The real estate route is one of the two investment routes in Dominica's citizenship programme. Most explanations stop at the minimum amount and the holding period, but the text of the Regulations has other steps and conditions that are decisive in practice. This article is based on the official text of the "Commonwealth of Dominica Citizenship by Investment Regulations 2024" (Statutory Rules and Orders No. 8 of 2024), published on the "Legal Basis" page of the Citizenship by Investment Unit (`CBIU`) and checked on 25 October 2026.
Definitions
| Term | Definition in regulation 2 |
|---|---|
| Approved Project | a real estate development or other development project that the Cabinet has approved for the Programme |
| Approved Developer | a person who is undertaking or has undertaken a Cabinet-approved project |
| Real estate | includes land with a building on it, fractional ownership in land and shares in a land development |
The `CBIU` publishes the list of approved projects on its "Approved Real Estate Projects" page.
The minimum investment
Under paragraph 2 of Schedule 1, the minimum investment is USD 200,000 for each main applicant. Two or more applicants may invest together in an Approved Project, provided that each main applicant contributes at least USD 200,000. Under regulation 7(2), the Financial Intelligence Unit does not consider an application that does not reach this minimum.
The steps in the order of the text
| Step | Official rule |
|---|---|
| 1. Before applying | the investment has been made, or a binding purchase and sale agreement for the property or an investment agreement with the developer of an Approved Project has been signed (regulation 7(1)) |
| 2. Submission | only through an Authorised Agent |
| 3. Precondition for review | all money is in an irrevocable escrow account with an Authorised Agent, a registered trust company or an entity providing trust or custodial services, and the project is deemed "commenced" under the `CBIU` guidelines (regulation 7(5)) |
| 4. Notification | within three months of submission: approved in principle, delayed for cause and still being processed, or denied (regulation 8(1)) |
| 5. After approval in principle | within 30 days and before citizenship is granted: full and unencumbered title to the property transferred to the applicant, directly or through a local company, foundation or other approved entity; and all government fees paid (regulation 8(2)) |
Ownership through a company
Under regulation 8(3), beneficial ownership of the property through a company is accepted only under these four conditions:
| Condition | Text |
|---|---|
| Shares | all the company's authorised shares have been issued to the main applicant |
| Governing law | the company is established and maintained under the laws of Dominica |
| Type of company | the company is not an exempt or offshore entity |
| Evidence | irrefutable evidence of beneficial ownership, certified by the Registrar of Companies, is submitted through the main applicant |
Government fees on the real estate route
Under paragraph 2(3) of Schedule 1, these fees are payable on approval in principle:
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Main applicant alone | USD 75,000 |
| Main applicant and up to three dependants | USD 100,000 |
| Each additional dependant under 18 | USD 25,000 |
| Each additional dependant aged 18 or over | USD 40,000 |
| Due diligence on the main applicant | USD 7,500 |
| Due diligence on each dependant aged 16 or over | USD 4,000 |
| Interview | USD 1,000 per interview |
| Processing fee | USD 1,000 per application |
| Certificate of naturalisation | USD 500 per certificate |
For nationalities subject to enhanced due diligence, the fees in regulation 11(4) replace the ordinary due diligence fees; see the article "Banned and restricted nationalities in Dominica's citizenship programme".
Selling and reusing the property
| Rule | Official text |
|---|---|
| Sale | property that qualified the applicant for citizenship is not resold until at least three years after the grant of citizenship (regulation 7(3)) |
| Reuse | property that was the basis of a grant of citizenship is not eligible for another application until five years after that grant (regulation 7(4)) |
| Consequence of a breach | revocation of citizenship, possible disqualification from the Programme, and the sale void, or damages to the Government if it cannot be voided (regulation 7(6)) |
Both periods start from the date citizenship was granted, not from the date of purchase or of the application.
Two examples
These examples are hypothetical and only put the amounts and deadlines of the official text side by side. Agent, lawyer, title registration and translation costs are not included.
Example 1: a single applicant in an Approved Project.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Property purchase | USD 200,000 |
| Government fee for the main applicant | USD 75,000 |
| Due diligence | USD 7,500 |
| Interview | USD 1,000 |
| Processing fee | USD 1,000 |
| Certificate of naturalisation | USD 500 |
| Total | USD 285,000 |
Of this total, USD 200,000 is the price of the property transferred into the applicant's name; the rest is government fees.
Example 2: the deadlines on a calendar. Suppose the application is submitted on 1 February 2026.
| Event | Date under the text |
|---|---|
| Latest date for the notification | 1 May 2026 (three months) |
| Approval in principle, assumed | 15 April 2026 |
| Deadline for title transfer and paying the fees | 15 May 2026 (30 days) |
| Grant of citizenship, assumed | 1 June 2026 |
| Earliest sale of the property | 1 June 2029 (three years from the grant) |
| Earliest reuse of the same property for another applicant | 1 June 2031 (five years from the grant) |
Practical points
- Before signing a contract, find the project's name on the `CBIU` list of approved projects.
- Ask which escrow account holds the money and with which entity; the Regulations require an irrevocable escrow account.
- The 30-day deadline after approval in principle is short; have the money for the government fees ready in advance.
- If ownership is through a company, check all four conditions of regulation 8(3).
- Count your sale plans from the date citizenship is granted; also see the article "Real estate in Dominica's programme: the holding period and selling".
Royal Golden does not give legal or investment advice. This article is general information, and the decision on any application rests with the Government of Dominica.
Sources
- Dominica Citizenship by Investment Unit (CBIU), legal basis and relevant legislation — https://www.cbiu.gov.dm/dominica-citizenship/legislation/ (checked on 25 October 2026)
- Commonwealth of Dominica Citizenship by Investment Regulations 2024, Statutory Rules and Orders No. 8 of 2024 — https://cbiu.gov.dm/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/SRO-No.-8-of-2024.-Commonwealth-of-Dominica-Citizenship-By-Investment-AmdNo.2-Reg.-2024-1.pdf (checked on 25 October 2026)
- Dominica Citizenship by Investment Unit (CBIU), approved real estate projects — https://www.cbiu.gov.dm/investment-options/approved-real-estate-projects/ (checked on 25 October 2026)