Tips, documentation and requirements to travel to the Dominican Republic

Tourists from anywhere in the world arrive to the Dominican Republic, especially from the United States, Europe, Canada and Latin America. However, there are also those who choose this country to obtain permanent residence and settle there, in which case a procedure other than that required to go on vacation will be necessary. Here we show you all the requirements to be met, documentation to be submitted and procedures to be performed.

Below you have an index with all the points that we are going to deal with in this article.

Entry Requirements

From May 2012 and in accordance with Law 199-67 on the Tourist Card and Law No. 875 on Visas, the documents cited below will be mandatory for all foreigners who wish to enter the Dominican Republic unless otherwise specified:

• Valid passport: its presentation to the immigration authorities will be mandatory for any foreigner traveling to the Dominican Republic.
• Tourist Card: it is, in fact, a tax charged by the country to those who visit it. This card can be easily obtained at any Dominican airport upon arrival in the Dominican Republic. Sometimes even the airline itself or the travel agency includes the Tourist Card in the same vacation package. It is only needed in case the entrance to the country is for tourist purposes. Below you can find more information about this document.
• Visa: with the exception of nationals of countries with which the Dominican Republic has signed Visa agreements and nationals of countries authorized to travel only with a Tourist Card (we detail each case in the following section), the rest are required to be in possession of the visa in your travel document upon entering the country.

Tourist Card

As mentioned previously, the Tourist Card is a tax rate which charges the country to tourists who wish to enter it in accordance with the provisions of Law 199-67, according to which the acquisition of said card is a mandatory requirement to enter the national territory without a Consular Visa. Below we list a series of details to keep in mind about the Tourist Card:

• Beneficiary Rights: the interested party loses his right to obtain it if his stay in national territory is for the realization of lucrative activities.
• Price: US $ 10.00 or € 10.00.
• Period of validity: The Tourist Card is valid for one year and is valid only for one person. In addition, it can only be used once.
• Wrong use: If it is misused or used for a purpose other than tourism, the individual in question will be sanctioned by the immigration authorities and immediately expelled from the country without any formality.
• Period of permanence in the country: The Tourist Card allows the beneficiary to remain in the Dominican Republic for a maximum period of 30 days. If you wish to extend this period, the interested party must pay a fee whose amount will vary according to the time you wish to extend your stay. For more information on this matter, it is recommended to contact the Ministry of Migration by clicking on this link.
• Where can it be purchased?: points of sale located in air, land and sea ports, Dominican embassies and consulates abroad, tour operators and through the Internet (you can access this portal by clicking on this link).

Who does not need a Tourist Card?

There are a number of specific groups that are exempt from the payment of the Tourist Card because the Government of the Dominican Republic maintains immigration agreements. These specific cases are mentioned below:

• Dominican residents, visas and nationalized.
• Foreigners from the following countries: Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, South Korea, Japan, Israel, Uruguay and Peru.
• Diplomatic and consular officials of foreign nationality accredited in the country as long as they maintain their functions and enter national territory on official mission
• Passengers who use a private non-commercial aircraft whenever it is for sports, recreational, tourist, executive or business reasons, the weight does not exceed thirty thousand pounds (30,000) and the maximum capacity is 12 passengers.
• Foreigners of Haitian nationality who are equipped with the card that enables them to enter and leave on the same day of Dominican territory. According to Article 78 of the Migration Law, this only applies in the Dominican border provinces that are bordering on the residence in Haiti of the holder of said card. Otherwise, they will be obliged to pay the Tourist Card.

Foreigners who do not need a Visa or Tourist Card

The following list shows the countries whose citizens are exempt from the requirement to apply for a Consular Visa and Tourist Card:

• Argentina
• Chile
• Japan
• South Korea
• Israel
• Peru
• Ecuador
• Uruguay

This means that these citizens do not need these documents, but they must present their valid passport at the time of formalizing your entry to the Dominican Republic.

Foreigners who only need a Tourist Card

Citizens from the countries listed below only need to purchase the aforementioned Tourist Card to enter Dominican territory as long as their visit is only for tourist purposes:

• TO: Acrotiri and Dhekelia (United Kingdom), Germany, Andorra, Anguilla (United Kingdom), Antigua and Barbuda, Netherlands Antilles (Netherlands Antilles), Aruba, Australia and Austria.
• B: Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bermuda (United Kingdom), Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei and Bulgaria.
• C: Canada, Cyprus, Vatican City (Holy See), Costa Rica and Croatia.
• D: Denmark and Dominica.
• AND: El Salvador, United Arab Emirates, Scotland (United Kingdom), Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, United States of America and Estonia.
• F: Fiji, France and Finland.
• G: Wales (United Kingdom), South Georgia (United Kingdom), Gibraltar (United Kingdom), Greece, Grenada, Greenland (Denmark), Greenland (Norway), Guadeloupe (France), Guam (United States), Guatemala, Guyana and French Guyana (France).
• H: Hawaii (United States), Honduras, Hong Kong * and Hungary.
• I: Ireland, Northern Ireland (United Kingdom), Bouvet Island, Cocos Island (Australia), Cook Island (New Zealand), Christmas Island (Australia), Faroe Island (Denmark), Heard and McDonald Islands, Norfolk Island (Australia) , Palau Island (USA), American Samoa Island (USA), Iceland, Cayman Islands (United Kingdom), Faore Islands (Norway), Falkland or Falkland Islands (United Kingdom), Northern Mariana Islands, Islands Marshall, Solomon Islands, Sandwich Islands (United Kingdom), Svalbard Islands (Norway), Tokelau Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands, Virgin Islands (United States), Wallis and Futuna Islands (France) and Italy.
• J: Jamaica and Jan (Norway).
• K: Kazakhstan, Kiribati and Kuwait.
• L: Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania and Luxembourg.
• M: Macao *, Macedonia, Micronesia, Malaysia, Malta, Martinique, Mauritius, Mayen (Norway), Mayotte (France), Mexico, Monaco and Montserrat (United Kingdom).
• N: Namibia, Nauru, Nicaragua, Niue (New Zealand), Norway, New Caledonia (France) and New Zealand.
• P: The Netherlands (including Holland, Curaçao and Saint Marteen), Panama, Paraguay, French Polynesia (France), Poland, Portugal and Puerto Rico (USA).
• Q: Qatar.
• R: United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Republic of South Africa, Slovak Republic, Reunion (France), Romania and Russia.
• S: Saint Kitts and Nevis, San Marino, Saint Vincent and Grenadines, Saint Helena (United Kingdom), Saint Lucia, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, St Jhon (United States), St. Croix (United States), St. Thomas (States United), Sweden, Switzerland, Suriname and Svalbard (Norway).
• T: Thailand, Taiwan, French Southern Territories (France), Tokelau (New Zealand), Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tristan da Cunha (Saint Helena), Turkey and Tuvalu.
• OR: Ukraine.
• V: Vanuatu and Venezuela.

* valid for holders of the special passport of the Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong and Macao of the People’s Republic of China.

As a general rule, citizens of countries that can enter the European Union, the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom can travel to the Dominican Republic with only the Tourism Card.

Foreigners who require a Visa

Citizens with nationality of any of the countries listed below require obligatorily of a visa to enter the Dominican Republic:

• TO: Abkhazia, Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Armenia and Azerbaijan.
• B: Bangladesh, Benin, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Burundi and Bhutan.
• C: Cape Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Chad, Colombia, Comoros, Congo (Brazzaville), Congo (Kinshasa), North Korea, Ivory Coast and Cuba.
• D: Djibouti.
• AND: Egypt, Eritrea and Ethiopia.
• F: Philippines.
• G: Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea-Bissau.
• H: Haiti and Hong Kong.
• I: India, Indonesia, Iraq and Iran.
• J: Jordan.
• K: Kenya, Kyrgyzstan and Kosovo (Serbia).
• L: Laos, Lesotho, Lebanon, Liberia and Libya.
• M: Macao (People’s Republic of China), Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Malì, Morocco, Mauritania, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Mozambique and Myanmar.
• N: Nagorno-Karabakh, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria and Norfo.
• OR: Oman and South Ossetia (de facto independent within Georgia).
• P: Pakistan, Palau, Palestine (National Authority of Palestine) and Papua New Guinea.
• R: People’s Republic of China, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic and Rwanda.
• S: Western Sahara, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Syria, Somalia, Somaliand (de facto independent within Somalia), Sri Lanka, Swaziland and Sudan.
• T: Tanzania, Tajikistan, East Timor, Togo, Transnistria, Tunisia and Turkmenistan.
• OR: Uganda and Uzbekistan.
• V: Vietnam.
• Y: Yemen and Djibouti.
• Z: Zaire, Zimbabwe and Zambia.

Foreigners carrying diplomatic or similar passports

Foreign citizens from any of the following countries are entitled, under bilateral agreements, to the reciprocal visa deletion for being holders of diplomatic, official or service passport of:

• TO: Argentina.
• B: Brazil and Belize.
• C: Chile, Costa Rica, Colombia and South Korea.
• AND: Ecuador and El Salvador.
• G: Guatemala.
• F: Finland.
• H: Honduras.
• I: Israel
• J: Japan.
• M: Mexico (except official passports) and Morocco.
• N: Nicaragua.
• P: Panama and Peru.
• R: Russia and Republic of China (Taiwan).
• S: Switzerland (except official passports) and Holy See.
• OR: Uruguay and Ukraine.
• V: Vietnam

Visa types

To enter the Dominican Republic, there are different types of visas that can be requested at the Consulate or at the Embassy of the Dominican Republic located in our country. Each type of visa serves a specific case, so there are up to eight types according to Law No. 875 on Visas, each with an application and a duration, which are mentioned in the following sections.

Tourism Visa

The Tourism Visa (TS) is granted to those foreign citizens who wish to enter Dominican territory to enjoy the country for tourist or cultural purposes and to attend congresses or conventions. It is valid for a maximum of 60 days and its application can be single entry or for multiple entries. Similarly, the beneficiaries of this visa may not perform any kind of lucrative activity in the Dominican Republic. This Visa can be requested by all citizens of the world in a Dominican consular office.

Below we list the requirements that all foreigners must process from their country of origin:

• Form: The Visa Form must be submitted duly filled in by type or in print. It can be requested printed in consular offices or through the Internet by clicking on this link.
• ID and Residence Card: the interested party must present a legible photocopy of their national identity card, as well as another one of the Residence Card if they have the residence of a second country.
• Photography: a 4 x 5 cm passport type photograph (white background and front) must be presented.
• Passport: The original passport must be presented with a minimum validity of 6 months.
• Parental authorization or legal guardian: in case of being a minor, an authorization must also be requested so that the tourist visa can be granted to the interested minor.
• Flight reservation: A legible copy of the updated flight reservation must be submitted to the date of your trip.
• Hotel reservation or invitation letter: Depending on where we are going to stay, one document or another must be presented. In case of staying in a hotel, we will have to present a legible copy of the hotel reservation. In case of staying at the residence of someone living in the Dominican Republic, an invitation letter must be delivered with the details of the person who will be hosting (address and general personal data).
• Flight reservation: A legible copy of the updated flight reservation must be submitted to the date of your trip.
• Previous Dominican visas: if any, a legible copy of previous Dominican visas must be submitted, whether it is for renewal or if it is because you have traveled before the country.
• Certificate of No Criminal Record: must have been issued by the corresponding authorities of the last country in which the person concerned was domiciled. This requirement is not required for minors.
• Visa application letter: the beneficiary or his representative must sign a visa application letter in which his name, nationality, activity to which he is engaged, place of residence, economic means with which he has and purpose of travel to the country appear. This letter must be submitted without notarization.

The time to obtain the Tourism Visa can be between 1 and 10 days from your application. As for the price, the multi-entry visa costs US $ 80.00 or € 80.00 and the single entry visa amounts to US $ 70.00 or € 70.00. The amount will be paid in dollars unless we are in the Euro Zone.

Business Visa

The Business Visa is issued for business trips, for commercial or professional purposes. It is valid for a maximum of 60 days if it is a single entry, although it can be renewed automatically at the request of the beneficiary within the term of the previous 60 days. The express authorization of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will not be necessary. If you want to enter and leave more frequently, you can apply for a business visa with multiple entries, which is valid for one year and you cannot stay in the country for more than two consecutive months.

The following lines show the requirements to be met by the foreign interested party:

• Form: the visa form must be completed either by machine or legible print.
• Visa application letter: subscribed by the company or institution to which the beneficiary belongs and addressed to the consul. Said letter must contain the name of the beneficiary, his nationality, place of residence, economic means with which he has, activity to which he is engaged and reason why he travels to the Dominican Republic. It must be taken by the company or institution in stamped and sealed sheet. It must be submitted without notarization.
• Photography: in front and with white background, the interested party must present a photograph type card size 4 x 5 cm.
• Original passport: will have to be valid for a minimum of 6 months.
• Migratory status: This status is certified by presenting a legible photocopy of the national identity card of the country of nationality and a photocopy of the Residence Card in the case of having residence in a second country.
• Labor Certification: it must include the following information: date of entry into the company, salary received and position held in the company.
• Travel history: that is, photocopies of Dominican visas and other countries (if any).
• Certificate of No Criminal Record: must be issued by the corresponding authorities of the last country in which the interested party was domiciled.

The time to obtain the Business Visa can be 1 day or it can be extended up to 15 days from your application, depending on the urgency, the previous applications, the nationality of the applicant and the availability of the staff. As for the price, this is US $ 80.00 or € 80.00 for the single entry visa and US $ 90.00 or € 90.00 with multiple tickets.

Business Visa with Labor Purposes

The Business Visa with Labor Purposes (NM1) is issued to those foreign citizens who, due to the nature of their occupation, must remain one year in Dominican territory without having to go abroad. This Visa is usually granted in cases in which the interested party will fulfill a contract for a specific time in a public or private company established in the Dominican Republic. This type of visa can be renewed for the duration of the contract in each specific case.

In the following, we list the requirements that the interested party must meet to obtain such a visa:

• Form: The Visa form must be filled in by type or in legible print.
• Original passport: the mandatory minimum term must be 6 months.
• Photography: This must be a card size (4 x 5 cm), be front and with a white background.
• Job offer: it must state the position to be occupied by the beneficiary, the base salary plus the additional benefits.
• Certification of the Ministry of Labor: It should be noted that the company is registered in the Integrated System of Labor Registries (SIRLA) and that it complies with the provisions of Article 135 of the Dominican Labor Code on the nationalization of work.
• Medical certificate: A diagnosis of the general state of health of the interested party must appear on it, indicating, if any, any type of infectious disease that may be suffered. This certificate must be issued by the health authorities of the last country in which the applicant was domiciled.
• Birth certificate: as appropriate, it must be duly legalized or apostilled. If it is written in a language other than Spanish, it must be translated by a sworn translator / interpreter. In the latter case, both the original and the translation must be deposited.
• Certificate of No Criminal Record: This must be issued by the corresponding authorities of the last country in which the person in question was domiciled.
• DNI, Residence Card and previous Dominican visas: a legible photocopy of both the national identity card and the Residence Card must be submitted in case the interested party resides in a second country, as well as another of the previous Dominican visas that the person has been able to obtain.
• Certification of the General Directorate of Migration: in it, the last entry to the country of the interested party must be recorded (in case of having previously traveled to the R.D.).
• Visa Application Letter: Drafted either by the applicant or by his representative, it must be addressed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and it must include the name, nationality, place of residence and activity to which he will work in Dominican territory.

The price of this visa amounts to US $ 90.00 or € 90.00 and the time to obtain it can vary between 5 and 15 days from the date of application.

Diplomatic, Official and Courtesy Visas

Diplomatic Visas are issued to family members and members of diplomatic and consular missions, including members of international organizations. As for the second type, the Official Visas, these are addressed to government officials or international organizations, as well as to their families if they are in possession of an official passport and travel to the country in particular or to carry out their own duties. Finally, the Courtesy Visa is granted in ordinary passports to diplomatic or government officials and their families in case they travel to the country with said kind of passport; This visa is also granted to distinguished personalities, as well as their families.

These are the requirements that you must meet if this is your case:

• Form: The visa form must be duly filled in (by type or in legible print).
• Verbal or Diplomatic Note: it must include the Diplomatic, Consular Mission or International Organization and must indicate the following information: name of the applicant, nationality, diplomatic rank or position, passport number and reason for the trip.
• Photography: This must be a card size, that is, 4 x 5 cm and must be front and on a white background.
• Original passport: the minimum validity must be sufficient to cover the time that the stay in the Dominican Republic will last.

The time to obtain any of these three types of visa varies between 1 and 15 days from the date of application.

Dependency Visa

The Dependency Visa is a visa that is granted on the grounds of family dependence on the beneficiaries of diplomatic, courtesy, official, business, work and student visas. This visa will always depend on the type of visa granted to the principal relative or the employer on whom they depend.

The following list lists all the requirements that must be met for the issuance of said visa:

• Form: as in all the previous cases, the visa form must be duly completed, either by machine or in legible print.
• Photography: must be 4 x 5 cm, front and on a completely white background.
• Original passport: the minimum validity must be equal to or greater than the duration of the requested visa.
• Marriage Certificate or Birth Certificate of the children: This will depend on the specific case of the person applying for the Dependency Visa.
• Copy of the Visa or Dominican Residence Card and passport: A copy of these documents must be submitted from the person on whom the applicant depends.
• Medical certificate: it must include a complete diagnosis of the health status of the interested party, as well as if they suffer from any type of infection. This certificate must be granted by the health authorities of the last country in which the interested party was domiciled.
• Certificate of No Criminal Record: Like the medical certificate, it must be issued by the corresponding authorities of the last country in which the applicant was domiciled.
• Authorization of the parents or legal guardian: This requirement should only be met if the interested party is a minor. It is required that the father or mother who is not in the Dominican Republic express their agreement in accordance with the other father taking the child in question to Dominican territory.
• Photocopy of the DNI and the Residence Card: The DNI must be that of the country of nationality and the Residence Card in the event that the interested party has residence in a second country.
• Economic solvency: Documents must be submitted that prove that the person on whom the applicant depends has financial solvency, such as a bank letter, property titles, work letter …
• Previous Dominican visas: in case of having previously been in the Dominican Republic, a legible photocopy of said visas must be submitted.
• Visa Application Letter: It must be addressed to the consular office and must be written by the person on whom the beneficiary depends. This person will have to identify themselves and present proof that they are in possession of the Student Visa or the NMI Visa. In addition, it must indicate whether the person for whom the Dependency Visa is requested depends on him by family ties or by employment relationship.

Like other types of visas, the Dependency Visa can take between 5 and 15 days since it is requested, always depending on the urgency, the applicant’s nationality and other factors. The price amounts to US $ 80.00 or € 80.00.

Residence Visa

Residence Visas (RS) are issued in favor of those interested in residing permanently in the Dominican Republic. This type of Visa can be granted to people who are in any of the following cases:

• Relationship, whether family reunification by marriage or direct dependency.
• Pensioners, retirees or rentiers in accordance with the provisions of Law 171-07.
• Investors, agreed with the provisions of Law 171-07.

The Residence Visa is valid for 60 days and for a single entry. Its price amounts to US $ 90.00 or € 90.00 and can take between 5-15 days from your request. Once in Dominican territory, the interested party must go to the General Directorate of Migration to formalize the procedures of their temporary residence, among which is the fulfillment of the additional requirements that are required in each case of those mentioned in the following sections.

Residence Visa Requirements for Family Reunification:

• Visa Application Letter: must be addressed to the corresponding consular office and must be signed by the beneficiary. It must include the following information: name, nationality, place of residence, occupation and information on how to proceed to establish in the country as a spouse or child of a foreigner legally resident in the Dominican Republic. This letter should not be legalized or apostilled.
• Photography: this will be a card type, that is, measures 4 x 5 cm, white background and front.
• Form: the corresponding visa form will be filled in and duly filled in by type or in legible print.
• Original passport: the minimum validity required is 18 months.
• ID and Residence Card: a legible photocopy of both documents must be submitted: the national identity card and the Residence Card in case you have permanent residence in a second country.
• Medical certificate: it must state the general medical condition of the interested party, as well as any infectious disease he suffers. This must be issued by the health authorities of the last country in which the person in question was domiciled.
• Certificate of No Criminal Record: duly legalized or apostilled as appropriate, it must be issued by the competent authority in this matter. It is not required for minors.
• Birth certificate: duly legalized or contributed. In addition, if it is in a language other than Spanish, it will have to be translated by an official sworn translator and both documents will be delivered, that is, original and translation.
• Marriage certificate: This requirement may vary depending on the case. If one of the parties is a natural of the R.D. and their marriage took place abroad, then a marriage certificate transcribed before the Civil Registry of the Central Electoral Board (JCE) must be presented. On the other hand, if both parties are foreigners and your marriage took place abroad, only the marriage certificate must be presented. In case of not being in Spanish, it must be translated by an official sworn translator and original (duly apostilled or legalized) and translation must be deposited.
• Economic solvency: a series of documents showing the economic solvency of the guarantor will be presented: Bank Letter, Labor Letter, copies of certificates of real estate or real estate titles, copy of Financial Certificates, Pension Income Certification and any other document that serves to said end
• Guarantee letter: This letter serves for the person residing in the Dominican Republic to declare that he assumes responsibility for repatriation and maintenance expenses, as well as respect for the moral and economic conditions of the foreigner. It must be signed by this and two witnesses and be duly notarized and legalized in the Attorney General’s Office.

Residence Visa Requirements for Rentier:

• Visa application letter: signed by the interested party and addressed to the corresponding consular office. It must contain name, nationality, place of residence, productive activity to which it is dedicated and information on what is your plan to establish in the country as a rentier. This letter is not legalized or apostilled.
• Form: the interested party must duly complete the visa form, either by type or in legible print.
• Photography: size 4 x 5 cm, white background and in it the interested person will appear in front.
• Original passport: the minimum validity required in this case is 18 months.
• ID and Residence Card: it is mandatory to present a legible photocopy of both documents. The DNI, for its part, will be that of the country of origin of the applicant and, the Residence Card, that of the second country of the interested party, if any.
• Certificate of No Criminal Record: must be requested in the corresponding authority of the countries in which the person has resided in the last 5 years. It will be duly legalized or apostilled, as appropriate.
• Medical certificate: It must include a comprehensive diagnosis of the health status of the interested party in which it is specified if he or she suffers from an infectious disease. It must be issued by the medical authorities of the last country in which the applicant was domiciled.
• Birth certificate: If it is not written in Spanish, its translation must be requested by an official sworn translator. The original apostilled or legalized, as appropriate, and the translation will be presented.
• Rentier with personal investment in the country of origin: in this case, the financial document of the institution from which the accumulated funds come from will be deposited, as well as bank certification, certification of financial entities (eg stockbrokers), property rental contracts and documentation that accredits the interested as a shareholder or business owner from which the income comes.
• Rentier with personal investment in the Dominican Republic: if this is your case, then you will have to show a document proving the personal investment made on national territory. You will have to present a copy of the real estate titles, the documents of companies that demonstrate that they are operating under the conditions imposed by the Ministry of Labor and bank certificates in the Dominican Republic.
• Minimum amount: the renter must receive a monthly income of US $2,000.00 or its equivalent in Dominican pesos (DOP).

Requirements for the Residence Visa for Investment:

• Visa application letter: it must contain the signature of the beneficiary. It will be addressed to the corresponding consular office and will contain the name, nationality, place of residence and occupation of the applicant. It will also contain information on how the applicant intends to establish himself as an investor in the country. This letter should not be legalized or apostilled.
• Form: the corresponding visa form must be duly typed or printed legibly.
• Photography: it must be a card-type photograph, which means that the interested person must appear in front of it and on a white background. The measurements must be 4 x 5 cm.
• Certificate of No Criminal Record: as mentioned before, it must be granted by the corresponding authority of the countries where the interested party has resided in the last 5 years. In addition, it must be duly legalized or apostilled, as appropriate.
• Original passport: the minimum validity will be 18 months.
• DNI and Residence Card: a legible photocopy of these two documents must also be deposited. The Residence Card is only necessary in case the beneficiary has the residence in a second country different from the one of his nationality.
• Medical certificate: this certificate will certify the state of health of the interested party, indicating whether or not he or she suffers from any infectious disease. It must be issued by the health authorities of the country where the person was last resident.
• Birth Certificate: if it is in a language other than Spanish, it must be translated by an official sworn translator/interpreter. In this case, the original (apostilled or legalized) and the translation must be presented.
• Investor’s Certificate by CEI-RD
• Letter of Employment Certification from the recipient: in case of husband/wife and children (if any), these must also be included in the letter of guarantee from the company of the recipient.
• Letter of Guarantee: this is only necessary if the applicant is a financial dependent, domestic employee, direct line ancestor or child over 18 years of age of the beneficiary, or a guardian. If the applicant is a shareholder of the company, an Act of the Administrative Council of the original company must be presented, as well as a copy to be delivered.

Retirement/Pension Residence Visa Requirements:

• Visa application letter: with the beneficiary’s signature, it will be addressed to the corresponding consular office and it will contain the name, nationality, place of residence and occupation of the interested party. It should also describe how you plan to settle as a retiree/pensioner in the country. It must not be legalised or apostilled.
• Visa form: completed either in typewriter or in legible print.
  Photography: passport style, i.e. the person concerned must be shown facing the front and on a white background. The dimensions must be 4 x 5 cm.
• Certificate of No Criminal Record: issued by the competent authority of the countries where the beneficiary has resided in the last 5 years. It must be duly legalized or apostilled, as appropriate.
• Original Passport: the minimum validity is 18 months.
• DNI and Residence Card: legible photocopy of these two documents. The Residence Card is only necessary in case the beneficiary has the residence in a second country.
• Medical certificate: this will certify the state of health of the interested party, indicating whether he or she suffers from any type of infectious disease. It must be issued by the health authorities of the last country where the applicant was domiciled.
• Birth Certificate: if it is not in Spanish, it must be translated by an official sworn translator. In this case, the original (apostilled or legalized) and the translation must be presented.
• Certificate from the government, private company of foreign origin or official organization: this is a certificate issued by one of these three entities in which the interested party provided his services. If it is not in Spanish, it must be duly translated into Spanish by an official sworn translator. This certificate will contain the general details of the person concerned, the position held and the salary received as a pension.
• Minimum amount: US $1,500.00 dollars or the equivalent in Dominican pesos (DOP).

Student Visa

The Student Visa is issued to all those foreigners who demonstrate their status as students and have been accepted to study in an educational institution in the Dominican Republic. This type of visa can be renewed annually.

The following are the necessary requirements to obtain the Student Visa:

• Visa Form: This must be filled out either in legible print or typewritten.
• Passport type photograph: the measures will be 4 x 5 cm and the person interested must appear in front of it and with a white background.
• Proof of University or Study Centre: this is the document that certifies definitive acceptance at the University or Study Centre. This document will contain the following data: level of studies to be carried out, institution selected and time that it will last.
• Document certifying the scholarship (if any): if it is a study scholarship or if the studies are paid for by an institution in the country of origin, this document must be presented, specifying the amount granted to the beneficiary or the scholarship awarded and the duration for which it is planned. Whether it is a scholarship or funded studies, this document must be on letterhead and certified by the competent institution.
• Medical Certificate: This will contain a comprehensive diagnosis of the student’s state of health. It must be issued by the medical authorities of the last country where the applicant has been domiciled.
• Certificate of No Criminal Record: issued by the competent authority of the last country where the interested party resided. Not applicable for minors.
• Parental or legal guardian authorization: if it is a minor, both parents must agree that their child will move to Dominican territory.
• Photocopy of the DNI and the Residence Card (this one in case he/she resides in a second country).
• Economic solvency: you must show the documents that prove it, such as bank letter, property titles, etc.
• Previous Dominican visas (if any).
• Letter of Application: it must be addressed to the corresponding consular office by the interested party or his/her legal representative and it must contain the name and nationality of the student.

The price for obtaining a Student Visa is US$80.00 or 80.00 As for the time to obtain it, it is around 5 and 15 days from the date of application.

Temporary Workers Visa (VTT)

The Temporary Worker Visa (VTT) is the most common when it comes to labor migration to Dominican territory. It is granted to foreign citizens who have a job offer from a company registered in the Dominican Republic. The maximum validity is one year, whether it is a visa with one or multiple entries, always subject to the conditions of the work contract.

The following are the requirements that must be met in order to be eligible for the VTT

• Visa application letter: this must be addressed to the head of the diplomatic or consular mission and must include the name and nationality of the beneficiary, the data of the employing company and the activity to which the beneficiary is going to dedicate himself.
• Visa form: as always, it must be filled out either in type or in legible print.
• Passport photograph: the size will be 2 x 2 cm, front view and on a white background. No jewellery or other accessories may be worn. In addition, the ears must be uncovered.
• Original passport: the minimum validity must be 18 months and it must be accompanied by a copy of the complete passport.
• Photocopy of the ID card of the country of origin: a legible photocopy of the ID card will be deposited, as well as the Residence Card in case of residing in a second country.
• Certificate of No Criminal Record: this must be issued by the competent authorities of the country of origin of the interested party or the last country where he/she was domiciled. If it is not in Spanish, it must be translated by an official sworn translator.
• Original letter: this will be issued by the institution, company, individual or organization with which the foreigner will carry out the temporary work.
• Insurance guarantee bond: this requirement must be met in order to ensure that medical and repatriation expenses can be covered.
• Medical Certificate: this certificate must contain a complete diagnosis of the state of health of the interested party, indicating whether he has any contagious disease.
• Communication from the employing company with the promise of work: in addition, a Certificate from the Ministry of Labor must be attached showing that the company is registered with the Ministry and is registered with the Social Security Treasury (TSS).
• Application for entry approved by the General Directorate of Migration (DGM): this requirement is only required for applications for visas for temporary workers under the regime of contracted quotas.

Renewal of the VTT

In addition, if the worker wishes to renew the employment contract, he or she must meet, in addition to the above-mentioned requirements, the following requirements provided that the country is physically present at the time of renewal of the VTT:

• Original contract accompanied by the resolution granted by the Ministry of Labor in order to order the registration of the contract.
• Copy of the application for entry approved by the DGM in the case of temporary workers under the regime of contracted quotas.

The price for obtaining the VTT is RD$935.00 Pesos if we are in the Dominican Republic and US$30.00 or €30.00 if we are abroad. Obtaining this visa can take between 5 and 15 days from the date of application.

Naturalization

Naturalization or nationalization is the process by which an original citizen of a first country obtains the nationality of a second country and is therefore considered from that moment on as a citizen of that country. In the case of the Dominican Republic, the ordinary Dominican naturalization application process is carried out in accordance with the provisions of Law 1683, according to which the requirements listed below must be met:

• Letter of application: must be addressed to the Executive Branch through the Secretary of State for the Interior and the Police.
• Photographs: you will have to submit 5 passport photographs (2 x 2 cm) in which you will appear in front. In addition, they must be recent and, in case the applicant is a man, he must be shaved.
• Certifications of Permanent Residence in the country: the interested party must deposit two certifications issued by the General Directorate of Immigration in which it is demonstrated that the person has more than two years of Permanent Residence in the country and that the letter of guarantee has been delivered to that address.
• Valid Residence Permit: a photocopy of this must be submitted. In addition, it must be at least 4 months before its expiry date.
• Certificate of No Judicial Record: must be requested at the Attorney General’s Office.
• Birth Certificate: previously legalized in the Dominican Consulate or Embassy of the country of origin of the interested party, as well as in the Secretariat of State of Foreign Affairs of the D.R. If said certificate is not in Spanish, it must be requested to be translated by an official sworn translator and legalized as well.
• Letter of Guarantee: it must be notarized and legalized in the General Attorney’s Office of the Republic and supported by a citizen of Dominican origin with economic solvency. In addition, said citizen must declare that he or she is responsible for the conditions (moral, economic, maintenance and repatriation) of the applicant and must provide a copy of the following documents: a copy of the vehicle’s registration, the bank letter and the title of the property.
• Affidavit: In it, the interested party, with three Dominican witnesses of origin, will establish the address in Dominican territory. This declaration will be made before a Notary Public and will be duly legalized in the Attorney General’s Office.
• Invoice for a National Newspaper: for the right to publish a Notice of Dominican Nationality.
• Receipt of application for naturalization: the value of this receipt is RD$1,500
• Color photocopy of the first three pages of the applicant’s passport.
• Five photocopies of all the documents mentioned above.

If the interested party is going to take the Oath as a Dominican Naturalized Person, he or she will have to pay the Tax for the Right of Foreigners to be Sworn in, which value is RD$5,000. Once all the documents listed above are deposited, the interested party will be called for an interview one week later.

If you have any doubts about these requirements, you can call (809) 686-6251 (Ext. 2055, 2057 and 2058).

Vaccines

There is no legally required vaccination that is required for travel to the Dominican Republic. However, health authorities do recommend taking into account some vaccines, such as those mentioned below:

• Typhoid fever: The objective of getting this vaccine is to reduce the risk of contracting this disease if you stay in or visit rural areas with poor hygiene conditions, especially related to factors such as water quality or food handling.
• Tetanus-diphtheria: this is a worldwide disease, so it is highly advisable to apply this vaccine as prevention.
• Hepatitis A and B: if you have never been vaccinated against this disease before or have suffered from it, it is especially recommended if you are going to carry out any risky activity.
• Malaria and dengue: these vaccines are recommended only to those people who are going to visit rural areas that are not very touristy in the country.

In any case, what you should always bear in mind is to avoid drinking non-bottled water during the whole time you are going to travel and, in general, never drink any kind of fresh water that has the minimum risk of being contaminated.

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