Real estate in Dominica

Buyer's guide

• Who can buy a property in Dominica

  

  Dominica allows citizens and residents of the country, as well as foreigners, to buy real estate. They can invest in any property on the island.

  Foreigners not participating in the Dominica Citizenship Program are required to obtain a special land ownership licence. Its cost is 10% of the land plot price.

• Property prices by region in Dominica

  

  The government of Dominica does not publish property price statistics. Real estate experts estimate 1 m² of the island housing at $500—5,000.

  The most expensive properties are located in the capital city of Roseau, as well as in Portsmouth, Salisbury, and Canefield. The cost per 1 m² in these cities is about 10% higher than the national average. Properties located in coastal resort areas of Dominica are also expensive.

• Property purchase procedure in Dominica

  

  The process of buying real estate on the island is standard for Caribbean countries. First, the buyer chooses a property in Dominica and obtains a land ownership licence. For those participating in the citizenship program, a licence isn’t required.

  The parties conclude a preliminary purchase and sale agreement: the buyer pays 10% of the property value, and the seller reserves the property. As soon as all the documents are ready, the parties sign the main contract. The buyer transfers the remaining amount, and then receives a certificate of ownership in the state registry of the country.

• Property purchase taxes in Dominica

  

  In Dominica, there is no capital gain tax on real estate, ownership transfer, and a single tax. The buyer pays mandatory fees — stamp, legal, and judicial — as well as an insurance fund contribution. Additional expenses for the property buyer are about 10,5% of the transaction amount.

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• Dominica citizenship by purchasing real estate

  

  By investing in real estate, foreigners can obtain citizenship in Dominica. The main condition is to solely buy government-approved properties. These are mostly hotel complexes.

  The minimum real estate investment is $200,000. The property can be sold after 3 years of ownership, which is the shortest period among Caribbean citizenship programs. But if the investor wants to sell the property to another program participant, the wait is 5 years.