Five ways by which a person may become a citizen of Dominica are by birth, naturalization, registration and legal adoption. One means of facilitating citizenship through naturalization involves economic citizenship, by which a person makes a non refundable contribution of a stipulated amount towards the development of the country.

Marriage was once a means by which Dominica citizenship was automatically acquired. However, this was changed in the 1980’s when black Muslims from the United States decided to settle on the island and had second wives who were Dominica. A new Muslim commune was formed, and grew not only in population, but in political strength. The religious beliefs and principles of that group infiltrated the island when a newspaper called The Drum, in which they referred to themselves as the heartbeat and drum of the nation, was published. The Government at the time regarded the group’s growth as a threat to the social and political stability of the country, and a means of spreading the Muslim religion. For the first and only time since then, was the constitution in regards to any matter concerning Dominica citizenship changed.

Today, anyone married to a Dominica citizen, will not automatically be granted Dominica citizenship, and in order to do so, must meet the necessary residency and Dominica citizenship requirements of living in the country for at least three years, have sufficient knowledge of the responsibilities of the citizen of Dominica the English language and an oath of allegiance must be taken. A certificate of naturalization shall not be granted for Dominica citizenship until the applicant has taken the oat or affirmation of allegiance.

To have qualifying connection with Dominica, a person’s mother or father must be born, naturalized or registered as a citizen of Dominica. Special emphasis is made for children under the citizenship laws of the country, as a child who is legally adopted by a Dominican immediately acquires Dominican citizenship from the date of the adoption order. A step or informally adopted child of a Dominican can be registered as a citizen after having resided for three years in the country.

Anyone who seeks Dominica citizenship through naturalization should not have been out of the country for a period exceeding one year prior to presenting his application and must have resided or been in the service of the Government for at least five years immediately preceding the date of application. The applicant must also intend to make Dominica his home or to enter or continue in the service under the Government. In all instances, the Minister possesses the discretionary power to waive the residency requirement in special circumstances or to grant citizenship before the stipulated periods of three or five years of residency or marriage.

Dominica’s constitution is based on the British legal system which it inherited from the British Crown during the period of colonialism. The island’s laws on citizenship are thus very closely knitted to that of the United Kingdom and only regard non Commonwealth nations other than the Republic of Ireland as foreign countries. In the Dominica legal context, the term “alien” refers to anyone who is not a citizen of the Commonwealth, British protected person or a citizen of the Republic of Ireland.

The Dominica citizenship by investment requirements for applying for a Dominica passport are quite simple. Only two passport size photos, a completed passport form, a birth certificate and EC $100 stamp fee are required for Dominica born persons. In the event that the applicant for Dominica citizenship is out of the country, the same Dominica citizenship requirements are to be met, and all documents are to be signed by the applicant himself. A Dominica passport can only be collected on behalf of the applicant through a personally written notarized letter of authorization.

Dominica citizenship obtained by means of fraud, false representation or the concealment of any material fact will be revoked. In addition, anyone who, within five years after becoming naturalized has been sentenced in any country to imprisonment for a period exceeding 11 months, or is found guilty of treason by being voluntarily disloyal to or trading information with the enemy during any war in which the country is engaged will be deprived of his citizenship.

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