Dominican’s Fast-Track Permanent Residency

Residency and citizenship-by-investment programs usually take a very long time! Initially, you are granted a temporary resident permit — that you need to renew for a number of years, before applying for permanent residency. Once you are a permanent resident, you often have to wait at least five (often ten) years before applying for citizenship. However, the Dominican Republic has opted to fast track everything! It is one of the only countries we know of that offers instant permanent residency. Moreover, you can apply for citizenship after a mere two years. 

Why DR?

The Dominican Republic is a North American country in the Greater Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean Sea. It shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, and has a population of approximately 11 million people (over 3.5 million of which live in the capital city, Santo Domingo. DR is the Caribbean nation with the largest economy and is one of its most popular tourist destinations. With its tropical climate, low cost of living, and territorial taxation scheme, DR is an attractive residency option. 

Who qualifies for immediate permanent residency?

Foreign nationals may be exempt from the usual temporary residence procedure if they make a significant investment in the Dominican Republic, or have sufficient foreign passive income. Specifically, you may qualify if:

1. You are a retiree that earns a minimum pension of $1500 USD per month, ($1,750 USD per couple);
   
2. You are a foreign investor (“rentista”) that earns passive income of $2,000 USD per month. (If you are applying with a spouse or child, an additional $250 USD per dependent is required).
   
   You must show the income for a period of 5 years (and prove that you can transfer it to a local bank*). The passive income can be derived from rental yields, stock dividends, annuities etc. but wages/company profits do not qualify.
   
   *Lawyers we spoke to indicated that you won’t need to transfer your passive income into your DR bank each month, but recommended you deposit at least 3 months worth (~$6,000).

3. You are a domestic investor that invests a minimum of $200,000 USD in the Dominican Republic. You may invest in a DR company, long term banking products from a DR bank, the bond market, or Confotur certified properties. However, your investment must be registered with the Export and Investment Center of the Dominican Republic (CEI-RD).

What documents are required?

Whether you take the foreign or domestic investment route, you will need to have a clean criminal record, be free of contagious diseases and mental illnesses, open a Dominican bank account, and get a notarized letter guaranteeing that you will never be a charge for the Dominican State.

You should be prepared to provide the following:

• Certified copy of your passport
• Entry stamp issued by airport immigration
• Original or certified copy of your birth certificate 
• Original criminal background check
• Health and repatriation insurance
• Medical certificate
•  Four (4) recent 2×2 photographs: two (2) of front and two (2) of right profile.
• Original Bank Reference Letter (Less than 6 months old)
• Original or certified copy of your marriage certificate (if applicable)
• Affidavit of support for dependents (if applicable)

Depending on your residency path, you will need to provide documentation regarding your holdings and/or income. For example:

• For foreign rental properties — proof that you have permanent rental income for a period of at least five years in the form of an original title of the property and original rental contract;
  
• For investments in foreign entities — documentation proving you are a shareholder or owner, and a certificate issued by the company stating that the investment will provide stable income for at least 5 years;
  
• For foreign bank deposits or remittances — your account number, average yearly balance, length of time the account has been open for, and a certified copy of the investment certificate;
  
• For foreign currency securities — ownership certificates for the securities and a certificate issued by the institution stating that the profits obtained by investment in securities will provide stable income for a period of no less than five years;
  
• For DR real estate — certification issued by deed registration on the property purchased in the Dominican Republic and copy of the deed.

How long does the residency process take?

The application process takes approximately 45 business days once your medical exam has been performed. Once your application is approved, and you have your permanent residency card, you must apply for the Cédula (ID card). The whole process can take 3-6 months.

Once you obtain permanent residency, you will need to renew it after one year, and then every four years going forward. 

Can permanent residency lead to citizenship?

After two years of permanent residency, you may be eligible for citizenship by naturalization. You will need to show that you continue to meet the investment/income requirements. Additionally, you will have to be fluent in Spanish (or at least confident enough to pass a language test and communicate during your immigration interview). 

At the interview, you should be prepared to: explain why you want to become a Dominican citizen, demonstrate your knowledge of the country’s history, values, and cultural traditions, and prove that you have some ties to the country. 

The Dominican Republic does not have an official physical residence requirement, but it is recommended that you spend significant periods of time in the country (at least 6 months continuously) prior to naturalization. 

The Dominican Republic recognizes Dual citizenship, so you will not be required to renounce your previous nationality if you are granted citizenship. Once you are a DR citizen, you can travel visa-free to 70 countries.

We discuss a variety of residency options on our site, but only provide a brief introduction. If you are interested in pursuing the fast-track permanent residency program in the Dominican Republic be sure to check the current requirements on the country’s official immigration website and consult with local immigration lawyers.

If you are still exploring your residency options, please check out our articles Montenegro: Our New European Residency and Quick Guide to Luxembourg Residency.