Dominica citizenship does not by itself allow trading without registration; every business in Dominica must be registered. This guide explains the official path based on the "Starting a Business" page of Invest Dominica Authority, the Government's investment promotion agency. The page was checked on 24 October 2026.
Eight official steps
Invest Dominica Authority lists the steps of starting a business in this order:
| Order | Step | Office | Always needed? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Register a company or business name | Companies and Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) | Yes |
| 2 | Tax registration and a VAT number | Inland Revenue Division (IRD) | Yes; VAT for taxable activity |
| 3 | Social security registration | Dominica Social Security (DSS) | If you have employees |
| 4 | Alien Land Holding Licence | Government of Dominica | If needed |
| 5 | Work permit | Government of Dominica | If needed |
| 6 | Building permission | Physical Planning Division | If you build |
| 7 | Fisheries licence | Fisheries Division | Only for that activity |
| 8 | Permissions from other agencies | The agency concerned | Depending on the activity |
Legal forms
Invest Dominica Authority names these forms:
- a limited liability company, corporation or partnership, which must be registered;
- a non-profit organisation, which has no share capital and has members instead of shareholders;
- a business name, for a business trading under a name other than the owner's name or the company's legal name. Trading under an unregistered business name is an offence.
Registering a company
Documents and conditions
- The sample incorporation form is obtained from the Companies Office, completed and printed on deed paper.
- The statutory declaration is prepared by an attorney.
- The company name must contain Limited, Corporation or Incorporated, or an accepted abbreviation.
- First, ask the companies clerk whether the name is available.
Fees and duties
| Item | Published amount |
|---|---|
| Company registration fee | EC$750 (US$277) |
| Postage stamp on the declaration | EC$5 (US$2) |
| Annual company return | by 2 April each year |
| Annual fee to keep the name on the register | based on the stated share capital |
The laws behind it, according to the same page, are the "Companies Act (Act 21 of 1994)", the Companies Regulations (SRO 22 of 1997 and SRO 57 of 2002), the "International Business Act (Act 10 of 1996)" and the Business Names Act.
Registering a business name
- The sample form is obtained from the Companies Office and printed on deed paper.
- The declaration is signed before a Commissioner for Oaths at the same office, with photo identification.
- A business name must not suggest a company and must not contain Limited, Corporation or Incorporation.
| Item | Published amount |
|---|---|
| Business name registration | EC$90 (US$34) |
| Postage stamp for each signing proprietor | EC$10 (US$4) |
| Annual fee to keep the name on the register | EC$50 (US$19) |
| Filing the annual return | EC$10 (US$4) |
In the price table on the same page, the registration figure is $70 without a currency, while the page text says EC$90. Ask the Companies Office about this difference.
Tax and VAT registration
- Every business must register with the Inland Revenue Division and obtain a tax number. The owner completes and signs the forms.
- The start date of operations must be notified to the Division in writing.
- An annual return is filed under the "Income Tax Act", even during a tax holiday.
- A copy of the business registration and the articles must be provided.
- A business with taxable activity must also register for value added tax.
Rates and tax details are in the article "Taxes in Dominica".
Social security
| Item | Published rule |
|---|---|
| Employee registration | every employee aged 16 to 65, within 4 days of starting work |
| Employer registration | within 7 days of hiring the first employee |
| Employee share from 2024 | 6.5 percent |
| Employer share from 2024 | 7.75 percent |
| Planned increase | 0.25 percent a year, one year for employees and the next for employers, until 2031 |
| Final rates in 2031 | employee 7.5 percent, employer 8.5 percent |
Land and building
If the business needs land, foreigners need an "Alien Land Holding Licence". Invest Dominica Authority gives the cost of this licence as 10 percent of the property's value. Building also needs the permission of the Physical Planning Division.
An example
Suppose an entrepreneur registers a small service company with two employees in Roseau:
| Step | Amount or duty |
|---|---|
| Company registration and stamp | EC$755 |
| Tax registration | tax number; written notice of the start date |
| Social security for two employees earning EC$3,000 a month, in 2024 | employer share 7.75 percent, that is EC$232.50 a month for each |
| Every year | the annual company return by 2 April and the tax return |
This calculation only shows the structure. Ask separately about the attorney's fee, translation and legalisation of foreign documents, and the current year's social security rates.
Practical points
- Documents issued in another country usually need legalisation, an apostille or a certified translation.
- Dominica citizenship does not replace business permits.
- Check the tax rules of your own country of residence separately.
This article is general information and not legal or tax advice. Decisions on every registration and permit rest with the Dominica authorities.
Sources
- Invest Dominica Authority, Starting a Business — https://investdominica.com/?p=1540 (checked on 24 October 2026)
- Invest Dominica Authority, tax information for individuals, companies and organisations — https://investdominica.com/doing-business/taxation/ (checked on 24 October 2026)