Dominica

A minor adopted by a citizen of Dominica (where the adopter, or in a joint adoption the male adopter, is a citizen by s.97) becomes a citizen of Dominica (Citizenship Act Chap 1:10 s.5).

OECS nationals enjoy free movement and indefinite stay within the Eastern Caribbean Economic Union (Revised Treaty of Basseterre, Art.12 of the Protocol); CARICOM nationals enjoy Full Free Movement (Dominica one of four states for which CARICOM Full Free Movement became operational on 1 October 2025 (reside/work/remain indefinitely)).

Every person born in Dominica on or after 3 November 1978 becomes a citizen of Dominica at birth (Constitution s.98), subject to the diplomat-parent and enemy-alien-wartime provisos.

A new-born deemed abandoned (foundling) in Dominica is deemed born in Dominica unless the contrary is shown (Citizenship Act Chap 1:10 s.2(3)); a person born aboard a ship or aircraft registered in Dominica (or an unregistered ship/aircraft of the Government) is deemed born in Dominica (Constitution s.102(2); Citizenship Act s.18). The s.98 jus-soli provisos (diplomat parent; enemy-alien wartime) exclude narrow cases.

The Constitution s.100(1)(c) confers a direct registration entitlement on a minor (under 18) who is a child, stepchild or adopted child of a person who is or was a citizen by s.97 or s.98. For residual cases, the Citizenship Act s.6(b) allows a minor child/step-child/adopted child of a citizen, not entitled under s.100(1)(c), to be registered after three years' residence in Dominica.

A person born outside Dominica on or after 3 November 1978 becomes a citizen at birth if, at that date, the father or mother is a citizen of Dominica by virtue of s.97 (independence) or s.98 (birth in Dominica) (Constitution s.99). Maternal and paternal transmission are equal.

Automatic descent under s.99 reaches only the first generation born abroad: it flows where the parent is a citizen by s.97 or s.98, NOT where the parent is themselves a citizen only by descent under s.99. A second generation born abroad does not auto-acquire and must rely on registration/naturalisation if eligible.

A non-national may acquire citizenship by a non-refundable contribution to the Economic Diversification Fund (EDF): US$200,000 for a single applicant; US$250,000 for the main applicant plus up to three qualifying dependants; +US$25,000 per additional dependant under 18 and +US$40,000 per additional dependant 18 or older (SRO 8/2024 Schedule 1 para 1, made under Citizenship Act s.20). No residency, physical-presence or language requirement; a mandatory interview applies to all applicants aged 16+.

A non-national may acquire citizenship by purchasing at least US$200,000 of CBIU-approved real estate, held for a minimum of 3 years (or 5 years if the onward buyer is also a CBI applicant), plus a Government fee of US$75,000 (single) / US$100,000 (main applicant plus up to three dependants), with tiered add-ons per additional dependant (SRO 8/2024 Schedule 1 para 2). No residency, presence or language requirement.

Eligible dependants (SRO 8/2024 reg 2) are: the spouse; a child under 18; a child 18-30 in higher education and fully supported; an unmarried daughter under 25 living with and supported by the main applicant; a child 18+ physically/mentally challenged; and parents or grandparents aged 65+ substantially supported. A minor child born to or adopted by the main applicant after citizenship may be added with NO time limit (SRO 46/2025 deleted the former 5-year window in Sch.1 para 3(1)). Dominica's framework has no sibling category.

The spouse of a (living or deceased) citizen of Dominica may be registered as a citizen on satisfying good character, an adequate knowledge of the responsibilities of citizenship and of English, and the residence/character conditions of the Citizenship Act (Chap 1:10 s.6(a)). Marriage registration is statutory, authorised by the Constitution's Parliament-power clause (s.101(a)); the Constitution's registration section (s.100) contains no spouse ground.

An alien of full age and capacity may be naturalised on good character, adequate knowledge of the responsibilities of citizenship and of English, residence in Dominica throughout the 12 months immediately preceding the application, and residence/Government service throughout a 7-year aggregate period (Citizenship Act Chap 1:10 s.8). An oath of allegiance must be taken before the certificate takes effect (s.9).

A Commonwealth citizen may be registered as a citizen of Dominica on good character, an adequate knowledge of the responsibilities of citizenship and of English, and five years' residence in Dominica or Government service (or a shorter period at the Minister's discretion), with an intention to reside (Citizenship Act Chap 1:10 s.6(c)). This five-year statutory registration is distinct from, and shorter than, the constitutional entitlement to registration as of right after seven years' ordinary residence (Constitution s.100(1)(a)).

Under s.8(2) the Minister may, in special circumstances, count earlier periods of residence/service and waive the residence requirement for naturalisation (the Form-12 waiver). A discretionary track, distinct from the ordinary 7-year route; it is the statutory hook through which CBI naturalisation is administered.

The ECCIRA Agreement 2025 (signed by the five OECS CBI states; Dominica's enabling Bill passed 14 October 2025) establishes a regional CBI regulator with binding standards, biometrics, escrow and fines up to US$250,000, and a genuine-link/residency dimension. All five OECS CBI states have now ratified ECCIRA; the Authority becomes operational 30 days after the fifth instrument of ratification (anticipated early 2026); a reported 30-day physical-presence requirement is delayed (~mid-2026).

Constitution s.100(1) confers three registration entitlements, available as of right on application (and oath where required): (a) a Commonwealth citizen ordinarily resident in Dominica for the previous seven years; (b) a former citizen (by s.97 or s.98) who renounced citizenship to acquire or retain another nationality; and (c) a minor child, stepchild or adopted child of a person who is or was a citizen by s.97 or s.98. Marriage is not a constitutional ground (it is statutory, Act s.6(a)). These entitlements are implemented through the Citizenship Act registration provisions (ss.6-7).

A person who renounced Dominican citizenship may resume it by re-registration if the renunciation was to acquire or retain another citizenship AND the person has a 'qualifying connection' with Dominica (Citizenship Act Chap 1:10 s.12). The qualifying connection (s.12(2)) reaches the person, or his father or mother, who was born/naturalised/registered in Dominica (or a person married to such a person) — a parent-level (not grandparent) test. The Constitution provides a parallel resumption entitlement: a former citizen (by s.97 or s.98) who renounced to acquire or retain another nationality is entitled to be re-registered (s.100(1)(b)).

Dominica is NOT a party to the 1954 or 1961 Statelessness Conventions, so statelessness safeguards are domestic only: the foundling deeming rule (Citizenship Act s.2(3)) and the statelessness safeguard limiting deprivation where it would leave a person stateless (s.10(5)(b)). No standalone statutory grant to stateless adults was located; any relief is via ministerial discretion.

A citizen by registration or naturalisation may be deprived of citizenship for fraud, false representation or concealment of a material fact, or for disloyalty/wartime trading-with-the-enemy or a qualifying prison sentence within five years of naturalisation (Citizenship Act Chap 1:10 s.10), subject to a statelessness safeguard (s.10(5)(b)) and a notice + committee-of-inquiry procedure. CBI-acquired citizenship is revoked through the same s.10 mechanism — exercised in the Citizenship (Deprivation) Order 2024, SRO No. 4 of 2024, which revoked 68 CBI citizenships.

A citizen of full age and capacity may renounce citizenship by a registered declaration; a wartime declaration requires the Minister's consent (Citizenship Act Chap 1:10 s.11). A Dominica-born person who renounces to acquire another citizenship preserves rights to reside, work and own land in Dominica (s.13). Dual citizenship is allowed, so renunciation is not required to hold another nationality.