DominicaCitizenship by descent

Citizenship by descent in Dominica

Dominica grants citizenship to people born on its territory and to those who can prove descent from a citizen of Dominica. It is one of the three main routes to citizenship in the country. Applicants must file their documents with the Labour Division of the Ministry of National Security. The process involves checking the documents, consideration by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and taking the oath on approval.

Source: Government of Dominica portal — How Do I Apply for Citizenship

Two categories of applicant

Citizenship by birth and descent is open to two groups of people.

Born in Dominica

People born on the territory of the Commonwealth of Dominica
Must supply a birth certificate issued in the country
The place of birth must be evidenced by official documents

Born to citizens of Dominica

Children of citizens of Dominica born abroad
Proof of the parent's citizenship through their documents is required
The rules depend on the parent's date of birth and citizenship history

When the programme will not suit you

You are a citizen of another country and wish to remain a citizen of that country alone, without dual citizenship

Check your own country's law on dual citizenship before filing

You have lived in Dominica but were not born there and have no citizens of Dominica in the family

Consider residency-based citizenship

You have a criminal past or convictions

A police certificate is a mandatory document; some convictions may bar the grant of citizenship

What it costs

Application filing feePaid at the Treasury when the documents are filed	250 EC$ (East Caribbean dollar)
Stamps for the documentsRequired when the application forms are completed	20 EC$ (East Caribbean dollar)
Stamps for the oath of allegianceUsed when the oath is taken at the Registry after approval	20 EC$ (East Caribbean dollar)
Registration fee on approvalPaid after approval is received and before citizenship is registered	2 000 EC$ (East Caribbean dollar)
Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table. Charges with no official price list are in the list below.	2 290 EC$ (East Caribbean dollar)

Paid separately

The cost of the police certificate — Usually issued by the police free of charge or for a small fee; not part of the official citizenship fee
The cost of the medical certificate — Depends on the clinic chosen; includes an HIV test
Copying and notarising documents — Required, but the cost depends on local services and is not part of the government fee

Documents to gather

The complete set of documents must be filed with the Labour Division. Make sure that all originals and copies meet the requirements.

The completed citizenship application forms (available from the Labour Division)
A letter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs requesting the grant of citizenship
Birth certificate (original and copies)
A police certificate from the national police
Four passport-sized photographs (3x4 cm)
A medical certificate (including an HIV test)
A bank certificate or a letter of reference from a bank
Marriage certificate (if applicable)
Two letters of reference from citizens of Dominica
Copies of the passport pages with biographical details and the dates of issue and expiry

How the process runs

Obtaining citizenship of Dominica by birth and descent runs through the following main stages.

1
Obtaining and completing the application forms
Visit the Labour Division of the Ministry of National Security, Labour and Immigration on the 2nd floor of Government Headquarters and obtain the citizenship application forms. Complete them in full and legibly, giving every detail required.
2
Gathering and preparing the documents
Gather every necessary document, including the birth certificate, the police certificate, the medical certificate, the photographs and the letters of reference. Make sure all documents are current and properly drawn up.
3
Filing the application with the Labour Division
File the complete set of documents with the Labour Division. Pay the application filing fee of 250 East Caribbean dollars at the Treasury. Make sure you receive a receipt confirming that the documents have been accepted.
4
Consideration by the Minister of Foreign Affairs
Your application is passed to the Minister of Foreign Affairs for consideration. At this stage all the documents are checked and the grounds for the grant of citizenship are analysed.
5
Receiving the decision and the notice
You are notified of the decision. If it is favourable, you receive a notice with instructions on the next steps.
6
Taking the oath of allegiance
On approval you must attend the Registry and take the oath of allegiance to the Commonwealth of Dominica. Pay for the oath stamps, which cost 20 East Caribbean dollars.
7
Registering the citizenship and receiving the certificate
After taking the oath, pay the registration fee of 2,000 East Caribbean dollars. You are then issued a certificate of citizenship of Dominica.

Timelines and rights

Work

A citizen of Dominica lives, works and studies in the country on equal terms with all other citizens.

Who you can bring with you

To obtain citizenship by descent you must prove the connection with a citizen of Dominica.

Parents

One of the parents must be a citizen of Dominica. Citizenship may pass from the mother or the father. A birth certificate evidencing the descent and documents evidencing the parent's citizenship must be supplied.

Children of citizens of Dominica

Children of citizens of Dominica born abroad are entitled to citizenship by descent. The child's birth certificate and documents evidencing the parent's citizenship at the time of the child's birth are required.

Stepchildren and adopted children

There is a separate application form for stepchildren and adopted children of citizens of Dominica. Documents evidencing the status (marriage certificate, adoption certificate) are required.

Trips, renewal and the grace period

On this ground the Labour Division asks for documents on birth and parents, not on the length of residence.

Once citizenship of Dominica and a passport have been obtained, the citizen may renew the passport. Details of the passport's validity and the renewal procedure are available on the ministry's passport services pages.

How it differs from the routes next to it

The comparison is built from the official terms of the routes themselves — the source links sit on their own pages.

	Citizenship by descent	Real estate investment	Naturalisation through residence
Visa term	A Dominican passport is valid for 10 years, and for 5 years for children under 16	The property must be held for at least 3 years	A Dominican passport is valid for 10 years, and for 5 years for children under 16
Grounds	Citizenship of Dominica by birth in the country or by descent from a citizen of Dominica	The purchase of a property from the list of projects approved by the government	Registration of citizenship of Dominica on the basis of residence in the country
Residence	On this ground the Labour Division asks for documents on birth and parents, not on the length of residence	Residence in Dominica is not required	The citizenship form is filed after 7 years of residence in Dominica

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

Permanent residence is a separate status for those who have lived or worked on the island for 5 years.

Route to citizenship

The forms are obtained from the Labour Division, the fee is 250 East Caribbean dollars and 4 photographs are attached. On approval — the oath at the Registry and a fee of 2,000 East Caribbean dollars.

Frequently asked questions about Citizenship by descent

Which authority considers applications for citizenship by birth and descent?

Citizenship applications are considered by the Labour Division of the Ministry of National Security, Labour and Immigration. Once the documents are filed, the application is passed to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, who takes the final decision.

Where is the Labour Division and how do I contact it?

The Labour Division is on the 2nd floor of Government Headquarters on Kennedy Avenue in Roseau, the capital of Dominica. Contact details: telephone (767) 266-3553, fax (767) 448-5200. You may go there in person or telephone for further information.

What do the government fees for citizenship come to in total?

The government fees come to 2,290 East Caribbean dollars in total: 250 East Caribbean dollars for filing the application, 20 East Caribbean dollars for the stamps on the documents, 20 East Caribbean dollars for the oath stamps and 2,000 East Caribbean dollars as the registration fee on approval. These are the official government fees; the further cost of certificates and documents is not included.

How do the requirements for citizenship by birth and by descent differ?

On the official government portal of Dominica, citizenship by birth and by descent are treated together as one of the three main routes to citizenship. The site does not set out the detailed differences in requirements between the two. To clarify the requirements in your particular case, contact the Labour Division on (767) 266-3553.

Other ways to move to Dominica

Every route in one list — migration programmes: Dominica.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.