Complete Guide to Dominica: Visa, Travel, Investment & Important Facts
This is not your typical Caribbean postcard island. Dominica (pronounced Dom-in-EE-ka) is raw, wild, and breathtakingly beautiful — the only place on Earth where you can hike through Jurassic-looking rainforest to a literal boiling lake, then dive with resident pods of sperm whales the same afternoon. In 2025 it remains the cheapest and most respected Citizenship-by-Investment program on the planet, and one of the last true eco-paradises in the Caribbean.
Welcome to the Nature Island — Untouched and Unforgettable
Dominica is the anti-Aruba. No mega-resorts, no cruise-ship crowds, no traffic lights in the capital. Instead: 365 rivers, nine active volcanoes, the second-largest boiling lake in the world, and rainforests so lush they were used as the backdrop for Jurassic Park movies. The island’s motto “Après Bondie, C’est La Ter” (After God, the Earth) says everything — this place feels sacred.
Independence & Resilience
Independent since November 3, 1978 from the UK. After Hurricane Maria devastated the island in 2017, Dominica rebuilt stronger and greener — aiming to be the world’s first climate-resilient nation.
Visa Policy
Visa-free entry for over 140 countries (USA, Canada, UK, EU, CARICOM, most Commonwealth) for up to six months. Just show onward travel and sufficient funds.
Citizenship by Investment — The Gold Standard (and Cheapest)
Launched in 1993, Dominica’s CBI is the longest-running and most respected in the world. As of 2025:
- USD 100,000 donation (single applicant) — the lowest price globally
- USD 175,000+ approved real estate (5-year hold)
- Passport in 3–6 months
- Visa-free travel to 145+ countries (Schengen, UK, Singapore, Hong Kong, Russia)
- No residency requirement, no interview, no language test
The Experiences That Will Stay With You Forever
- Boiling Lake — 6-hour round-trip hike to a 200-ft-wide lake that literally boils
- Sperm whale watching — year-round resident pods, 90+% sighting rate
- Waitukubuli National Trail — 115-mile coast-to-coast hiking trail
- Trafalgar Falls, Middleham Falls, Victoria Falls — swimming in crystal pools beneath rainforest waterfalls
- Champagne Reef — snorkeling among volcanic bubbles
- Kalinago Barana Autê — living cultural village of the island’s indigenous Kalinago people
- Scotts Head — where the Caribbean Sea meets the Atlantic
Where to Stay
Forget all-inclusives. The best stays are eco-lodges like Secret Bay (regularly voted #1 hotel in the Caribbean), Jungle Bay, or small boutique guesthouses in Roseau and Calibishie.
Getting There & Around
No direct flights from the US or Europe yet — fly via San Juan (SJU), Antigua (ANU), Barbados (BGI), or St Maarten (SXM). Ferries from Guadeloupe and Martinique are fast and scenic. Once here: rent a 4×4 — roads are steep and winding.
Safety & Vibe
Extremely safe and laid-back. Crime is rare, people are genuinely warm, and the pace of life is gloriously slow.
How to Buy SIM Card
Flow or Digicel at Douglas-Charles Airport (DOM) or in Roseau — XCD 30 starter with generous data.
Current Prime Minister
Roosevelt Skerrit (DLP) — in office since 2004, one of the longest-serving leaders in the Americas.
Final Thought
If you want white-sand beaches and nightlife, go to Barbados or the DR. If you want to feel like you’ve stepped into a National Geographic documentary — where mountains steam, whales sing just offshore, and every river is a swimming hole — then Dominica is calling your name. Come for the passport, stay for the soul reset.