Complete Dominica CBI fee breakdown — EDF + Real Estate routes + all government, due diligence, and Authorised Agent fees.
Overview
Dominica's Citizenship by Investment Programme is among the oldest in the Caribbean (established 1993) and one of the most affordable single-applicant options. The Citizenship by Investment Unit (CBIU) administers two main investment routes: Economic Diversification Fund (EDF) contribution and Real Estate investment. As of 2024-2025 reforms, the EDF threshold is USD 200,000 for single applicants and USD 250,000 for a family of four (USD 25,000 per additional dependant). Real Estate route requires USD 200,000+ in pre-approved property with a 3-year holding period for the citizenship-qualifying portion (5 years if the property may be resold to subsequent CBI applicants). Beyond the principal investment, applicants face substantial additional fees: comprehensive due diligence (USD 7,500 main applicant, USD 4,000 spouse, USD 4,000 dependants 16+), government processing fees, mandatory interview (USD 1,000 per applicant 16+, introduced 2024), passport issuance fees (USD 250 per passport), bank fees, and Authorised Agent professional fees (typically USD 30,000-60,000). Realistic total cost for a family of 4 via EDF route: approximately USD 320,000-380,000. For Real Estate route: approximately USD 280,000-360,000 plus property purchase price + transaction costs + ongoing property holding costs (taxes, maintenance, insurance). All factual information verified against cbiu.gov.dm as of 2026-06-04.
Dominica CBI Fee Schedule — EDF Route
| Fee Type | Single | Family of 4 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| EDF Contribution | USD 200,000 | USD 250,000 | Non-refundable. Wired post-Letter of Approval. |
| Each additional dependant | USD 25,000 | — | Children + parents added |
| Due Diligence — Main applicant | USD 7,500 | USD 7,500 | Independent international firm |
| Due Diligence — Spouse | — | USD 4,000 | Per spouse |
| Due Diligence — Each dependant 16+ | — | USD 4,000 | Adult dependants |
| Due Diligence — Each dependant under 16 | USD 0 | USD 0 | No fee |
| Mandatory Interview | USD 1,000 | USD 1,000 per 16+ | Introduced 2024 |
| Government Processing Fee | USD 1,000 | USD 1,000 | Per main applicant |
| Passport Issuance Fee | USD 250 | USD 1,000 | Per passport (4 passports family of 4) |
| Naturalisation Certificate Fee | USD 500 | USD 2,000 | USD 500 per person (cbiu.gov.dm) |
Dominica CBI Fee Schedule — Real Estate Route
| Fee Type | Single | Family of 4 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Real Estate Investment | USD 200,000+ | USD 200,000+ | Pre-approved property; minimum |
| Government Fee | USD 75,000 | USD 100,000 | Effective 1 July 2024 (OECS MOA harmonisation); family figure covers main applicant + up to 3 dependants |
| Each additional dependant | USD 25,000 | — | Variable |
| Due Diligence (same as EDF) | USD 7,500+ | USD 19,500 | Single + family of 4 |
| Mandatory Interview | USD 1,000 | USD 1,000 per 16+ | Introduced 2024 |
| Government Processing | USD 1,000 | USD 1,000 | Per main applicant |
| Property Transaction Costs | Variable | Variable | Legal + transfer + stamp duty |
| Annual Property Tax | Variable | Variable | Ongoing post-purchase |
| Hold Period | 3-5 years | 3-5 years | Cannot sell during hold |
Authorised Agent + Professional Fees
- Authorised Agent fees: Typically USD 30,000-60,000 per family depending on Agent + complexity. Some Agents charge based on family size + investment route; others charge flat fees.
- Independent legal counsel (optional): USD 5,000-25,000+ for separate legal review beyond Authorised Agent.
- Translation costs: USD 30-100 per page from certified translators. Total varies by document volume — USD 500-3,000+ for typical applications.
- Apostille fees (home country): USD 100-500 per document. Total varies by family size + nationality complexity.
- Document preparation costs: Including new civil status certificates, police clearances, medical certificates — USD 500-2,000+ total.
- Courier + postage: USD 200-500 for international document shipments.
- Bank wire transfer fees: USD 50-500 per international wire (for investment + fee payments).
Realistic Total Cost Breakdown
- EDF Single Applicant (realistic total): USD 245,000-285,000 — comprising USD 200,000 EDF + USD 7,500 DD + USD 1,000 interview + USD 1,000 processing + USD 250 passport + USD 500 naturalisation + USD 35,000-75,000 Authorised Agent + document prep + translations.
- EDF Family of 4 (realistic total): USD 320,000-380,000 — comprising USD 250,000 EDF + USD 19,500 DD + USD 3,000 interviews + USD 1,000 processing + USD 1,000 passports + USD 1,000 naturalisation + USD 45,000-105,000 Authorised Agent + document prep + translations.
- Real Estate Single Applicant (realistic total): USD 245,000-280,000 + property cost USD 200,000+ + transaction costs USD 10,000-25,000 = USD 455,000-505,000+
- Real Estate Family of 4 (realistic total): USD 60,000-80,000 in fees + property cost USD 200,000+ + transaction costs USD 10,000-25,000 = USD 270,000-305,000+ (with property as living asset).
- EDF vs Real Estate decision factors: EDF is contribution-only (no recovery); Real Estate creates owned asset but with holding period + transaction costs + ongoing carrying costs. Real Estate net cost may be lower IF property holds value.
- Annual carrying costs (Real Estate route): Property tax, insurance, management fees (5-15% of rental income), utilities, maintenance — USD 5,000-20,000+ annually per property.
Recent Fee Changes + 2024-2025 Reforms
- 2024 reforms: Mandatory interview introduced (USD 1,000 per applicant 16+). EDF threshold confirmed at USD 200,000 single / USD 250,000 family of 4.
- Pre-2024: EDF was USD 100,000 single / USD 200,000 family of 4 — significantly cheaper. The 2024 increase brought Dominica closer to other Caribbean CBI pricing.
- Real Estate threshold: Stable at USD 200,000 minimum.
- Due diligence fees: Increased over time to current USD 7,500 main applicant / USD 4,000 spouse + dependants 16+.
- Caribbean CBI coordination: Caribbean countries (Dominica, Saint Kitts, Antigua, Grenada, Saint Lucia) coordinating on minimum thresholds + due diligence standards under 2024 agreement.
- EU + US pressure on Caribbean CBIs: Pricing increases driven partly by international compliance pressure to demonstrate programme legitimacy.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Dominica CBI cost in total?
For a family of 4 via EDF route: realistically USD 320,000-380,000 including investment, due diligence, government fees, mandatory interviews, passports, and Authorised Agent fees. For Real Estate route: USD 270,000-305,000 in fees plus property purchase price (USD 200,000+ minimum) plus transaction costs and ongoing property carrying costs. Single applicant EDF: USD 245,000-285,000 realistic total.
What was the 2024 reform impact on Dominica CBI fees?
The 2024 reforms raised the EDF threshold from USD 100,000 (single) to USD 200,000, and from USD 200,000 (family of 4) to USD 250,000 — significantly increasing single-applicant pricing. Mandatory interviews (USD 1,000 per applicant 16+) were introduced. The increases brought Dominica closer to other Caribbean CBI pricing levels and respond to international compliance pressure.
Is EDF or Real Estate route better?
Depends on objectives. EDF: lower total cost, simpler, no ongoing obligations after grant. Real Estate: higher total cost but creates owned asset that may hold or appreciate in value, requires 3-5 year holding period, ongoing carrying costs (taxes, maintenance, insurance). EDF preferred by those wanting simplicity + lowest cost; Real Estate preferred by those wanting investment exposure + potential property appreciation.
What are realistic Authorised Agent fees?
USD 30,000-60,000 per family typical. Some Agents charge based on family size; others flat fees. Higher-end Agents (international firms with comprehensive service) USD 50,000-80,000+. Caribbean-based smaller Agents USD 20,000-45,000. Quality varies significantly — choose Agent based on experience + reputation + service breadth, not just lowest fee.
What's the due diligence fee structure?
USD 7,500 for main applicant; USD 4,000 for spouse; USD 4,000 for each dependant 16+; no due diligence fee for dependants under 16. Family of 4 (2 adults + 2 children under 16): USD 11,500 total DD. Family of 4 (2 adults + 2 adult dependants): USD 19,500 total DD. Independent international due diligence firms conduct the verification.
Are there hidden fees I should know about?
Translation costs (USD 30-100 per page — total USD 500-3,000+ for international applicants), apostille fees (USD 100-500 per document — total USD 500-2,500+ depending on home country), courier/postage (USD 200-500), bank wire fees (USD 50-500 per wire), independent legal counsel if engaged (USD 5,000-25,000+). These add USD 2,000-10,000+ to total cost typically.
When are fees paid?
Due diligence + Authorised Agent fees paid upfront before application processing. Government processing fees + interview fees paid during application processing. Main EDF contribution or Real Estate investment funds paid AFTER Letter of Approval (when CBIU confirms approval). Passport + naturalisation fees paid after final approval. This structure means principal investment is not at risk during due diligence phase — only DD + Agent fees at risk (USD 25,000-50,000 typical at-risk amount).
Are fees refundable if I'm refused?
Due diligence fees + Authorised Agent fees + document preparation costs are not refundable once work has been performed (typically USD 25,000-50,000 at risk). The principal investment (EDF contribution or Real Estate purchase) is paid only after approval, so principal is not at risk for refused applications. Plan budget assuming at-risk fees are non-recoverable in case of refusal.