- Thread starter Coach Bob
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Retiring and Gaining Residency in the D.R.
when you get to 10 posts - I have a lawyer for you...
send me a message then.... it takes 10 posts to get on private messages
send me a message then.... it takes 10 posts to get on private messages
judypdr... best of information so far.. Big Thanks! . . . Yes, I have been coming to the D.R. since 2010, stayed in Sosua, Cabarete, Las Terrenas, Punta Cana/Bavaro, La Capital, Boca, Bayahibe, San Cristobl . . I 've had an apartment in La Romana off and on since 2012, and normally stay summers in La Romana, as well as the Christmas & Semana Santa Holiday. I'm actually very used to living in totally Dominican barrios . . I'm retiring this June... and hope to be in the D.R. by the end of July. I'm looking at Cabarete for living.
My apologies. You're right. I think all you need is a $1500/mo pension to qualify for permanent residency(?).
Correct! I could have saved a bundle on my temporary renewals if I had waited till I started getting social security but then I wouldn't have been able to import all my household stuff till then so I would have paid two more years of storage and had to buy stuff...or pay import duties...always a trade off!
I almost lived in Cabarete too but I'm glad I opted for Costambar. Cabarete is more fun and full of activities but I like to visit not live there. But each person is so different. Best of luck to you!
that entire cost line from Rio San Juan west as far as to your area interests me. I have some interest n the Bayahibe area as well. I've spent plenty of laid back days and nights in Bayahibe over the past 8 years, but the problem with Bayahibe is that you have to go into La Romana for your goods. . . .and thank you!
Costambar is a semi-gated community on the Santiago side of Puerto Plata. It was originally a "planned" tourist community like Casa de Campo but the developers went bankrupt so it didn't get the influx of money as planned. Still, it has developed over the years into a mixed expat and Dominican village of sorts. The houses are quite nice and the beach is clean. The water is shallow but not polluted. There is some seaweed. The expats tend to be here October to April and the activities vary. During the rest of the year is it very laid back and quiet. There is a small supermercado that will deliver for a small fee and many restaurants on the beach and on the main road. The security is good and for the most part it is very safe. There are apartments for very low rentals, condos for rent or sale and nice villas and upscale residences. it is a 500 pesos taxi ride to Puerto Plata (round trip) or there is a public car that will follow a set route for less than 50 pesos. There are also motoconchos if you are brave. There is prostitution, of course. Blackbeards is the best known location for nightly entertainment but the area overall has much more of a family vibe than Sosua. Electricity is 24/7 and water is city or pumped from trucks. The roads in the community are a little rough as there are not many voters to influence the government to maintain them. The stretch from the main road to the gate is paved nicely. Ask me if you have specific questions.
Speaking of goods...
I find the north coast lacking in choice for quality merchandise. What I want either isn't available outside the larger cities or the offerings are of a type and quality that I would prefer to avoid. Depending on where you end up, a familiar retail experience can be a couple of hours or more away.
You can get stuff shipped to you and order some things from Dominican stores online, but if your Spanish is limited and you are not the adventurous type, you usually don't get involved in much of that. Most eventually accept that what you end up with is the best of what can be had locally. Rio San Juan will offer fewer opportunities than Puerto Plata. You can drive from RSJ to Puerto Plata but that exercise will become tiresome quickly. The North Coast of the DR is definitely not like what you are used to back home.
More English on the North Coast, but foreign residents spend a lot of time going backing and forth to Santo Domingo for immigration matters and other government processes. If I was to do this again, because I don't really need a beach, I'd look at the Santiago area a little more closely. If A beach is required, the I'd have to consider the south coast. I really really hate travelling to get something done because it can't be done anywhere near where I live. I have to go to SD in a couple of weeks and I am already doubling the Baileys in my morning coffee just thinking about it.
I find the north coast lacking in choice for quality merchandise. What I want either isn't available outside the larger cities or the offerings are of a type and quality that I would prefer to avoid. Depending on where you end up, a familiar retail experience can be a couple of hours or more away.
You can get stuff shipped to you and order some things from Dominican stores online, but if your Spanish is limited and you are not the adventurous type, you usually don't get involved in much of that. Most eventually accept that what you end up with is the best of what can be had locally. Rio San Juan will offer fewer opportunities than Puerto Plata. You can drive from RSJ to Puerto Plata but that exercise will become tiresome quickly. The North Coast of the DR is definitely not like what you are used to back home.
More English on the North Coast, but foreign residents spend a lot of time going backing and forth to Santo Domingo for immigration matters and other government processes. If I was to do this again, because I don't really need a beach, I'd look at the Santiago area a little more closely. If A beach is required, the I'd have to consider the south coast. I really really hate travelling to get something done because it can't be done anywhere near where I live. I have to go to SD in a couple of weeks and I am already doubling the Baileys in my morning coffee just thinking about it.
The immigration ministry must have been pressured by some influential lawyers who want nothing more than have every gringo visitor who stays more than 30 days, forced into getting residency. I have my first year permanent residency but in the DR permanent just means next year I must renew that permanent- then i can wait for 4 years to do again. This said, I had to 5 years in a row to renew temp. now another year of temp (they call it permanent but is one year). So expect 6 years before you get a 4 year break from this annoying time consuming process. This 1st year Perm. meant 3 total visits of wasting most of a full day. so lets say that an average of %1500x6 = $9000 if you live next door to immigration in SD, if not add all your travel and stay over costs as well countless hours. Now, every snowbird or visitor who comes her for more than 60 days has to do all this???? Do they believe this strong arm tactic to line the pockets of immigration lawyers will not hurt the economy? Well i am now in the NC and the rentals and tourists have dropped off considerably. Cancun is a far better option for a easy 6 months stay!
Thanks 2dlight . . . I live in the South Bay area in Torrance, very close to Redondo Beach. So a weekday drive after the morning rush hour through downtown L.A. into the foothills of the San Fernando Valley can take anywhere from 45 min. to an hour & a half . . . But this is great info!
Wow.. a lot of great information here . . . Thank all of you members!
I've spent most of my time in the D.R. on La Caribe side of the island in La Romana from 2012 to the present. So most of my actual time spent on the ground living has been in the Dominican barrios of La Romana among the local 'gente'. I spend about 8 to 10 weeks there over 3 trips per/yr. of the average. Most of short trips, 2 to 4 day-trips are to the Bavaro/Punta Cana area, nearby Bayahibe, and Las Terrenas (4 hr. drive). My first 2 years visiting, 2010/11, I stayed in Sousa (4 times) and Cabarete (3 times). I did not like vibe of Sousa for living, love the beach. I enjoyed the more laid back vibe of Cabarete. I love the Jazz Festival . .. So I have some actual real time living in some tough barrios.
I'm a 3rd. generation Mexican-Amer. who can pass for a Dominican, and I speak decent Spanish. I've had 3 different local GF's, 2 from La Romana, 1 from El Seibo.
So, another thought here . . Is there such a thing as 6 month tourist visa? . . . Or, do they hassle you if you leave the country every 30 days and return
I've spent most of my time in the D.R. on La Caribe side of the island in La Romana from 2012 to the present. So most of my actual time spent on the ground living has been in the Dominican barrios of La Romana among the local 'gente'. I spend about 8 to 10 weeks there over 3 trips per/yr. of the average. Most of short trips, 2 to 4 day-trips are to the Bavaro/Punta Cana area, nearby Bayahibe, and Las Terrenas (4 hr. drive). My first 2 years visiting, 2010/11, I stayed in Sousa (4 times) and Cabarete (3 times). I did not like vibe of Sousa for living, love the beach. I enjoyed the more laid back vibe of Cabarete. I love the Jazz Festival . .. So I have some actual real time living in some tough barrios.
I'm a 3rd. generation Mexican-Amer. who can pass for a Dominican, and I speak decent Spanish. I've had 3 different local GF's, 2 from La Romana, 1 from El Seibo.
So, another thought here . . Is there such a thing as 6 month tourist visa? . . . Or, do they hassle you if you leave the country every 30 days and return
No such animal. You can overstay and still pay the fine when you exit. If you are planning to move to the DR permanently than you need to apply for residency. There is really no simple way around it. Said it before and will say it again, "paradise doesn't come without a price."
Put me in Coach!
If you establish your residency in a state that does not have income tax (think Nevada but there are others) before you jump off on your overseas adventure then that's one less expense you have to deal with. When you live overseas your state of residency is where you say it is. Just back it up with an address of record in the state where you are declaring your residency, with some real changes like drivers license and voter registration. Then file your federal taxes from that address.
Also, I found it helpful to sign up for a mail forwarding service in case of a extended stay overseas. BMCargo (recommend by another poster in another forum) has worked well for me for both mail and package delivery. I started out with health insurance from Humano. Their service and coverage was excellent. And the price started out great. But they have this strange policy of dramatically raising your rates if you actually use the insurance. They must consider getting sick a side effect they don't want to pay for. I have switched to Universal.
I'm a south coast man myself. In my opinion people from the US be sleeping on Barahona. Santo Domingo is crazy but Santo Domingo este has all the basics with less craziness. That is where I wound up. If I had do it all over again I would plant myself firmly in Punta Cana but would make it a point to avoid hanging of the window drunk going down the road. Those road signs be unforgiving. North coast...love to party there but not on my best places to live. We each have our preferences and that's what draws me there. I can be almost anywhere I want to be in 5 hours drive time. Every time I get out...they pull me right back in.
Congrats on making it to retirement and getting off the mean streets of LA. Time to party brother!
If you establish your residency in a state that does not have income tax (think Nevada but there are others) before you jump off on your overseas adventure then that's one less expense you have to deal with. When you live overseas your state of residency is where you say it is. Just back it up with an address of record in the state where you are declaring your residency, with some real changes like drivers license and voter registration. Then file your federal taxes from that address.
Also, I found it helpful to sign up for a mail forwarding service in case of a extended stay overseas. BMCargo (recommend by another poster in another forum) has worked well for me for both mail and package delivery. I started out with health insurance from Humano. Their service and coverage was excellent. And the price started out great. But they have this strange policy of dramatically raising your rates if you actually use the insurance. They must consider getting sick a side effect they don't want to pay for. I have switched to Universal.
I'm a south coast man myself. In my opinion people from the US be sleeping on Barahona. Santo Domingo is crazy but Santo Domingo este has all the basics with less craziness. That is where I wound up. If I had do it all over again I would plant myself firmly in Punta Cana but would make it a point to avoid hanging of the window drunk going down the road. Those road signs be unforgiving. North coast...love to party there but not on my best places to live. We each have our preferences and that's what draws me there. I can be almost anywhere I want to be in 5 hours drive time. Every time I get out...they pull me right back in.
Congrats on making it to retirement and getting off the mean streets of LA. Time to party brother!
Don't think he is talking about US Residency. We're talking about getting residency in the DR which is necessary if you are going to live there, full or part time.