Dominica Raises CBI Contribution Threshold and Tightens Due Diligence

Dominica becomes the latest Caribbean nation to raise its citizenship-by-investment price tag while adding layers of scrutiny, a pattern that's reshaping the entire CBI market.

The Dominica CBIU announced in February 2026 that single applicants to the Economic Diversification Fund (EDF) must now contribute $150,000, up from $100,000. Family applications see proportional increases: $175,000 for a couple, $200,000 for a family of four. The real estate option also rises, with minimum qualifying investments jumping from $200,000 to $300,000.

What triggered the changes

Two forces converged. First, sustained pressure from the EU and US on Caribbean CBI programs to tighten vetting. The EU's ongoing review of visa-free access for CBI passport holders has put every Eastern Caribbean program on notice. Second, the OECS governments collectively agreed in late 2025 to harmonize minimum pricing, ending the race to the bottom that had driven contribution levels as low as $100,000.

Dominica's enhanced due diligence now includes Interpol database screening, mandatory third-party verification through approved international firms, and in-person interviews for applicants flagged during preliminary review. Processing times are expected to increase from roughly 3 months to 4-6 months as a result.

How Dominica compares to the rest of the Caribbean

St. Kitts and Nevis raised its Sustainable Island State Contribution to $250,000 for a single applicant in 2023, making it the most expensive Caribbean program. Grenada sits at $235,000, which includes access to the US E-2 Treaty Investor visa (a feature no other Caribbean CBI program offers). St. Lucia charges $240,000 for its National Economic Fund option. Antigua and Barbuda requires $230,000 through its National Development Fund.

At $150,000, Dominica is now the cheapest Caribbean CBI program by a significant margin. That gap will likely narrow. The OECS harmonization agreement targets a regional floor of $200,000 by 2027, and Dominica has signaled willingness to comply.

The broader trend

Caribbean CBI programs are becoming more expensive and more selective simultaneously. Five years ago, the pitch was speed and affordability. Today, the pitch is legitimacy. Every program has tightened due diligence, raised prices, and reduced processing speed. The EU's threat to revoke visa-free Schengen access for CBI passport holders is the primary motivator.

For applicants, the calculus has shifted. A Dominica passport at $150,000 still offers visa-free access to roughly 145 countries, including the Schengen area (for now). But the screening is real, the timeline is longer, and the price will continue climbing. Anyone considering Caribbean CBI should treat current pricing as a floor, not a ceiling.

Grenada's E-2 treaty access remains the standout differentiator in the Caribbean market. If US market access matters, Grenada at $235,000 offers something no amount of money buys elsewhere in the region. If the goal is simply a second passport with broad travel access at the lowest cost, Dominica at $150,000 is still the entry point, just not for much longer.