To open a business, work or reside permanently in the Dominican Republic one must be a resident, which can be obtained in two weeks.
In order to obtain residency in the Dominican Republic, it is necessary to enter with a passport.
To become an official resident of the Dominican Republic, the first step is to obtain provisional residency. Provisional residency lasts one year, after which one must obtain permanent residency. This is the first step in obtaining the Cédula , a form of identification frequently in use in Spanish speaking countries and serves as a kind of internal passport. All members of the family need to obtain provisional residency. It is best to employ a legal firm specializing in these matters to assist you in getting your residency. The following list will give you an idea of the documents involved. Documents needed for a family are:
1) Passport for each family member.
2) Signed copies of forms for Provisional Residency. (Form C-1 Ref.), two each for the husband and wife.
3) A birth certificate for each applicant or a letter from his Embassy stating where he was born, on what date, his passport number and date of its expiration, (the Immigration Department will keep these documents and normally it is desirable that the letter form be obtained. In the case of U.S. citizens, this letter can be obtained free of charge at the U.S. Consulate, César Nicolás Penso Street at the corner of Máximo Gómez).
4) Recent photos, 5 front views, and 4 side views 2" x 2" for both husband and wife signed on the back; 2 front views 2" x 2" for each child.
5) A cover letter signed by the husband requesting provisional residency for himself and other family members. The wife will need a letter from her husband stating that he is her husband and is covering her costs in the Dominican Republic, which must be signed before a Notary Public. Each child will need a letter from his father declaring he is the child's father and will cover his costs in the Dominican Republic. This may be included in the wife's letter:
6) A letter from the husband's employer stating his employment, a copy of his employment contract or evidence that the applicant is economically self-sufficient.
7) A letter from a solvent resident of the Dominican Republic indicating his property and promising to cover all expenses that the applicant might incur during his stay in the Dominican Republic, signed before a Notary Public.
8) A sworn declaration by two persons residing in the Dominican Republic stating that they know the applicant, that he is a person of good conduct and does not fall within any reasons fro excluding him from the country listed in Article 10, Law No.95.
Once this is issued a Cédula (identification card) must be obtained. This is important as it must be shown to obtain such things as registered mail etc., and without it travel documents will not be written, nor can a drivers license be obtained.
Immigration to the Dominican Republic is regulated by Law 95, published on the 17th day of April of 1939. This Law states that foreigners who wish to be admitted to the country must present current passport or travel documents that identify the person validated by a Dominican diplomat or consular officer, except those that are exempted complete or partially from these requirements. The regulations that complement the Law are set forth in Law 279 which states the definitions of visitors to the country who are considered immigrants. Those who are not considered immigrants are as would be supposed: Passengers on tourist boats, merchant seamen in transits, foreigners who have residency documents and have traveled abroad, temporary workers and citizens of countries where no documents are required of Dominicans.
As previously stated one must be a resident in order to do business in the Dominican Republic. This requirement has been exempted in the case of manufacturer's representatives, agents and importers for resale for a period of four years residency.
It is therefore important that these considerations be taken into account by companies who do business here on a direct sale basis by representatives who travel to the Dominican Republic from the States, stay a few days or weeks on a tourist visa and then leave.
Please understand that this information is general information. Specific cases vary. If you are interested in becoming a resident of the Dominican Republic, please contact our office for costs and forms. Please have the above documentation available.
