The Ministry of Foreign Relations (Mirex) announces that as part of a structural overhaul of the Dominican Republic’s foreign service, President Luis Abinader has ordered that all income generated by Dominican consulates be transferred directly to the state. The measure is described as a critical step in the “RD Meta 2036” project to align government transparency with the standards required for accession to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The Dominican Republic is taking steps to become a full member of the OECD.
Under the new mandate, 100% of consular service fees will be deposited into the Single Treasury Account (CUT). Historically, consular offices operated under a decentralized model that allowed for varied management of local receipts. The government stated that this centralization ensures state supervision and provides the necessary liquidity to expand services to new regions where Dominican expats have requested a presence.
To address what the Ministry described as “historical distortions,” the reform introduces a standardized salary scale for consular personnel. The new wages are designed to be comparable to those in the diplomatic service, aiming to professionalize the corps and ensure equitable compensation. Mirex indicates that the reorganization of consulates will now be dictated by objective operational needs and citizen service requirements rather than discretionary staffing.
The transition to this centralized model will be gradual, with the final phase of the rollout scheduled to begin on 1 January 2027. The policy applies to all Dominican consulates and consular sections globally.
The reform is a pillar of the Abinader administration’s broader institutionalization strategy. By adopting international best practices in public resource management, the Dominican government aims to meet the governance benchmarks set by the OECD. This move follows previous efforts to streamline the foreign service and integrate diplomatic and consular functions into a more cohesive, accountable unit.
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Ministry of Foreign Relations
07 April 2026