Visa need and permitted stay in Dominica depend on nationality and the purpose of entry. Before departure, prepare a valid passport, return ticket, sufficient funds and the full address where you will stay. The official visa-free arrangements include different periods for different nationalities: some Commonwealth and CARICOM nationals may receive up to six months, while Germany is listed for up to three months. Transit or bona fide tourist entry with a return ticket can be limited to 21 days. If a visitor needs a visa, the application may require a form, passport, two photographs, sponsor bank evidence and invitation, medical certificate, employment or self-employment proof, English translations, notarisation or certified endorsement and a fee of EC$200. The ED Card is Dominica's electronic entry declaration. Submit it free of charge through edcard.dominica.gov.dm within three days before travel, then save or print the confirmation and QR code. The form records travel details, port, arrival date and time, accommodation, full address in Dominica, intended stay, countries visited, health information and Customs declarations. The address on the ED Card serves as an entry contact and does not create a general residence registration. Air arrivals use Douglas-Charles Airport, also known as DOM and formerly Melville Hall, or Canefield Airport, DCF. Sea arrivals use the Roseau Ferry Terminal or Portsmouth Ferry Dock. Immigration checks entry status and Customs checks goods and monetary instruments. Declare dutiable goods, including food, plant and animal products, pharmaceuticals, arms and ammunition and commercial goods. Cash or monetary instruments above USD 10,000 must also be declared. When uncertain, declare the item; non-compliance can lead to seizure, fines or imprisonment. The ED Card includes health and travel-history questions. A general health certificate is not currently required for every arrival, but yellow-fever controls apply to arrivals from infected or endemic areas, so departure countries must be checked before travel. Health Centres operate nationwide, with Princess Margaret Hospital in Roseau, Marigot Hospital and Portsmouth Hospital providing named hospital services. No general newcomer health-registration process is evidenced; access depends on the service and location. Keep the entry stamp and the permitted-stay date. A visitor who needs more time must apply before the Port-of-Entry permission expires, in person to the Inspector-in-Charge of Immigration, with a passport, return ticket, sufficient funds and a local address. Extension fees are EC$25 for CARICOM nationals staying under one month and EC$50 for one to three months; for non-CARICOM nationals they are EC$50 and EC$100. A residence application follows only after the immigration status has been regularised or an extension has been granted. It can require a passport valid for at least six months, medical certificate, police record, financial proof, return-ticket proof and sponsor letter. The stated residence fees are EC$250 for CARICOM nationals and EC$800 for non-CARICOM nationals; the responsible body is the Passport and Immigration Department at Police Headquarters, Bath Road, Roseau. The Discover Dominica Authority Concierge can provide visitor arrival support. Arrange onward transport for the actual airport or ferry facility in advance, because service access and travel connections vary by location.
Arrival in Dominica
Arrival in Dominica begins with checking entry permission, passport validity, return travel, sufficient funds and a complete local address. Travellers must complete the free ED Card online within three days before travel and carry its confirmation QR code with their passport. Immigration and Customs process arrivals at Douglas-Charles and Canefield airports and at the Roseau and Portsmouth ferry facilities. Dominica has no single general residence-registration system; lawful stay, extensions and access to local services depend on status and location.
Tip
Treat arrival in Dominica as a time-sensitive compliance and logistics task, not just a flight or ferry booking. Complete entry paperwork before travel, keep proof of your permitted stay, and decide early whether you are visiting temporarily or seeking a longer stay because extension and residence steps differ. Arrange transport and health access for the actual arrival location rather than assuming one central service point.