Residency in the dominican republic under the new immigration regulations
RESIDENCY IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
UNDER THE NEW IMMIGRATION REGULATIONS
Prepared by
Guzm?n Ariza
Attorneys at Law
Beginning June 1, 2012, residency status in the Dominican Republic is governed by
Immigration Law No. 285-04 and Immigration Regulation No. 631-11.
Foreign nationals are prohibited by statute from entering the Dominican Republic for
residency purposes in the following cases:
1) Contagious illness threatening to public health, except, under certain requirements, when
sponsored by relatives living in the DR.
2) Mental illness or physical disabilities, with certain exceptions.
3) Conviction for a crime (drugs, human trafficking, prostitution, terrorism, and other serious
offences).
4) Previous deportation without reentry permit or prohibition from entering the country.
Foreign nationals seeking residency in the Dominican Republic fall into two categories: a)
those who may apply immediately for permanent residency; and b) those who first must apply first
for temporary residency. The following applicants may apply immediately for permanent residency
status without having to previously obtain temporary residency status:
1) Investors of at least 200,000 USD in local businesses (including free zones and government
contracts) or in local financial instruments.
2) Retirees with a monthly pension of at least 1,500 USD (plus 250 USD per dependent).
3) Applicants with monthly income of at least 2,000 USD for five years or more (rentistas).
4) Applicants related to Dominicans or to foreigners with permanent residency status in DR (spouses
and children).
The application process is essentially the same for both temporary and permanent residency,
except for some additional documents required in permanent residency applications. The first step
is to apply for a residency visa at the Dominican Consulate nearest to the applicant?s domicile. It is
no longer possible to apply for residency from within the Dominican Republic, as was usually done
before. Requirements for the visa application are the following:
1) Pictures of the applicant
2) Original passport valid for at least a stay of 60 days in the DR.
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3) Documents justifying the granting of the visa. For example, work contract with a Dominican
company.
4) Medical certificate from the health authorities of the country of domicile of the applicant.
5) Criminal record certificate from the authorities of the country of domicile of the applicant.
6) Photocopy of the national I.D. of the applicant, and, if the applicant resides in a third country,
photocopy of his/her residency card in the third country.
7) Birth certificate. If in a language other than Spanish, the certificate must be translated by a legal
translator and authenticated at the Consulate. Both the original and the translation into Spanish must
be filed with the application.
8) Marriage certificate, if applicable. If in a foreign language. The same requirements for birth
certificates apply.
9) Letter of guarantee signed by a Dominican or a permanent resident of the DR.
10) Documents justifying the applicant?s solvency.
Foreign documents must be apostilled or legalized at the Dominican Consulate depending
on the jurisdiction. Documents in a language other than Spanish must be translated by the Consulate.
Law No. 285-04 mandates that residency applicants must obtain local insurance to cover
medical and repatriation expenses. However, this requirement has been temporarily waived by the
Immigration Department.
Residency applications may include dependents such as a spouse and children, provided that
the proper documentation is attached (birth certificates, marriage certificate, passports, pictures, etc.).
Criminal record certificates are only required of dependents of legal age.
The residency visa is good for only one entry into the Dominican Republic for an initial
period of 60 days. The cost of the application is 90 USD, or 90 ? in the Euro Zone.
Residency visas are approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Santo Domingo. If the
visa is approved, the Consulate will stamp the residency visa on the applicant?s passport. The
application file will then be forwarded to the Immigration Department for processing. It is highly
advisable that applicants keep a copy of the complete visa application file, including translations and
authentications.
Within 30 days of his/her arrival in the Dominican Republic, the applicant must go to the
Immigration Department with his/her passport to sign application forms, register fingerprints and
undergo the required medical tests.
It is estimated that processing time for residency applications will be at least between four
and six months from the date of the applicant signs the application at the Immigration Department.
Upon approval of his/her application as a resident, the applicant will receive a temporary or
permanent residency card and a c?dula de identidad (national I.D.). In both cases, residents must
hold current passports at all times.
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Temporary residency is granted for one year. Applications for renewal must be made in
person within thirty days before the expiration date. Temporary residents may apply for permanent
residency after 5 years, within 45 days before the expiration date of their temporary residency card.
The applications properly filed at the Immigration Department before June 1, 2012, will
processed under the old rules,without the applicant having to obtain residency visa.
Permanent residents must renew their residency card after one year; subsequent cards will
be renewable every four years, except for retirees and rentistas who must renew every two years.
After ten years, permanent residents will be issued a definitive residency card, not subject to renewal.
An annual residency fee, however, will still have to be paid.
An applicant wishing to renew his/her temporary or permanent residency must provide the
Immigration Department with a passport valid for at least 18 months, residency card, c?dula,
pictures, local police certificate, letter of guarantee, etc. To renew his/her permanent residency, the
applicant must also undergo a new medical exam, and justify that the conditions under which
residency was originally granted have not changed (employment, investment, pension, etc.).
Residents must obtain a special re-entry permit if their residency cards will expire while they
are out of the Dominican Republic. Residents must also inform the Immigration Department of any
change of domicile.
As a temporary measure, foreign nationals whose provisional residencies have expired will
have until August to file for permanent residency under the old rules. The same will apply to those
with expired permanent residences who, therefore, need a renewal. If they do not file within this
time frame, they'll lose their status as residents.
Permanent residents may apply for citizenship after two years as permanent residents.
Investors and spouses of Dominican nationals may apply after six months.
It is illegal for nonresidents to work in the DR. Employers of nonresident workers will be
subject to fines. Illegal workers are subject to deportation.
