Citizenship through marriage in Dominica
Citizenship by marriage allows the spouses of citizens of Dominica to obtain Dominican citizenship by registration. It is one of the three main routes to citizenship, alongside birth and permanent residence. The process requires documents evidencing the marriage to a citizen of the country, together with certificates of health and good character. Once approved, the applicant must take the oath at the country's Registry to complete the process.
Source: Government of Dominica portal — How Do I Apply for Citizenship
The route for the spouse of a citizen of Dominica
The programme offers a direct route to citizenship for spouses of citizens of Dominica through registration with the authorities.
For the spouse of a citizen of Dominica
- Filed by the spouse of a citizen of the country
- A marriage certificate is required
- Certificates of good character and health are needed
The registration process
- Preparing the documents and filing them
- Consideration of the application by the ministry
- Taking the oath after approval
When the programme will not suit you
There is no marriage to a citizen of Dominica
Consider naturalisation through permanent residence on the island
A certificate of good character cannot be produced
Make sure there are no convictions or police matters outstanding before filing
What it costs
| Fee for filing the citizenship application | 250 EC$ |
|---|---|
| Stamp duty on the documents and the oath | 40 EC$ |
| Registration fee (on approval) | 2 000 EC$ |
| 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$ |
Paid separately
- The services of a lawyer or consultant — Not part of the government fee; some applicants use professional help
- The cost of certificates and extracts — The applicant bears the cost of obtaining documents in other countries
Documents to gather
The complete set of documents must be filed with the Labour Division of the Ministry of National Security, Labour and Immigration.
- The completed citizenship application form (available from the Labour Division)
- A letter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs requesting citizenship
- The original or a certified copy of the marriage certificate
- The original or a certified copy of the birth certificate
- Copies of every page of the valid passport (details and validity dates)
- A police certificate of good character
- A medical certificate with an HIV test
- Four passport-sized photographs (white background)
- A bank statement or a reference from a banking institution
- Two references from acquaintances as to the applicant's character
How the process runs
Obtaining citizenship through marriage runs through several stages at the Ministry of National Security.
- 1
Obtaining the forms and preparing the set of documents
Up to two weeksThe application forms are obtained from the Labour Division of the Ministry of National Security, Labour and Immigration. Every required document must be gathered and checked for completeness and correct form.
- 2
Filing the application with the Labour Division
The set of documents is filed with the Labour Division together with the letter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs. At the same time the first filing fee is paid to the Treasury Department.
- 3
Consideration of the application by the minister
The Ministry of National Security considers the application and all the documents supplied. The decision rests with the minister's discretion.
- 4
Approval by the ministry
After consideration the applicant receives notice of approval or refusal. On a favourable decision the registration fee must be paid to the Treasury.
- 5
Paying the registration fee
Once the minister's approval is received, the applicant must pay the registration fee (EC $2000) to the Treasury Department.
- 6
Taking the oath at the Registry
The applicant attends the Registry to take the formal oath of allegiance to Dominica. Stamp duty stamps are needed to complete the official forms.
- 7
Completing the registration and receiving citizenship
After the oath, the Registry completes the registration and issues the formal certificate of citizenship. A Dominican passport may then be applied for.
Timelines and rights
Validity
A Dominican passport is valid for 10 years, and for 5 years for children under 16.
Work
A citizen of Dominica lives, works and studies in the country on equal terms with all other citizens.
What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship
Route to permanent residence
Permanent residence is arranged separately — after 5 years of living or working on the island.
Route to citizenship
The forms are obtained from the Labour Division of the Ministry of National Security and the fee is 250 East Caribbean dollars. On approval you take the oath at the Registry and pay a registration fee of 2,000 East Caribbean dollars.
Frequently asked questions about Citizenship through marriage
What are the marriage requirements for a citizenship application?
How much does citizenship through marriage cost?
What rights does a citizen of Dominica have in the country?
Must I live in Dominica after obtaining citizenship, or arrange permanent residence?
Other ways to move to Dominica
- Contribution to the Economic Diversification FundCitizenship by investment
- Investment in approved real estateCitizenship by investment
- Residence PermitResidence permit
- Permanent ResidencePermanent residence
- Citizenship by virtue of residenceNaturalisation
- Citizenship by birth or parentageCitizenship by descent
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.