BIRTH CERTIFICATE Info
Birth certificates (Actas de Nacimiento, in Spanish) are available for all persons born in the Dominican Republic. Certified copies of birth certificates may be obtained by visiting the Civil Registry Office (Oficial?a del Estado Civil) having jurisdiction over the place in which the birth occurred. Alternatively, birth certificates may be obtained by writing directly to the General Directorate of Civil Registry Offices of the Republic (Direcci?n General de las Oficial?as del Estado Civil de la Rep?blica) in Santo Domingo, giving the place and year of the person?s birth. The address of the General Directorate is Calle Paul Harris esq. Horacio Vicioso.
Two types of birth certificates are available: a condensed version called an "Extracto de Acta" and a longer version, called an "Acta Inextensa," which contains more information. Both versions are legitimate civil documents; however, only the Acta Inextensa is accepted for immigrant, K and V visa purposes.
Dominican civil documents used for visa purposes must be legalized at the Oficina Central del Estado Civil, the main civil registry office in Santo Domingo.
POLICE RECORD
Available. A police certificate, called a Certificate of No Criminal Record (Certificado de No Antecedentes Policiales, in Spanish), is obtainable by both Dominicans and non-Dominicans who permanently reside in, or have resided in, the Dominican Republic and who are age 16 or over. In Santo Domingo, interested parties must apply in person at the Club de Villa Juana, located on Calle Paraguay at the corner of Seybo, in the Villa Juana section. In the rest of the country, the document must be requested at the local police station. Applicants must present an original and a photocopy of their passport or Dominican national identification card, one (1) passport-sized photograph (2 inches by 2 inches), and the fee in cash (80 Dominican pesos). The police certificate will be ready 48 hours after it has been requested and is handed directly to the interested party for presentation during the visa interview. Minors without a national identification card may obtain the Certificate of No Criminal Record by presenting their passport at the Juvenile Department (Departamento de Menores, in Spanish) at Club de Villa Juana. Minors without a passport must present a birth certificate.
Applicants outside of the Dominican Republic may apply in person for a certificate at any Dominican embassy or consular post. The turnaround time is longer than for persons who apply in Santo Domingo.
The certificate measures 8.5 inches x 11 inches and has a light blue background with a white border. A photograph of the applicant is attached to the upper right corner of the document, and a wet seal is placed over the photograph. At the top of the page the following words appear in all capital letters:
REPUBLICA DOMINICANA
POLICIA NACIONAL
TODO POR LA PATRIA
DIRECCION GENERAL DE INVESTIGACIONES CRIMINALES
SANTO DOMINGO, REPUBLICA DOMINICANA
CERTIFICADO DE NO ANTECEDENTES POLICIALES
The authorized signature on the document reads: Major Pedro Betances Montero.
PRISON RECORD
Available. Prison records are maintained on all current and former prisoners in the Dominican Republic 18 years of age or over. A prison certificate may be obtained by writing directly to the Penal Court that sentenced the interested party to prison.
MILITARY RECORD
Unavailable.
OTHER RECORDS
Available. Certified copies of marriage, adoption, divorce and death certificates may be obtained by visiting the Civil Registry Office (Oficial?a del Estado Civil) having jurisdiction over the area in which the marriage, divorce, adoption or death took place. Alternatively, such certificates may be obtained by writing directly to the General Directorate of Civil Registry Offices of the Republic (Direcci?n General de las Oficial?as del Estado Civil de la Rep?blica) in Santo Domingo. The address of the General Directorate is Calle Paul Harris esq. Horacio Vicioso.
Domincan civil documents used for visa purposes must be legalized at the Oficina Central del Estado Civil, the main civil registry office in Santo Domingo.