28
Nov

The Dominican Republic is and continues to be one of the best options for many foreign nationals to emigrate to and establish their residence on this island, due to various situations or conditions, some of which are:

1. The great business and investment opportunities offered by the country.
2. The advantages and benefits of entering as a retiree, rentier or investor.
3. The weather.
4. Location of the country.
5. Unparalleled tourist attractions (in a country rich in natural resources, which makes it unique).
6. Its reliability and security in the Fiscal and Judicial system.
7. The various ways and facilities to obtain residence and Dominican nationality.

In this entry Reasons to reside in the Dominican Republic (live, invest or retire), you will see more details regarding the benefits offered by this country.

Due to these and many other reasons, emigrating to or residing in the Dominican Republic is a topic of interest. A lot of foreign nationals would like to know what documents are needed to immigrate to the Dominican Republic and we will be answering that question for your convenience.

Required Documents

1. Valid Passport

This document is essential to carry out any type of transaction. Some of these transactions are:

A) Enter the country.

B) Rent or buy real estate (apartments, houses, etc), the admissible document in your foreign status is your passport.

C) Buy movable goods (automobiles).

D) Request financial products (bank accounts, credits, etc).

E) Complete the residency process.

The only exception to these conditions and that could lead you to regular and legal life, is if you apply and are admitted as a refugee or asylum seeker in the Dominican Republic. In the following article, you will see all the relevant information in this topic: Obtaining asylum or refugee status in the Dominican Republic.

2. Residence Visa

Without a residence visa, you will not be able to continue the regulation process for the purpose of obtaining legal residence in the Dominican Republic. We recommend reading types of Dominican residence visas and how to obtain them.

3. Other documents

– Birth Certificate; apostilled or legalized by the Dominican consulate of the country that issued it (for the minor and the husband, if applicable).

– Legalized marriage certificate by the Dominican consulate of the country that issued it.

The best course of action is to consult with a Law Firm or Office specialized in Immigration Law – Immigration in the Dominican Republic – before arriving in the country. In doing this, you would ensure that your profile is evaluated and be able to define the type of activity and residence that you could apply for in the Dominican Republic. In order to determine what additional documentation you should bring in the country, which would be more beneficial and help you avoid the following:

– Excessive expenses.

– Waste time in the process.

– Use the different benefits offered by certain immigration categories.

Example:

To be able to apply for a Retirement Residence as a retiree and thereby benefit from the special incentives granted by Law number 171-07 on special incentives, you would need to bring to the country and provide:

– Certificate from the Government, official agency or private company in question, showing that you are retired, and specifying the amount and how long you have been receiving retirement benefits.

– Proof of income from these funds.

If you are able to provide proof of your retirement status, you would be able to apply for a Retirement Residence and thereby obtain the benefits of:

A) Exemption from the Customs Tariff of the Dominican Republic, which exempts the payment of taxes on household goods and personal property.

B) Partial Exemption of Motor Vehicle Taxes.

C) Exemption of taxes on real estate transfers, for the first property, acquired.

D) Exemption of 50% of the taxes on mortgages, when the creditors are financial institutions duly regulated by Monetary and Financial Law.

E) Exemption of 50% of the Property Tax, when applicable.

F) Exemption from taxes that levy dividends and interest, generated in the country or abroad.

G) Exemption of 50% of the Capital Gain Tax, as long as the rentier is the majority shareholder of the company subject to the payment of this tax and that said company is not dedicated to commercial or industrial activities.

I) Obtaining a Dominican Residence and Nationality by Retirement (which is very important).

This is an example and applies according to each profile and each case, therefore, it is important to know the full profile of the interested party to determine the best course of action. Additionally, this will help determine what documents are necessary to immigrate to the Dominican Republic and ensure that their experience is easy, inexpensive and above all, legal. As a result, we insist on the timely and specialized advice of a lawyer or firm specialized in Dominican and Foreign Immigration law.