Anyone deciding on Dominican citizenship today should know that the programme is changing. Some changes are official and final; others have only been announced and their details have not yet been published. This article relies only on official announcements of the Government of Dominica, the Citizenship by Investment Unit (CBIU) and the White House, checked on 24 October 2026. We make no predictions and do not present as final anything that has not been officially announced.
Official timeline
| Date | Event | Source |
|---|---|---|
| September 2025 | Five countries sign the agreement on the regional regulator (ECCIRA) | Office of the Prime Minister of Dominica |
| 14 October 2025 | Dominica's Parliament passes the agreement bill | Office of the Prime Minister of Dominica |
| 16 December 2025 | US presidential proclamation on entry restrictions, including for Dominican nationals | White House |
| 1 January 2026 | The US entry restriction takes effect | White House |
| 10 June 2026 | The Prime Minister announces that successful applicants must visit Dominica in person and spend time in the country | Office of the Prime Minister of Dominica |
The regional regulator (ECCIRA)
On 15 October 2025 the Office of the Prime Minister of Dominica announced that Parliament had passed, on Tuesday 14 October 2025, the bill on the agreement establishing the "Eastern Caribbean Citizenship by Investment Regulatory Authority".
| Topic | What the announcement says |
|---|---|
| Signatories | Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis and Saint Lucia |
| Signed | September 2025 |
| Role | Regional regulator of the citizenship programmes of five OECS member states |
| Power | Setting and issuing binding standards for all participating citizenship units and service providers |
| Scope of oversight | Application processing, due diligence and compliance in the member states |
| Fines | A regional framework of offences and administrative fines of up to US$250,000 |
The announcement does not give the date the regulator starts work. For applicants, the practical meaning of this approval is that the rules on processing and due diligence in Dominica and four other countries are to be overseen by one common body.
The in-country visit requirement
On 11 June 2026 the Office of the Prime Minister reported that Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit had said at a press conference on Wednesday that the government will require successful applicants to visit Dominica in person and spend time in the country. According to the same announcement:
- the government is also examining other ways to deepen the ties of economic citizens with Dominica;
- further details are to be announced with the 2026/2027 national budget;
- the reason is to protect the programme's integrity and keep in step with regional neighbours; the Prime Minister said strengthening these programmes is "a regional reality, not a Dominican problem".
The announcement does not give the number of days, the start date, or whether the requirement covers existing citizens. Do not treat these as final until the official text of the details is published.
The US entry restriction
The US presidential proclamation of 16 December 2025 has restricted the entry of Dominican nationals on certain visas since 1 January 2026. For the details, the visas covered and the exceptions, see our separate article on the US entry restriction for Dominican nationals.
Today's official figures
The "Economic Diversification Fund" page on the CBIU website shows these figures:
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Single main applicant | From US$200,000 |
| Main applicant and up to three qualifying dependants | US$250,000 |
| Each additional dependant under 18 | US$25,000 |
| Each additional dependant aged 18 or over | US$40,000 |
| Processing fee | US$1,000 per application |
| Due diligence | US$7,500 for the main applicant; US$4,000 for each dependant aged 16 or over |
| Certificate of naturalisation | US$500 per person |
| Interview | US$1,000 per interview, for those aged 16 or over |
The page says no separate "government fees" are required on the fund route, but enhanced due diligence fees may be charged in some cases.
A worked example
This example is hypothetical and only adds up the official figures above. A family of a main applicant, spouse and two children aged 10 and 17 on the fund route:
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Contribution for the main applicant and three dependants | US$250,000 |
| Processing fee | US$1,000 |
| Due diligence of the main applicant | US$7,500 |
| Due diligence of the spouse and the 17-year-old | US$8,000 |
| Certificate of naturalisation for four people | US$2,000 |
| Interviews for the three people aged 16 or over | US$3,000 |
| Total | US$271,500 |
Agent, translation, document legalisation and travel costs, including any trip the visit requirement may require, are not included.
Practical points
- Always compare figures with the official CBIU page and its date; treat offers below the official minimum with suspicion.
- If your travel or life plans depend on the United States, read the article on the US entry restriction before deciding.
- For the visit requirement, plan from now for the cost and time of a trip to Dominica, but accept the details only from the official text.
- The regional regulator can set binding standards; procedures may change again.
- For each family member aged 16 or over, count the due diligence and interview fees separately.
Royal Golden does not give legal or immigration advice. This article is general information, and the decision on any application rests with the Government of Dominica.
Sources
- Office of the Prime Minister of Dominica, Parliament passes the regional regulator bill (15 October 2025) — https://pressroomopm.gov.dm/dominica-parliament-passes-bill-to-establish-eastern-caribbean-citizenship-by-investment-regulatory-authority/ (checked on 24 October 2026)
- Office of the Prime Minister of Dominica, government to introduce new measures to strengthen the CBI programme (11 June 2026) — https://pressroomopm.gov.dm/government-to-introduce-new-measures-to-strengthen-cbi-programme/ (checked on 24 October 2026)
- Dominica CBIU, Economic Diversification Fund — https://www.cbiu.gov.dm/investment-options/economic-diversification-fund/ (checked on 24 October 2026)
- White House, proclamation "Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States" (16 December 2025) — https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/12/restricting-and-limiting-the-entry-of-foreign-nationals-to-protect-the-security-of-the-united-states/ (checked on 24 October 2026)