Residency By Investment In The Dominican Republic Has Never Been Simpler

Located in the Caribbean and bordered by Haiti, the Dominican Republic is a beautiful country with many things to see and do. As with most Caribbean islands, the weather is warm, the beaches are out of this world, and the people are friendly and welcoming. The Dominican Republic is a very low-cost country with a minimum wage of $222 USD, and you can live a very enjoyable lifestyle with around $1,000 USD.

While it is a beautiful place to live in, you must be very careful with storm seasons. It is common for hurricanes to hit the Dominican Republic, so keeping yourself updated, stocked up on food, and having a storm plan is essential. However, the buildings in the Dominican Republic are storm resistant so just keep yourself safe and aware.

With that said, be prepared to enjoy very mild weather most of the year, with the heat being balanced out by the fresh ocean breeze. Some unique forests to explore, many gorgeous beaches to relax on, and some very delicious foods to accompany your down time. Though be careful, theft can be common outside tourist areas and during nighttime.

Expat relaxing with family on a beach in the Dominican Republic

LIFE IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

The Dominican culture combines European, African, and Tano traditions and practices. They celebrate Carnival every February with parades, street dancing, culinary festivals, and music. There are celebrations the week before Easter Sunday as well. The week is filled with parades, beauty contests, and many celebrations in every town around the country.

In honour of the nation's freedom battles, national holidays are observed on February 27 and August 16. Other festivals fall entirely under the purview of the Roman Catholic church's calendar. Still, how they are celebrated demonstrates a blending of the official church and long-standing folk customs.

Health care in the Dominican Republic is quite affordable. However, the Dominican Republic's health system is still developing. The country is well ahead of its neighbours in several specialties, such as laser surgery, which attracts many medical tourists. Dentistry is one of the other high-quality medical services which also attracts medical tourists as you pay less for great services. There are public and private hospitals available in addition to health insurance programs.

Map of Dominican Republic

ROUTE TO RESIDENCY IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

There are three ways to become a Dominican Republic resident. The first is applying for a temporary residency permit in the Dominican Republic. This is time-consuming and requires you to apply for a permanent residency visa after five years of temporary residency. The second method we will cover is the permanent residency by investment program. This process will save you time; as the saying goes, time is money. The last visa we will briefly cover is for those that wish to live and retire in the Dominican Republic, the rentista or pensionado visa.

Some general requirements for all visas include being in excellent health, having enough money to maintain yourself, and having a clean criminal record.

Although the application procedure is simple, getting professional help and apostilling your documents can expedite the entire residency procedure. You can always contact us to help you with your second residency in the Dominican Republic.

Related article: The Basics Of How To Get A Second Passport Or A Second Residency.

One of the many places you can vist in the Dominican Republic

TEMPORARY RESIDENCY

The first method is to obtain a “provisional residency” through a temporary residency permit. This can be obtained through the nearest Migration Office of the Dominican Consulate. The temporary residency visa is valid for a year and can be renewed. Below you will find a summary of the requirements.

You will need to file an application form and submit the following documents along with it:

• Your passport (original)
• Four recent 2x2 photos
• Proof of a clean criminal record
• Your birth certificate
• A doctor’s letter proving you are in good health,
• Recent bank statements demonstrating sufficient funds and/or sufficient monthly income
• Letter of Guarantee from a Dominican citizen or company signed by a notary in the Dominican Republic and legalized by the Attorney General’s office
• Letter of application, stating your reasons for seeking residency and personal circumstances, which may include: marriage to a Dominican citizen (in which case must provide marriage certificate), ownership of property (in which case must provide relevant documents), a job with a Dominican company (in which case must provide contract and certificate of Labor), proof of retirement (in which case must provide pension statement and monthly income from a pension)

You will need to translate to Spanish and apostille your documents and certificates. There is also a non-refundable visa fee. Upon approval, you will receive your one-year renewable temporary residency visa.

Related content: St. Kitts And Nevis' Citizenship Program Undergoes Monumental Overhaul

PERMANENT RESIDENCY

After renewing your temporary visa for five years, you can apply for a permanent residency visa. The same documents you need for the temporary residency visa will also be required for the permanent residency visa. You will be given a Letter of Deposit once this is approved, which grants you the right to permanent residency in the Dominican Republic.

PERMANENT RESIDENCY BY INVESTMENT

The General Immigration Act and its rules and the Foreign Investment Act both recognize the Dominican Republic's Permanent Residency by Investment program as a legal privilege. It exempts a foreign national from the application process for temporary residency.

You can obtain the residency by investment by different means, and these can be either by investing in properties, bringing in your regular passive income, or by applying for the residency by investment for pensioners program. Any residency by investment program will grant you permanent residency immediately, saving you up to five years of waiting time.

Related content: The Many Residency By Investment Options In The Cayman Islands

You must renew your permanent residency visa one year after obtaining it and after that once every four years.

If the program's investment/income requirements are still satisfied after two years of permanent residency, you can be qualified for naturalization.

One requirement to obtain citizenship is being fluent in Spanish, the Dominican Republic’s official language. Other conditions include knowledge of the nation's traditions, values, and culture.

Although there isn't a formal physical residency requirement, it is advised to spend a considerable amount of time in the country before naturalization to establish some connection to the nation.

The Dominican Republic's minimum real estate investment requirement for an investor visa is $200,000 USD, made through a registered business, and must be used to purchase a house or condo there.

Alcazar de Colon in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

REQUIREMENTS FOR THE RESIDENCY BY INVESTMENT IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Below I will briefly list all requirements for the residency by investment:

• You must not have a contagious sickness or a mental condition that affects your conduct.
• Proof of a clean criminal record
• A letter from a Dominican or a permanent resident alien in the Dominican Republic, acknowledged before a notary, stating that you will never be charged for Dominican State. The costs of repatriation, other fees, and any necessary proof of insurance coverage. This guarantee must also apply to any dependents.
• A document providing proof of the existence of your account with a Dominican bank.
• Your original documentation from the Dominican Republic's receiving bank and receipt of foreign currency income for the country.

Here I will list all the documents that will be required:

• Certified copy of passport
• Original or certified copy of your birth certificate
• Affidavit of support for dependents
• Original or certified copy of marriage certificate (if applicable)
• Medical certificate proving you are in good health and of sound mind.
• Original reference letter from your bank  (Not older than six months)
• Proof of health insurance
• Nine passport-size photos
• Bank statements
• Proof of pension

Related content: Dominica - How To Get A Second Passport

OBTAINING YOUR PENSIONADO VISA

If you can prove that you receive a retirement pension from a foreign government, official organization, private business, or financial institution worth at least $1,500 USD and that you can transfer it to a local bank. In that case, you may be granted a permanent residency visa in the Dominican Republic. The program has no minimum age requirement for participation.

A further sum of $250 USD is needed for each dependent. You must also demonstrate that a minimum monthly pension transfer of $1,500 USD has been made to a local bank to renew the permanent residency permit and/or submit a naturalization application.

RENTISTA VISA

An applicant for a rentista visa must have earned at least US $2,000 per month during the previous five years from any income obtained from investments to be eligible.

You can ride the Teleferico in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic

BENEFITS OF PERMANENT RESIDENCY IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Being a permanent resident has a few benefits not yet mentioned. I have listed some of them for you:

• Entering the nation is simple without a visa or tourist card, and you are not required to present your return ticket.
• Having an identity card (Cédula de Identidad Personal) permits you to stay in the nation lawfully.
• You can request a Dominican driver's license. An international driving license for non-residents will only allow you to drive in the country for 90 days.
• You can work and manage a business in the Dominican Republic.
• Some tax advantages, such as a reduced inheritance tax rate, are available.

CONCLUSION

The Dominican Republic can provide people with an excellent lifestyle with stunning surroundings, a high level of living with relatively low costs compared to other islands in the region and the USA, and an exquisite location with some of the best beaches in the world. We can’t forget the friendly and welcoming people that will take you in warmly, just like the weather.