Three-to-six-month timeline
From engagement to oath, clean applications close in three to six months. The bulk of the work happens in the first eight to ten weeks; due diligence runs another eight to twelve weeks.
← 🇩🇲 Dominica
Dominica CBI
A sovereign second passport in 3 to 6 months at one of the lowest thresholds in the Caribbean. $200K donation or $200K property, zero physical-presence requirement at any stage, and a CBI program that has run continuously since 1993.
- Investment from
- $200K
- Processing
- 3 to 6 months
- Naturalization
- Immediate upon approval
- Presence required
- None
The basics of Citizenship by Investment
What it is
Dominica's Citizenship by Investment Program is the longest-running CBI route in the Caribbean, operating continuously since 1993. You commit qualifying capital through one of two equal-priced routes – a $200K donation to the Economic Diversification Fund, or a $200K investment in an approved real estate development held for three years before resale. After due diligence and government approval, you swear an oath of allegiance (administered remotely through a Dominican consulate), receive a Certificate of Naturalization, and a Dominican passport.
Who it’s for
- Families needing a second passport on a months-not-years timeline
- High-net-worth individuals with $200K+ in liquid capital for the donation route
- Real estate investors wanting recoverable capital via the $200K approved-project route
- Patrons who value zero ongoing-presence obligation (no visits required at any stage)
- Clients who value English-language administration with no language or integration test
Why it’s beneficial
Dominica's CBI is among the most accessible legitimate sovereign-citizenship routes in the world. The $200K threshold is the lowest in the Caribbean Five, the zero-presence rule means your US life, US tax position, and US business stay substantively unaffected, and the program's three decades of continuous operation give it the most institutional depth of any Caribbean CBI. The Dominican passport delivers visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to roughly 140 destinations including the Schengen Area, the UK, Singapore, and most of the Commonwealth.
Key benefits
The outcomes the Citizenship by Investment actually delivers, beyond the headline numbers. The six that matter most to our clients.
Visa-free to ~140 destinations
The Dominican passport covers Schengen, the UK, Singapore, and most Commonwealth states visa-free or visa-on-arrival. For US passport holders, the mobility delta is meaningful where the US passport gets visa-required treatment.
Zero physical-presence requirement
No minimum stay before applying, after applying, or to maintain. The oath of allegiance can be administered remotely through a Dominican consulate. The passport stays valid regardless of where you live.
No worldwide tax on foreign-source income
Dominica does not tax foreign-source income, capital gains, wealth, or inheritance for non-residents. Acquiring the passport does not change your US tax position; the Dominican side is light if you ever shift residency.
Family on one application
Spouse or registered partner, dependent children up to age 30 with qualifying conditions, and dependent parents and grandparents over 65 qualify on the principal application. Future-born children and future spouses can be added later.
English-language administration
Every government document, every legal interaction, every interview is in English. There is no language test, no civics exam, no integration course at any stage of the application.
Investment options
2 routes into the same residency. Each fits a different financial picture.
Most popular
Economic Diversification Fund (EDF) Donation
$200,000
Non-refundable contribution to Dominica's Economic Diversification Fund, supporting national infrastructure and public-sector projects. Fixed-fee for a single applicant; family of up to four pays a tiered surcharge. The cleanest and most efficient route through the program.
Real Estate Investment
$200,000
Investment in a government-approved real estate development project (typically a resort, condominium, or hotel share). Property must be held for three years before resale. Recoverable at exit, subject to market conditions and approved-project transaction terms.
Choosing the right route is half the work. We model the comparison against your portfolio in the Consult.
How the process works
Contact us
Reach out and tell us about your situation. From there, you'll either book a 60-minute Freedom Consult (if you're weighing options across countries) or get started on this route directly (if you already know it's the right fit).
Engagement and document gathering
We coordinate the document pack: passports, birth and marriage certificates, FBI background checks, source-of-funds documentation, professional references, medical certificates, and the application forms themselves. Typically 8 to 10 weeks.
Application submission to the CBIU
Our Dominican partner counsel files the application with the Citizenship by Investment Unit (CBIU). Filing triggers the government-engaged due-diligence investigation conducted by independent international firms.
Due-diligence period
The CBIU's third-party due-diligence firms investigate every adult applicant – financial background, criminal record, prior visa refusals, and political-exposure status. Typically 8 to 12 weeks. We pre-screen the same criteria at engagement.
Approval-in-principle and investment commitment
Upon successful due diligence, the CBIU issues approval-in-principle. You then make the qualifying investment (EDF donation or approved real estate purchase). Investment must clear before the Certificate of Naturalization is issued.
Oath of allegiance
Swear the oath of allegiance – typically administered remotely through a Dominican consulate or embassy in your country of residence. No required visit to Dominica at any stage of the process.
Certificate and passport issuance
The Certificate of Naturalization is issued, followed by the Dominican passport. Passports are valid for ten years and renewable indefinitely. There is no ongoing presence requirement.
Application
Due diligence
Approval & oath
Citizenship
Months 0-3
Months 2-5
Months 3-6
Immediate upon approval
Citizenship by Investment versus the alternatives
How this program stacks against the closest credible options for the same visitor. We don’t earn more if you choose one over another.
| Dimension | Dominica CBI | Antigua & Barbuda CBILearn more | São Tomé & Príncipe CBILearn more |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum financial bar | $200K donation | $230K donation | $90K donation |
| Processing | 3-6 months | 4-6 months | 5-7 months |
| Presence required | None | 5 days / 5 years | None |
| Visa-free destinations | ~140 | ~150 | ~75 |
| Family inclusion | Spouse, children, parents | Spouse, children, parents, siblings | Spouse, children, parents |
| Worldwide tax | No | No | No |
| Program continuity | Since 1993 (longest) | Since 2013 | Since 2018 |
Dominica leads on program longevity and price. Antigua has marginally stronger visa-free mobility and the most family-inclusive tree (siblings count). São Tomé is dramatically cheaper but with a smaller visa-free count. We don't earn more if you pick one over another.
Want a four-page Dominica PDF covering everything on this page plus the comparison framework we use internally?
Why clients work with us
Three reasons families pick Freedom Files over the do-it-yourself path or a single-jurisdiction agent.
First-hand experience
We know the CBIU's evidence requirements and the due-diligence firms' red flags from active engagements. Dominica looks simple until source-of-funds documentation gets requested.
Honest recommendations
About a third of Dominica inquiries end with our recommendation against engagement. We tell you when Antigua, São Tomé, or St Kitts fits cleaner.
Pro counsel from the start
Every engagement runs with US-licensed counsel from the first call. The IRS-side implications of holding a second passport are planned before the application is filed.
What is the total cost beyond the $200K donation?
What is the total cost beyond the $200K donation?
Plan on roughly $35-50K in additional fees: $30K in government processing and due-diligence fees (scaled to family size), $5-10K in Dominican legal fees through our partner counsel, and $2-5K in document gathering, translation, and apostille costs. Total cash outlay for a family of four on the donation route typically lands in the $235-250K range.
Do I have to visit Dominica at any point?
Do I have to visit Dominica at any point?
Visiting Dominica is not required at any stage of the process. The oath of allegiance can be administered remotely through a Dominican consulate or embassy in your country of residence. Most clients choose to visit at least once after receiving citizenship, but it's not a condition.
What does the due-diligence process actually look like?
What does the due-diligence process actually look like?
The government engages independent international due-diligence firms to investigate every adult applicant: financial background, source of funds, criminal record, prior visa refusals, and political-exposure status. We pre-screen every engagement against the same criteria at the Consult, so there are no surprises at the government stage. Around 5-10% of would-be applicants are screened out at intake.
Who counts as family for one application?
Who counts as family for one application?
Spouse or registered partner; dependent children up to age 30 with qualifying conditions; and dependent parents and grandparents over 65 who depend on the principal applicant. Future-born children and future spouses can be added later for modest add-on fees.
What are the US tax consequences?
What are the US tax consequences?
Acquiring Dominican citizenship does not change your US tax residency or your worldwide-income filing obligation. Dominica itself does not tax foreign-source income, capital gains, or inheritance for non-residents, so the Dominican side is light. US-licensed counsel coordinates the planning for clients pairing this with a residency move.
Can I keep my US citizenship?
Can I keep my US citizenship?
Yes. The United States and Dominica both permit dual citizenship. You hold both passports indefinitely.
Is the program at risk of being shut down?
Is the program at risk of being shut down?
Caribbean CBI programs collectively have faced US and EU pressure over the past three years, and Dominica has responded by tightening due diligence and aligning thresholds with regional peers at $200K. The program remains operational and politically supported as a meaningful contributor to the national budget. We track every public consultation and brief active engagements within hours of material policy moves.
Ready to talk?
Two paths in. If the Citizenship by Investment is clearly the right program for your family and you’re ready to engage, contact our team directly. If you’re weighing this against other programs and want an honest read on the right move, the Freedom Consult is the sixty-minute conversation that ends the loop.
We take a small number of new families each quarter.