Dominica digital nomad visa (2026)

Who can apply

No nationality is barred, but people who need a visa for Dominica must complete the normal visa process first.

• Aged 18 or over with no criminal record
• Able to work remotely
• Expected income of US$50,000 in the next 12 months, or enough savings
• Valid medical insurance covering all applicants

Income requirement

You need to show at least US$50,000 per year. Projected income of at least US$50,000 over the next 12 months, or enough funds to support yourself and accompanying family.

Documents you need

• Online application form
• Proof of income, such as a bank letter with recent statement
• Medical insurance policy that pays claims made in Dominica
• Marriage or birth certificates for family members

How to apply, step by step

1. Apply through the WIN portal and pay the US$100 application fee
2. Receive an approval letter, typically within a few weeks
3. Pay the visa fee within 30 days of approval
4. Arrive within 90 days of approval to receive the visa stamp

Where and how to apply

All applications go through the WIN online portal (apply.windominica.gov.dm); there is no consulate stage. You can apply from abroad or while already in Dominica, but if you are in the country your original entry terms continue to govern your stay until a decision is made. The process involves several bodies: the WIN Tourism Department checks the file for completeness and assigns an ID number; the Permanent Secretary or Tourism Authority adds a recommendation; the Joint Regional Communications Centre (JRCC) carries out due diligence; and the National Security and Home Affairs Department reviews everything before the Minister for National Security and Home Affairs approves or refuses. The visa itself is stamped into your passport when you arrive. Employers can also submit applications for several remote employees.

Timeline

1. Apply online and pay the application fee Day 0
   Upload documents for yourself and every family member; the application fee is non-refundable.
2. Completeness check Not stated officially
   A WIN officer may contact you for missing items, and you receive an application ID once the file is accepted.
3. Due diligence and ministerial decision About 14-28 days (FAQ aims for 14-21)
   The JRCC background check and the Minister's decision happen in this period.
4. Pay the visa fee Within 30 days of the approval letter
   If you need more time, email your reasons within the 30 days; an approved request adds another 30 days, with a reply within seven calendar days.
5. Travel Within 90 days of approval
   Send your flight details to your WIN information officer before you arrive.
6. Receive the WIN stamp On arrival
   The stamp is valid for up to 18 months from your arrival date.
7. Ship belongings Duty-free window: first 3 months after the stamp
   Personal, household and tools-of-trade items can be imported free of duty during this period, with minor charges.

Proving your income

Dominica asks for a bank reference letter and an employment letter from every main applicant. If your income is not a regular salary, for example freelance or business income, you also add a recent bank statement and a certificate of good standing and/or a credit report. The underlying test is that you expect to earn at least US$50,000 over the next 12 months, or that you have the means to support yourself and your family; the eligibility page allows either. The WIN pages do not set a number of months of statements. Any document not in English must be submitted with a translated and certified copy, and the FAQ adds that a foreign-language birth certificate needs a translation certified by a notary. No apostille requirement is mentioned.

Bringing your family

A family application can include a spouse or partner, children or stepchildren (the eligibility page says under 18, while the FAQ says 18 and under), and any other relative who depends entirely on you because of age or physical or mental infirmity. Proof of relationship can be a marriage, birth or adoption certificate or another official document naming you as parent or head of family. Every family member aged over 18 needs passport photos and police records from each country where they lived in the past five years. There is one flat family visa fee and no extra income amount per dependant. The WIN pages do not say whether a spouse may take local work; the visa only covers remote work for people and companies not registered in Dominica. Children can attend state or private schools at all levels, and tertiary fees for non-nationals are listed at EC$1,680 per semester.

Health insurance

Valid medical insurance is a condition of approval, not something to arrange after arrival. You need a certificate or policy from a recognised insurer that names you as the policyholder, family applications must cover every member, and the insurer must confirm in writing that it will pay claims made from within Dominica. Local insurers also sell individual and family plans, but only through in-person consultations, so most applicants arrange cover before travelling. The WIN pages do not set a minimum amount of cover or state the exact start date, but because approval depends on the policy, it should be valid from the application stage through the whole stay. Prescriptions can only be refilled locally with a note from a Dominican doctor, so bring enough medication to start with.

Cost and processing time

The fee is uS$100 application fee plus US$800 single or US$1,200 family visa fee. Processing takes about 14-28 days. Budget extra for translations, certified copies and health insurance.

After you arrive

• Collect the WIN visa stamp on arrival; it runs for up to 18 months from that date and you can travel in and out freely.
• For a local driving permit, show your WIN stamp at the Traffic Department; drivers from OECS countries can use their own licence.
• Import personal, household and work items within the first three months to benefit from duty-free treatment; a local customs broker can handle clearance.
• To enrol children, bring both parents' and the child's birth certificates, the child's last school report and your WIN visa documents.
• Register with a local doctor if you take regular medication, since pharmacies need a local prescription.
• Work only for companies and individuals not registered in Dominica.
• Contact your WIN information officer if your family situation or employment changes.

Tax

The WIN programme grants an income tax waiver: according to the official FAQ, holders do not pay Dominica income tax on remote work done under the visa, but remain liable for tax in their home country or tax domicile. Dominica's Inland Revenue Division treats a person as resident if physically present for more than 183 days continuously; residents file returns by 31 March and receive a personal allowance of EC$30,000. Because a WIN stay can last 18 months, holders may meet that presence test, which is why the explicit waiver matters. The official pages do not say whether the waiver covers income other than remote work (for example, Dominican rental income), so ask the Inland Revenue Division if you have local income.

Does it lead to permanent residence?

The WIN visa is an extended stay visa of up to 18 months. Neither the WIN website nor its FAQ mentions renewal, a second WIN visa, or any link to permanent residence or citizenship, and no official guidance was found on whether WIN time counts toward residence. If you want to remain in Dominica after the visa ends, contact the Immigration Department well before the 18-month date to ask which status you could apply for.

Why applications get refused

• A criminal record or adverse findings in the JRCC due-diligence check (applicants must be of good character).
• Health insurance without the insurer's written confirmation that it will pay claims made in Dominica, or a policy that leaves out a family member.
• Missing police records from any country where you or an adult family member lived during the past five years.
• Foreign-language documents without a translated and certified copy.
• No prior visa for nationalities that need a visa to enter Dominica.
• Not paying the visa fee within 30 days of approval, or not arriving within 90 days.

Cost of living in Roseau

1-bedroom rent

EC$700-800 per month in the centre and EC$450-700 outside, about US$165-300 (Numbeo, Sep 2025)

Coworking desk

No published prices; WIN suggests contacting its team to arrange high-bandwidth workspace

Numbeo's Roseau data comes from only three contributors, so treat it as a rough indication.

Good to know

• Personal effects can be imported duty-free
• Holders can apply for an annual driving licence
• Businesses can apply for several employees at once

Visiting first? Entry rules for popular passports

196 passports can enter Dominica visa-free for a short stay, a common way to try the country before applying. Check Dominica visa requirements for your passport.

Official source

Work in Nature (WIN) Dominica

Not yet confirmed on an official source: renewal. Check these with the consulate before you apply.