Dominica uses the Eastern Caribbean Dollar, designated XCD. The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank pegs the XCD to the United States Dollar at a fixed rate of 2.70 XCD to 1.00 USD. This rate has remained constant since 1976. United States Dollars circulate widely and most businesses in Roseau and Portsmouth accept USD directly, though change typically returns in XCD. The Eastern Caribbean Dollar serves eight island economies sharing this common currency managed from Saint Lucia headquarters.
ATMs dispense Eastern Caribbean Dollars and concentrate in Roseau along King George V Street and around the Bayfront. Portsmouth maintains two ATM locations near the town center. Machines accept Visa and Mastercard with varying foreign transaction fees applied by issuing banks. Daily withdrawal limits typically range between 500 XCD and 1500 XCD depending on machine and card network. Banks operate Monday through Thursday from 0800 to 1400 hours and Friday from 0800 to 1600 hours. National Bank of Dominica, First Caribbean International Bank, and Royal Bank of Canada maintain branches in Roseau with limited presence in Portsmouth.
Credit cards function at hotels, larger restaurants, and tour operators in Roseau. Outside the capital, cash dominates transactions. Small guesthouses, village shops, bus drivers, and market vendors deal exclusively in cash. Calibishie, Soufrière, and Scotts Head operate primarily as cash economies. Travelers carrying only cards face practical barriers outside Roseau. The Roseau Market on River Street accepts only cash for produce, fish, and crafts. Weekend transactions shift heavily toward cash even in Roseau as smaller vendors operate outside weekday banking hours.
Currency exchange occurs at banks during operating hours and at Douglas-Charles Airport through a cambio window operating during international flight arrivals. The airport cambio offers rates approximately two to four percent below official rates. Hotels exchange currency at rates generally five to eight percent below bank rates. No dedicated currency exchange bureaus operate outside the airport. Travelers arriving outside banking hours should carry small denomination USD or exchange currency before departure.
Citizens of the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and European Union member states enter Dominica without a visa for stays up to six months. The requirement applies only to passport validity extending six months beyond arrival date. The official source for visa policy is the Dominica Immigration Division at www.immigration.gov.dm. This policy extended from three months to six months in 2018. Caribbean Community nationals enter freely under CARICOM agreements.
Douglas-Charles Airport handles international arrivals on the northeast coast between Marigot and Wesley. The airport sits 64 kilometers from Roseau measured along the road through the interior. Canefield Airport, three kilometers north of Roseau, suspended commercial service after Hurricane Maria in 2017. No firm reopening date exists as of current status. Douglas-Charles operates a single terminal building with immigration, baggage claim, and customs occupying sequential spaces.
Immigration officers issue a stay duration stamp typically matching the maximum allowed period. The entry card requires accommodation address in Dominica. Listing a hotel name in Roseau satisfies this requirement. Officers may ask to see return tickets and proof of accommodation. Return ticket requirements vary by officer discretion. Officers have authority to request proof of sufficient funds though this occurs infrequently. The immigration process typically completes within 15 to 30 minutes depending on flight passenger load.
Customs permits duty-free entry of 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 grams tobacco, one liter of spirits, and personal effects. Agricultural products face strict import controls. Officers inspect bags more thoroughly than on larger Caribbean islands. Fruit, vegetables, plants, and soil require permits from the Ministry of Agriculture. Officers confiscate undeclared agricultural materials. The inspection process reflects Dominica's emphasis on protecting endemic species and agricultural zones from external contamination.
Douglas-Charles Airport sits 64 kilometers from Roseau along a route passing through Pond Casse and the Layou River valley. Official taxis operate on fixed government rates. The fare to Roseau ranges between 120 and 140 XCD, equivalent to 44 to 52 USD at fixed exchange rates. The journey requires 75 to 90 minutes along winding mountain roads. Portsmouth sits 35 kilometers from the airport with taxi fares between 65 and 75 XCD. Calibishie lies 15 kilometers north with fares between 30 and 40 XCD.
Taxis queue outside the terminal building. No advance booking requirement exists though some hotels arrange pickup. Drivers accept both XCD and USD. Taxis operate as individual vehicles rather than shared transport. No official bus service connects the airport to any destination. Private shuttle services operate through some hotels and tour companies at rates comparable to taxis. Rental car companies maintain desks inside the terminal. Driving from airport to Roseau requires navigating narrow roads with significant curves and elevation changes reaching above 600 meters between Pont Casse and the Roseau Valley.