A police clearance certificate is a document a country's police issue about a person's criminal record. In a Dominica application these certificates are usually the most time-consuming documents, because they are sometimes needed from several countries. The information in this guide comes from the official pages of the Citizenship by Investment Unit of Dominica (CBIU), checked on 24 October 2026.
Who
- Every applicant aged 16 and over, including the main applicant, the spouse and adult dependants.
- For children aged 12 to 15, instead of a certificate, a parental affidavit that the child has no criminal record.
From which countries
According to the CBIU's required documents page:
- the country of birth;
- the country of citizenship;
- the country of residence, if different from the two above;
- any country where you lived for more than six months in the past ten years.
Date of issue
According to the CBIU's "How to apply" page, the certificates must be issued within the three months before submission.
Practical planning
- Write the list of countries separately for each family member. Go through the past ten years year by year; do not forget periods of study or work abroad.
- For each country, ask in advance about the process and time to obtain a certificate. Some countries accept applications from abroad through an embassy or a lawyer, which takes longer.
- Since the deadline is three months, start the time-consuming applications early and coordinate the submission date with the Authorised Agent.
- Certificates not in English need translation, notarisation and legalisation. Allow time for this too.
If you have a record
Hiding a record is the worst decision. False information may lead not only to refusal but also to revocation of citizenship already granted. Raise any record with the Authorised Agent and your lawyer before submission.
Points
- The name on the certificate must exactly match the passport. If your name has changed, prepare the document of the change too.
- Keep the original certificates until the end of the application.
This article is general information and not legal advice.
Sources
- CBIU Dominica, required documents (police clearance certificates) — https://www.cbiu.gov.dm/dominica-citizenship/required-documents/ (checked on 24 October 2026)
- CBIU Dominica, how to apply (three months before submission) — https://www.cbiu.gov.dm/dominica-citizenship/how-to-apply/ (checked on 24 October 2026)
- CBIU Dominica, FAQ (definition of the certificate) — https://www.cbiu.gov.dm/faqs/ (checked on 24 October 2026)