Beginning January 1, 2027, Dominica is set to open a new pathway for descendants of Dominicans to reconnect with the country through citizenship. The Government will introduce legislation to establish a new Citizenship through a Dominican Grandparent pathway, expected to begin on January 1, 2027.
Under the proposed framework, a person with at least one grandparent born in Dominica would be able to apply for Dominican citizenship, subject to requirements including proof of ancestry, identity and good character.
The announcement forms part of a wider Government strategy focused on population renewal and greater engagement with Dominicans and Dominican descendants living overseas.
Dr. Irving McIntyre, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Economic Development, Climate Resilience, and Social Security of the Commonwealth of Dominica, outlined the Government’s plans to strengthen the country’s connection with its global Dominican family.
The announcement forms part of a wider Government strategy focused on population renewal and greater engagement with Dominicans and Dominican descendants living overseas.
Reconnecting Dominica with Its Global Family
In his Budget Address, Dr. McIntyre highlighted that the Dominican family extends well beyond the island’s shores.
“Dominicans who migrated abroad, together with their children and grandchildren, have developed valuable skills, professional experience, business networks and capital. Many remain connected to Dominica through family, heritage and culture, even when they are several generations who have faced removal from the island,” stated Dr. Irving McIntyre.
The proposed grandparent citizenship pathway aims to provide a formal avenue for these descendants to reconnect with Dominica.
As Dr. McIntyre explained in his address, citizenship could encourage members of the wider Dominican family to participate more fully in national life by visiting more frequently, restoring family property, establishing businesses and investing in the country.
A New Connection Across Generations
For Dominican descendants who have grown up outside the island, the proposed pathway could create a new connection with their ancestral homeland.
A grandparent born in Dominica can represent a link to family history, culture and national heritage. By recognising that connection through a proposed citizenship route, the Government is seeking to bring generations of the Dominican family closer to the country.
The proposed Citizenship through a Dominican Grandparent initiative therefore forms part of a larger vision outlined by Dr. McIntyre during the Budget Address: to reconnect Dominica with its people abroad, strengthen its resident population and ensure that the country’s transformation creates opportunities for both those at home and members of the wider Dominican family around the world.
With implementation proposed from January 1, 2027, subject to the necessary legislation, the initiative could mark a significant new chapter in Dominica’s relationship with its diaspora.
