DominicaNaturalisation

Naturalisation through residence in Dominica

A route to citizenship of Dominica for foreign nationals living lawfully in the country. The programme leads to full citizenship, with the same rights and duties as every citizen of Dominica. Once approved, the applicant takes the oath of allegiance and receives a registration document. The procedure requires a set of documents, including a police certificate and a medical certificate.

Visa term

A Dominican passport is valid for 10 years, and for 5 years for children under 16.

Residence

The citizenship form is filed after 7 years of residence in Dominica.

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

Who may apply

Naturalisation is open to foreign nationals living lawfully in the country.

Labour migrants

Working in Dominica on a valid work permit
With a steady source of income on the island
Resident continuously for more than seven years

Residents

Holding a valid permanent or temporary residence permit
Registered with the migration authorities
Meeting the residence duration requirements

Foreign nationals

Lawfully in Dominica for more than seven years
Having passed the criminal record check
Ready to take the oath of allegiance to the state

When the programme will not suit you

Residence of less than seven years

Obtain a residence permit for up to five years, then the status of permanent resident

A criminal record or a criminal past

Seek advice from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the possibility of rehabilitation

No valid residence or work permit

First obtain a tourist permit or a work permit from the relevant authorities

What it costs

Application filing feePaid at the Treasury of the Ministry of National Security	250 EC$
Stamp duty on the form	20 EC$
Stamp duty on the oathRequired when the oath of allegiance is taken at the Registry	+20 EC$
Registration fee on approvalPaid after a favourable decision by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, before the status is granted	2 000 EC$
Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table. “Stamp duty on the oath” adds 20 EC$. Charges with no official price list are in the list below.	2,270–2 290 EC$

Paid separately

Legal representation — The applicant may act alone or engage a lawyer at their own expense
Document translation — Documents must be supplied in English or with a notarised translation at the applicant's expense

Documents to gather

The complete set of documents is submitted to the Labour Division when the application is filed.

The completed "Application Form For Citizenship After Seven Years Residency"
A letter of request addressed to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Dominica
A police record from the country of origin
Birth certificate (original or notarised copy)
Four colour passport-sized photographs (45x38 mm)
A medical certificate with an HIV test and the results of a medical examination
A bank statement or a banker's reference on financial standing
Two references from people who have known the applicant for more than a year
A copy of the valid work or residence permit
Copies of the passport pages with personal details and the dates of issue and expiry
The receipt for the fees paid to the Treasury

How the process runs

Naturalisation runs through several stages of consideration and approval.

1
Preparing the set of documents
2-4 weeks
The applicant gathers every required document, completes the application form and prepares the letter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs. All documents must be in English or notarially translated. A visit to a medical facility may be needed to obtain the certificate.
2
Filing the application with the Labour Division
1 day
The applicant delivers or sends the complete file to the Labour Division, Ministry of National Security, Labour and Immigration on the 2nd floor of Government Headquarters on Kennedy Avenue in Roseau. On filing, a fee of EC$250 is paid at the Treasury along with EC$20 in stamp duty. Keep the receipts.
3
Preliminary check of the documents
2-4 weeks
Labour Division staff check that the documents supplied are complete and correct. The applicant may be asked to supply further certificates or clarifications. Contact number: (767) 266-3553.
4
Enquiries by the security services
4-8 weeks
The application is passed to the relevant security services to check the criminal record, the applicant's standing and the actual period of residence in Dominica. An interview with an immigration officer is held to clarify the biographical details and the reasons for naturalisation.
5
Consideration by the Minister of Foreign Affairs
2-4 weeks
The file goes to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Dominica, who takes the final decision to approve or refuse the application. The decision is made on the basis of all the material gathered and the recommendations of the security services.
6
Notice of approval and payment of the registration fee
1-2 weeks
Once approved, the applicant receives a notice and an invitation to pay the registration fee of EC$2,000 at the Treasury. The receipt must be produced to complete the registration.
7
Taking the oath of allegiance and registration
1 day
The applicant is invited to the Registry to take the oath of allegiance to the state of Dominica. Bring the receipts for all fees paid (including the EC$20 of stamp duty on the oath). Once the oath is taken, a certificate of citizenship is issued, on the strength of which a passport may be applied for.

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

Family members may be included in the application where certain conditions are met.

Spouse

May be included in the main applicant's application if the marriage exists at the time of filing. Requires their own security enquiries. Each spouse must submit a separate set of documents or be named in the application with full documentation.

Children under 18

Minor children may obtain citizenship on the basis of one parent's citizenship. A birth certificate and a medical certificate must be supplied. They may be included in the main applicant's application without taking a separate oath.

Other family members

Adult family members (parents, brothers, sisters) cannot be included in the main applicant's application and must file their own applications where they have the necessary grounds (residence, marriage or other reasons provided for by law).

Renewal and the grace period

Once citizenship of Dominica has been granted, the applicant may apply for the issue or renewal of a passport at the Passport and Immigration Department. A passport is issued under the standard procedure within two weeks (or within two to three working days in urgent cases of genuine need). The passport is valid for the set period and may then be renewed by applying to the same department.

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.

	Naturalisation through residence	Real estate investment	Citizenship by descent
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	Registration of citizenship of Dominica on the basis of residence in the country	The purchase of a property from the list of projects approved by the government	Citizenship of Dominica by birth in the country or by descent from a citizen of Dominica
Residence	The citizenship form is filed after 7 years of residence in Dominica	Residence in Dominica is not required	On this ground the Labour Division asks for documents on birth and parents, not on the length of residence

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

Permanent residence is a separate status, granted after 5 years of living or working on the island.

Route to citizenship

Citizenship of Dominica once the oath of allegiance has been taken

Frequently asked questions about Naturalisation through residence

How is the period of residence counted for the seven-year requirement?

The period of residence runs from the date the first residence or work permit in Dominica was issued. The permit must be valid and officially registered. People who have stayed in the country on a tourist permit without registering may find it hard to evidence their period of residence, so it is advisable to obtain an official permit as soon as possible.

What is permanent resident status and how does it relate to citizenship?

A permanent resident holds an intermediate status granted after five years of living or working in Dominica. It is more secure than a temporary work permit but is not full citizenship. Citizenship requires a further two years, to make seven years in total. A permanent resident may live, work and study in the country on equal terms with citizens, but may not vote or hold public office.

What happens once the citizenship application is approved?

Once the Minister of Foreign Affairs has approved it, the applicant receives a formal notice and an invitation to pay the registration fee of 2,000 East Caribbean dollars. A date and time are then set for taking the oath of allegiance to the state at the Registry. At the oath ceremony a certificate of citizenship is issued, which serves as the basis for obtaining a passport and other documents.

What rights and duties does a citizen of Dominica have?

Citizens of Dominica have the right to live, work and study in the country on equal terms with all other citizens, to vote in elections, to hold public office, to receive social and medical services and to be protected by diplomatic missions abroad. Citizens of Dominica must also obey the country's laws, take part in the work of the organs of government where required, and may be called up for military service in accordance with the law in force.

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.