Becoming a Dominican Resident

Provisional Residence Card
After the residence visa has been issued, the applicant has 60 days within which to enter the Dominican Republic, or if already here, 60 days within which to submit an application for a provisional residence card. This application is submitted to the Dominican Immigration Department which normally takes some two to three months to process. It is valid for one year at the end of which time the applicant may submit a petition for a permanent residence card. Permanent residence cards must be renewed every year. If five years elapse after a permanent residence card has expired, the applicant loses his residency.

The requirements for applying for a provisional residence card are the following:

1. Application Form C-1 Ref.
2. Two copies of the Residence Visa.
3. A copy of the applicantТs birth certificate, translated into Spanish.
4. Four 2" x 2" frontal photos of the applicantТs face.
5. Three 2" x 2" profile photos of the applicantТs face.
6. A copy of the land purchase agreement, Certificate of Title issued by the Title Registry office or a copy of the employment agreement or other documentation proving the financial solvency of the applicant in the Dominican Republic.
7. A notarized letter from a Dominican citizen or a legal resident in the country, guaranteeing the Dominican government the financial support of the applicant during his or her stay in the country, including, if need be, the cost of repatriating the applicant.
8. The results of a physical examination, including a blood test
(V.D.R.L.), an HIV test and a chest x-ray, conducted by a medical doctor who is a citizen of the Dominican Republic.
9. Immigration Department excise taxes.

Permanent Residence Card
Once the provisional residence card has expired, the applicant may then apply for a permanent residence card. The following documents are required in order to apply for the permanent residency card:

1. Sworn statement by two persons who bear witness to knowing the applicant in the country and that his conduct is in compliance with the laws of the country (plus three copies).
2. Letter of guarantee notarized by a local attorney to the effect that a Dominican citizen or resident will assume responsibility for the applicant while in the country (plus three copies).
3. Four copies of the residence visa issued by the Secretariat of Foreign Affairs for the provisional residency.
4. The original provisional residency card plus three copies.
5. A certificate of good conduct issued by the Dominican police plus three copies.
6. Six 2" x 2" photos, four of them frontal photos and two profile photos of the applicant.
7. The results of a physical examination, including a blood test (V.D.R.L.), an HIV test and a chest x-ray, conducted by a medical doctor who is a citizen of the Dominican Republic.
8. Bank letter certifying to an applicantТs accounts in a Dominican bank.
9. Copy of an employment agreement, if an applicant is working in the Dominican Republic.
10. Application Form C-1 duly completed.

This chapter is reproduced with permission from the УLiving in Santo Domingo 1998Ф book.
The book is available from the following web site: http://dr1.com