It’s a very tough life if you are a Haitian migrant. In addition to the new checks on those who do not have regularized legal status, in the DR Haitian migrants have to deal with long delays at the Haitian mission in their quest to renew or secure passports, Diario Libre reports.
Haitians need the document to regularize their status in the Dominican Republic. Diario Libre reports the Haitians interviewed say major sums of cash is needed to fast-track the issuance. For decades, Haitians here have had to wait long years to get the document. Others have found out that connections within the consulate can make a difference.
Many told Diario Libre the only way to bypass the delays is to pay substantial bribes ranging from RD$35,000 to RD$50,000 (approximately US$650 to US$925).
“I paid 35,000 pesos and received my passport in 15 days. Others have paid up to 50,000, but not everyone can afford it,” Edrice Decimiste told Diario Libre. He said he had been waiting for two years after delivering all required documents.
According to Decimiste, many Haitians meet all the requirements of the Migration Agency’s National Regularization Plan but are still rejected due to lacking a valid passport. This creates a catch-22 situation where the absence of a passport prevents them from completing any further documentation processes.
“The biggest problem is that without a passport, Haitians can’t legally do anything,” commented Elmane St-Marc. “They can’t get a work permit, a good conduct certificate, or renew their migration card.”
While hundreds of Haitians endure endless lines at the embassy and wait for years, others who make financial sacrifices claim to receive their passports in less than three weeks. Foreign nationals interviewed by Diario Libre expressed frustration with an inequitable system where payment seems to be the only path to resolution.
“I have to carry my passport, but even if it’s expired, migration officials can still detain me,” said one complainant. “When you’re nobody and you don’t know anyone inside [the embassy], nothing gets done. I’ve been waiting for 12 months.”
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Diario Libre
Diario Libre
22 May 2025