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If you are considering moving to the Dominican Republic, it is no surprise. With luxury resorts, pristine beaches, and a low cost of living, the country already attracts expats from all over the world. In addition, approximately 450,000 people live on the island nation who were born elsewhere, making up 4.5% of the total population.
If you are considering moving there, you must ensure you have gathered all the necessary information. This article will help you answer all the most important questions.
Facts About the Dominican Republic
Here are some interesting facts about the Dominican Republic:
| Size | 18,619 km² |
| Population | 10.8 million |
| Capital City | Santo Domingo |
| Official language | Spanish |
| Currency | Dominican Peso (DOP) |
| Political system | Unitary presidential republic |
| Major religion | Christianity |
| Demographics | 73% mixed race, 16% white, 11% black |
| Foreign-born population | Around 4.5% |
Do I Need a Visa to Move to the Dominican Republic?
Whether you are required to obtain a visa to enter the Dominican Republic depends on your nationality. For example, if you are a citizen from one of the following countries, you will not need to apply for a Dominican Republic visa:
- Europe countries
- Iceland
- Qatar
- Albania
- Israel
- Russia
- Andorra
- Jamaica
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Japan
- Saint Lucia
- Argentina
- Kazakhstan
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Australia
- Kiribati
- San Marino
- Bahamas
- Kuwait
- Serbia
- Bahrain
- Liechtenstein
- Seychelles
- Barbados
- Macau
- Singapore
- Belize
- Malaysia
- Solomon Islands
- Bolivia
- Marshall Islands
- South Africa
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Mauritius
- South Korea
- Botswana
- Mexico
- Suriname
- Brazil
- Micronesia
- Switzerland
- Brunei
- Monaco
- Taiwan
- Canada
- Montenegro
- Thailand
- Chile
- Morocco
- Tonga
- Colombia
- Namibia
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Costa Rica
- Nauru
- Turkey
- Ecuador
- New Zealand
- Tuvalu
- El Salvador
- Nicaragua
- Ukraine
- Fiji
- North Macedonia
- United Arab Emirates
- Grenada
- Norway
- United Kingdom
- Guatemala
- Panama
- United States
- Guyana
- Papua New Guinea
- Uruguay
- Honduras
- Paraguay
- Vanuatu
- Hong Kong
- Peru
- Vatican City
How Can I Move to the Dominican Republic?
If you are a citizen of the country that requires applying for a visa to enter the Dominican Republic to move there, you must apply for a long-stay visa. A long-stay visa will allow you to stay for a year, and if you want to stay longer, you must apply for a residence permit.
Moving to the Dominican Republic for Work
Moving to the Dominican Republic for work requires applying for a work (business) visa. The Dominican Republic offers two types of work visas ‘Visa de Negocios’ (business visa) and Visa de Negocios con Fines Laborales (business visa for employment purposes). To move there, you must apply for the Visa de Negocios con Fines Laborales (business visa for employment purposes), valid for one year.
In addition, you must apply for a temporary residence permit (Visa de Residencia). You must apply in advance to a consulate of the Dominican Republic. You can also apply for a residence permit within the country at the General Directorate of Migration (Dirección General de Migración).
Moving to the Dominican Republic to Study
If you have been accepted into a Dominican Republic educational program, you can move there to study. Firstly, you must apply for a student visa. The visa is issued based on the duration of your study program. As long as you meet the requirements, you can extend the visa.
Furthermore, you are required to apply for a temporary residence permit at the General Directorate of Migration of the Dominican Republic. The permit is usually issued for a year, and you can extend it.
Moving to the Dominican Republic for Family Reunification
If you are a partner/spouse or a child under 18 years of age of a Dominican citizen or a foreigner with a permanent residence permit, you can move to the Dominican Republic for family reunification. However, you must apply for a family reunification visa to reunite with your family.
To qualify for a family reunification visa, your family members — who’re joining must have lived in the Dominican Republic for a minimum of a year under a temporary residence permit.
Moving to the Dominican Republic for Retirement
To retire in the Dominican Republic, you must apply for a retirement visa (pensionado visa). To be eligible for the visa, you must receive a minimum monthly pension or retirement of $1,500 ($1,750 for couples). You can also enter the country on another visa and apply for a retirement visa at the General Directorate of Migration.
Retirement visas are issued for two years in the Dominican Republic. Upon arriving in the country, you will have 30 days to submit your Provisional Residency Application at the General Directorate of Migration.
How Can I Become a Permanent Resident in the Dominican Republic?
After legally residing in the Dominican Republic with a temporary residence permit for five years, you can become a permanent resident. The application process for the permanent residence permit takes six months; you must apply in advance before your temporary residence permit expires. The application takes place at the Migration Directorate of the Dominican Republic.
As a permanent resident, you must renew your residence card every 12 months, then once in four years. Finally, you will be issued a non-renewable residence card after ten years.
How Can I Become a Dominican Republic Citizen?
You can become a Dominican Republic citizen after two years of possessing a permanent residence permit. After that, you can apply for citizenship at the Department of Interior.
Then you will undergo an interview in Spanish. Finally, after five months, you will be summoned to take an oath of citizenship granted by the President of the country.
Does the Dominican Republic Allow Dual Citizenship?
The Dominican Republic allows dual citizenship. Moreover, you are not required to renounce citizenship of your country to win Dominican citizenship. However, you must ensure that your country of origin allows dual citizenship before applying.
How Can I Move My Belongings to the Dominican Republic?
If you have been living in the Dominican Republic for at least two years, you can bring your belongings tax-free. However, your possessions must have been in your possession for at least two years. Moreover, customs clearance takes about five days.
To import your belongings into the country, you must provide the following:
- A commercial invoice.
- A bill of landing or Air Bill.
- A consular invoice.
- Proof you have been residing in the country for at least two years.
Prohibited items include:
- Any dangerous objects.
- Explosives.
- p*rnographic and subversive materials.
- Illegal drugs.
Note: All new items will be liable to tax.
Can I Move With Pets to the Dominican Republic?
You can move to the Dominican Republic with pets but must follow a few requirements.
- Each pet must be identified through a microchip. The microchip should be ISO Standard 11784 or Annex A to ISO Standard 11785.
- Each pet must have a Rabies vaccination and certificate.
- All pets must have a standard Health Certificate completed by an accredited veterinarian. The certificate must be issued 15 days before the relocation and state that the pets have been free of disease for at least three months before traveling.
- The veterinarian must evaluate your pets within 72 hours before the departure date that they are free of disease.
- Al mentioned documents must have their stamp of approval.
Why Should I Move to the Dominican Republic?
Read on for the pros and cons of moving to the Dominican Republic if you have considered moving there:
| Pros | Cons |
| Living costs— the living costs in the Dominican Republic are incredibly affordable. Compared to the USA, the living costs are 31.3% cheaper. Typically, you will be spending between 500 – 1000 USD per month. | Infrastructure— the Dominican Republic has poor infrastructure. For example, while walking on a sidewalk, you’ll come across low-hanging power cables, or when crossing the streets will be risky because of the absence of traffic lights. |
| Dynamic culture— the Dominican Republic is a country with a vibrant culture. There are friendly people everywhere, and you’re sure to meet someone you’ll get along with. | Corruption— the Dominican Republic suffers from corruption. Corruption remains a severe problem in the government or any sector of the country. |
| Weather—if you want to live in a country with warm weather, the Dominican Republic is the right place. The country is warm all around the year. In addition, with a tropical climate, you can expect warm rains from time to time. The average air temperature will be 26℃ and the water temperature 27℃. | Low salaries— the average wage in the country is about 19,000 DOP or 330 USD. To earn more will be difficult for expats as well. Unless you possess a profession such as a doctor, lawyer, or private school teacher. |
| Nature— white-sand beaches with turquoise water are sure to be the Dominican Republic’s biggest draw. It takes only a few seconds for tourists to be captivated by tropical forests and mountains. Whether you live on the coast or in the interior, you are always a short drive from a pristine beach. | Safety— crime rates are high in the Dominican Republic, especially in the capital city of Santo Domingo, Arroyo Hondo, Cristo Rey, Naco, and Gazcue. Among the most prevalent crimes in the Dominican Republic are transport crimes, muggings, money scams, thefts, and murders. In addition, in the case of women moving solo, sexual harassment is a real possibility. |
| Cheap and delicious food— Dominican cuisine is diverse. The meals are a variation of herbs, beef, cheese, pork, oregano, saffron, etc. Traditionally the food is Caribbean, and the menu will depend on the time of the day. |
Where Should I Stay in the Dominican Republic?
Here are some of the most preferred destinations to move to by expats in the Dominican Republic:
- Punta Cana.
- Santo Domingo.
- La Romana.
- Samana.
Punta Cana
Punta Cana is a town belonging to the Higuey province east of the Dominican Republic. It is one of the most beautiful places in the country, with 60 miles of coastline, white sandy beaches, and crystal clear waters. You can do many things in Punta Cana, such as swimming with dolphins or sharks, racing speed boats, deep sea fishing, catamaran sailing, whale watching, or zip lining. Be prepared to be very busy while you are there.
Moreover, it is affordable to live here. Compared to other Caribbean areas, Punta Cana has the lowest cost of living. There are also considerably higher living standards and security in Punta Cana than in other parts of the island. In addition, various fresh foods are available at reasonable prices, as are housing, utilities, and other services.
Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo is the capital and largest city of the Dominican Republic. The city is also one of the oldest cities in the Caribbean. Santo Domingo is home to the first cathedral and castle in America and is declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. If you enjoy history, Santo Domingo is the right place for you. You will find majestic buildings with Middle Ages architecture from its rich history.
Furthermore, it serves as the country’s largest port, at the mouth of the Ozama River, which can accommodate cargo and passenger traffic. The city of Santo Domingo is one of the country’s most important economic, industrial, political, and financial centers. Several industries are located here. Regarding the cost of living, the average cost in Santo Domingo is 953 USD. Compared to other cities in the world is considered moderate. Nevertheless, other towns in the Dominican Republic have lower costs of living.
La Romana
La Romana, located on the southwest side of the country, has everything you could ask for. With beautiful beaches and resorts, La Romana is known for its growing tourism industry. One of the most popular attractions in the city is Altos de Chavón, a reconstructed Mediterranean-style European town high above the Chavón.
La Romana is part of the top 20% of the least expensive cities in the world, with an average cost of living of 610 USD. It has few foreigners; however, you will have more opportunities to meet locals and immerse yourself in the country’s culture. If you enjoy a quiet life, La Roman is the perfect place.
Samana
Samana lies northeast of the country in the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by white sand beaches and a fascinating bay. The city is recognized for its landscapes and beautiful beaches; you will never feel bored there.
Furthermore, Samana is a vibrant international community with expats from all over the world, such as German, French, Italian, Polish, British, and Swiss. As a result of the diverse population, the supermarkets are full of exotic imports, the local shops offer fresh Swiss cheeses and German sausage, and the community is well-established with a large and active population that welcomes you.
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