Read this moving to the Dominican Republic guide to learn everything you need to know about the country, visas, permits, and more.
Business Visa
Before moving to the Dominican Republic, you must obtain either a business visa (Visa de Negocios) or a business visa for employment purposes (Visa de Negocios con Fines Laborales), which is issued for one year and allows for either one entry for 60 days or multiple entries for one year, but only for a maximum of two consecutive months at a time.
The latter is the relevant visa for persons going to the Dominican Republic to work for private or public companies on fixed-term contracts; with this visa, you can apply for a driver’s license, create a bank account, and so on. As long as you have a legitimate job contract, you can renew your visa at the Department of Immigration (Direcciรณn General de Migraciรณn) in Santo Domingo.
The following documents must be submitted to apply for a business visa for employment reasons. All international documents must be notarized and translated into Spanish, with the original, as well as the translation, apostilled:
- visa application
- a frontal photograph (with a white background and a size of 22 inches)
- A passport that is valid for at least the term of the visa.
- a health certificate
- At the time of application, a criminal record certificate from your country of residence
- copies of your country of nationality’s national identity document, as well as a photocopy of your residence card if you’re living in another country photocopy of previous Dominican visas or residency cards (for visa renewal)
- A letter from you or the company for whom you would be working, addressed to the consular division, stating your name, nationality, domicile, and occupation.
You’ll also need a “Resolution” from the Dominican Republic’s Ministry of Labor. The Ministry’s Labor Department has issued this document. It confirms the applicant’s job contract and, as a result, their purpose for migrating to the Dominican Republic, as well as the employee’s position, contract term, and compensation.
Nationals of certain countries that visit the Dominican Republic for short-term business meetings, site inspections, or brief training courses can enter with a Tourist Card, which is essentially a USD 10 tax on tourists; a visa is not necessary for this scenario.
Resident Permit
It makes no difference whether you’re moving to the Dominican Republic on a tourist or business visa. You must apply for a residency permit if your stay is more than two months (Visa de Residencia). To do so, you must first submit an application to a Dominican Republic consulate with the necessary information. All documents from outside the United States must be notarized and translated into Spanish. The original, as well as the translation, must be apostilled:
- visa application
- a frontal photograph (with a white background and a size of 22 inches)
- A passport that is valid for at least the term of the visa.
- a health certificate
- At the time of application, a criminal record certificate from your country of residence (not required for minors)
- A copy of your national identity document, as well as a photocopy of your Residence Card if you are residing in a second country.
- A copy of your birth certificate
A notarized letter of guarantee signed by a Dominican or a legal resident of the Dominican Republic detailing their relationship to you will also be required. If you are unable to pay, this individual must guarantee to cover any costs associated with your move to the Dominican Republic. The letter of guarantee must be signed by a Dominican Republic notary and legalized by the Dominican Republic Attorney General’s Office.
You’ll also need a visa application letter submitted to the Consular Section that includes your name, nationality, place of residence, and occupation, as well as information about your reasons for migrating to the Dominican Republic, such as job, retirement, or marry a Dominican.
Last but not least, you’ll need proof of your financial stability. All documentation must be issued in your name only, not in the name of your guarantor. These documents may include the following:
- a letter from your bank containing account balance information
- Copies of property titles (must show original)
- the registration of existing businesses
- a photocopy of your most recent tax return
- a duplicate of the financial certifications
- Employment letter or confirmation of pension
When you move to the Dominican Republic, you must hand in all papers to the foreign ministry (Cancellara) in Santo Domingo after submitting all documents to the Dominican consulate or embassy in your country. If you are migrating with your family, if your spouse is a Dominican citizen, or if you have relatives in the Dominican Republic, you may be required to submit additional documents, such as a marriage certificate.