot apply directly; you must use a Dominica Authorised Agent licensed by the Government.
• Due diligence: Multi-layered checks, including international database screening, source-of-funds verification, and a mandatory interview introduced as part of enhanced standards.
• Timelines: Typically 3-6 months from submission to approval-in-principle, then completion of the investment and issuance of the Certificate of Naturalisation and passport.
• Family: You may include a spouse, dependent children, and qualifying dependants as defined in the Regulations, with additional fees.

What Dominica Laws and Regulations Apply?

Dominica’s immigration and citizenship framework rests on primary legislation and regulations administered by specific government bodies. The statutes set eligibility, processes, and powers of the Minister and relevant officers.

Key instruments and authorities include the following.

• Commonwealth of Dominica Citizenship Act, Chap. 1:10 (as revised) - sets acquisition, registration, and naturalisation of citizenship.
• Citizenship by Investment Regulations, 2014 (as amended) - establishes the CBI Programme, options, fees, due diligence, and Authorised Agent regime.
• Immigration and Passport Act, Chap. 18:01 (and Immigration Regulations) - governs entry, visas, permits, residence, and passports.
• Alien Landholding licensing legislation (commonly cited as the Alien Landholding Licence Act) - regulates real estate acquisition by non-citizens outside CBI-approved projects.
• Money Laundering Prevention Act and Proceeds of Crime legislation - frames the due diligence and source-of-funds standards applied in CBI and other statuses.
• Citizenship by Investment Unit (CBIU) - the dedicated unit under the Ministry of Finance administering the CBI Programme.
• Immigration and Passport Department, Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force - handles entry, extensions, residence, and passports under the Chief Immigration Officer.
• Labour Division, Ministry responsible for Labour - processes non-national work permits.
• Financial Intelligence Unit and Financial Services Unit - AML supervision for designated entities and information sharing for due diligence.

Frequently Asked Questions

What changed in 2024-2025 for Caribbean CBI pricing?

The Caribbean Five agreed to a minimum USD 200,000 floor for CBI investment to standardise pricing and address international concerns. This effectively retires the old USD 100,000 donation headlines and increases total costs when you include due diligence, processing, and family fees.

Dominica aligned with the floor in 2024-2025 and further tightened vetting with mandatory interviews and enhanced source-of-funds checks. Expect total outlay for a single applicant under the donation route to exceed USD 210,000 once fees are included, and more for families.

How long does Dominica CBI take?

Most complete applications take about 3-6 months from submission to approval-in-principle. Timelines can extend if additional due diligence queries arise or interviews are rescheduled.

After approval-in-principle, you complete the investment and receive your Certificate of Naturalisation and passport. Professional packaging of the file can reduce back-and-forth and help keep you on the shorter end of the range.

Does a Dominica passport allow visa-free access to the UK or Schengen?

Policy changes reduced some historic travel privileges, including UK access, and Schengen access depends on current EU policies. You should check live guidance before travel.

Global mobility remains strong but subject to diplomatic updates. Many applicants now treat CBI as part of a broader mobility plan rather than relying on any single visa regime.

Can Dominica citizenship help me get a USA E-2 Treaty Investor visa?

Dominica does not currently have an E-2 treaty with the USA, so a Dominican passport does not create a direct E-2 route. If E-2 access is a priority, consider Grenada or Turkey.

Grenada’s CBI and Turkey’s investment citizenship both pair with USA E-2 eligibility for qualifying investors, subject to US consular adjudication.

How does Dominica compare with other top programmes in 2025?

Dominica remains cost-competitive for singles and couples, while Antigua often wins on total cost for larger families. Grenada and Turkey are compelling if the US E-2 is important, and Malta offers an EU solution at a premium price point.

The table below provides a high-level comparison using typical minimums and family patterns. Always budget additional due diligence, processing, and legal fees based on your family profile.

What are typical CBI fees beyond the investment?

Expect government due diligence fees, application and processing fees, passport and certificate issuance fees, and professional fees. Due diligence for the main applicant is a significant line item, with additional checks for adult dependants.

Real estate routes also carry government fees per family member and developer costs. A lawyer can map a precise budget by family composition and route.

What is the WIN visa and who qualifies?

Dominica’s Work In Nature visa allows remote workers to live in Dominica, typically up to 18 months, while working for non-Dominican employers or businesses. Applicants must meet an annual income threshold, carry health insurance, and pass a police check.

Fees apply for individuals and families, and decisions are usually quick once documents are complete. It is a good option if you want Caribbean residency without changing your employer.

Can I buy any property to qualify for CBI?

No. Only government-approved real estate projects qualify for CBI. Private property purchases outside the approved list do not confer CBI eligibility.

Non-citizens who wish to buy other property may require an Alien Landholding Licence. A lawyer will confirm whether the project is approved and manage escrow and title searches.

Who are the decision makers and can I apply directly?

For CBI, you cannot apply directly; you must use an Authorised Agent, and the CBIU and Minister decide applications under the Citizenship Act and Regulations. For visas and residence, the Chief Immigration Officer has statutory powers under the Immigration and Passport Act.

For work permits, the Labour Division processes and decides based on labour market needs and compliance. Legal counsel coordinates submissions and any follow-ups across these bodies.

Can a refusal be appealed or reviewed?

Some decisions allow administrative review or re-application with stronger evidence. Judicial review in the High Court may be possible on public law grounds, but the bar is high and strict timelines apply.

Your lawyer can analyse the refusal reasons, the applicable regulations, and whether fresh evidence or a new route offers the better outcome.

When Should You Hire a Lawyer?

Hire a lawyer when choosing between WIN, work and residence, naturalisation, and CBI, or if you have any complicating factors like complex finances, prior refusals, or multi-jurisdictional families. The tighter due diligence landscape in 2024-2025 means professional preparation can be decisive.

Engage counsel early if you intend to use the CBI real estate route, need an Alien Landholding Licence, or plan to employ non-nationals requiring work permits. Lawyers ensure compliance with the Citizenship Act, Immigration and Passport Act, and anti-money-laundering rules, and they coordinate with the CBIU, Immigration, and Labour authorities on your behalf.

What are the Next Steps?

Start by defining your objective, budget, and timeline, then assemble the documents that Dominica’s authorities will require. Early source-of-funds scoping and police certificates save months later.

1. Decide your route: visitor extension, WIN visa, employment and residence, naturalisation, or CBI.
2. Engage a Dominica-qualified lawyer. For CBI, select a Government-Authorised Agent your lawyer trusts.
3. Collect documents: passports, civil certificates, police certificates, bank references, financial statements, medicals, insurance, and employment letters.
4. Undergo a pre-screening: identify red flags, restricted nationalities policies, or enhanced due diligence needs.
5. File the application with the correct authority:
   • Immigration and Passport Department for entry, extensions, residence, and passports.
   • Labour Division for work permits.
   • CBIU via an Authorised Agent for CBI.
6. Attend interviews if requested and respond to any information requests quickly.
7. On approval, complete final steps: pay approved investments or fees, collect permits, or take the oath for citizenship where required.

If you are comparing programmes regionally, ask your lawyer for a total-cost model for singles versus families and an assessment of E-2 access, EU pathways, and processing risk. With 2025 harmonisation and enhanced vetting across the Caribbean Five, informed planning and legal advocacy are now central to a smooth approval.