Residence permit necessary for work
I do not know exactly if the volunteer work you will do is considered a job.The DR immigration law says that foreigners who want to work in the country do need a residence permit. So far the employer had to apply for the residence permit with the Direcci?n General de Migraci?n in Santo Domingo, but lately a presidential decree has been issued saying that all the applications for provisional residence permits (valid for one year preliminary to the indefinite one) must be filed with a DR consulate in the country of domicile of the applicant. I do not know if these rules already apply. You should enquire with a DR consulate in your country or ask this question to Mr. Fabio Guzman in the DR 1 legal forum.