residency dominican republic

How to obtain permanent residency in Dominican Republic

  • By:Vianela Morillo
  • 0 Comment

How to obtain permanent residency in the Dominican Republic is one of the most frequently asked questions regarding immigration and foreign law in the Dominican Republic. In this article we will provide information regarding:

  1. The categories that would make you eligible for permanent residence.
  2. The legal basis.
  3. Requirements.
  4. And steps to follow to obtain it.

The General Law of Dominican immigration establishes what the residency categories are. These categories are the following:

  1. Temporary residency.
  2. Permanent Residency.
  3. Definitive residence.

Within that same structure you may:

A) Change from one category to another, according to what is established by law.

B) Depending on the type of residency, you may obtain Dominican permanent Resident status from the start.

How to obtain Permanent Residency in the Dominican Republic?

If you have Dominican temporary resident status, in the fifth (5th) year, after four (4) consecutive yearly renewals (specifically forty-Five (45) days before you have completed 5 years of temporary residence), you may opt for Dominican permanent residence.

If you qualify for residency by retirement, as a pensioner or Dominican investor, you automatically fall into the category of a permanent resident.

  1. The process to request the change from temporary to permanent residency

If you would like to change your residency status from temporary to permanent, you would need to draft a substantiated request, addressed to the General Director of Immigration through the Department of Immigration. You would request the change of category through this instance, complying with the provisions in Article 50 of Regulation 631-11, pertaining to the General Law of Immigration.

Response time

-In a span of no more than one (1) month, you should have a response by official letter, which you can obtain from the Immigration Office.

If the response was an approval, the steps that follow are:

Through the General Directorate of Dominican Migration, you may request  Dominican permanent residence; in accordance with Article 50 of Regulation 631-11, regarding the application of the General Migration Law, with the following documents:

  • Certificate of good conduct, issued by the Attorney General of the Dominican Republic, with thirty (30) days of validity.

 

  • Active temporary residence card.

 

  • Cedula (Government issued identity card). You would need to submit the original, which will be verified by the General Directorate of Dominican Migration with the Central Electoral Board (known as JCE in Spanish).

 

  • Six (6) recent size 2×2 photographs; three (3) front view and three (3) of the right side profile, without jewelry or accessories and ears, uncovered, in front of an all-white background. The photos must be part of the same set, both front and right profile.

 

  • Passport with eighteen (18) minimum months of validity. The General Directorate of Dominican Migration is flexible while handling these cases and will consider the situation of each country in each case, along with the stringency of its rules in the issuance of passports.

 

  • If you request permanent residence for a spouse or cohabiting person, you must file a marriage certificate or proof of cohabitation, as applicable, duly apostilled or legalized.

 

  • If you apply for permanent residence status for underage children, you would need to submit documentation supporting your application: Duly apostilled or legalized birth certificate.

 

  • An official letter from the General Directorate of Migration authorizing the category change of Dominican residence, from Temporary to Permanent.

 

  • Registration for vehicles manufactured from 2006 onwards. This registration must not have opposition, nor be exempted unless it is under Customs Law 168.

 

  • Property title or fixed-term bank certificate, solely under the name of the applicant.

 

  • Guarantee policy contracted with the insurance company, duly authorized by the General Directorate of Migration. In the event that the petitioner includes his dependent relatives in his application, the guarantee policy will be required individually. Note: It would be admissible to opt for one or two of the financial status proof listed above.

 

  • Perform a medical examination, authorized by the General Directorate of Migration.

 

  1. The process to obtain immediate permanent residency

For the immediate permanent residence process, in other words, avoiding the process and length of time of the Dominican temporary residence, you are required to request and apply to the categories of Dominican residence. These are:

  1. A) Retired / Pensioned.
  2. B) Rentier.
  3. C) Investors.

Permanent Residence in the Dominican Republic is offered through these three categories. We will list the steps to follow hereafter:

A) Application and acquisition of a Residence Visa at the Dominican Consulate of your legal residence. Here, you will be able to see all the details of how to obtain it, along with its deadlines.

B) Application for Dominican residence, before the General Directorate of Migration. Requirements vary according to the type of residence you are requesting, which are:

  • Residence by rentier.

Unlike with the change from temporary to permanent residence, the former requires a given time frame, as previously stated. However, if you apply for residence by retirement, rentier or investor, it immediately falls into the category of permanent.

Benefits of obtaining or having a permanent residence in the Dominican Republic:

  1. Promptness.
  2. Time of validity.
  3. The economy in time.
  4. More personalized process.

The validity of each of the Dominican residence categories:

  • Temporary residence: One (1) year.
  • Permanent residence: Four (4) years.
  • Definitive residence: Ten (10) years.

We are available

STAY IN CONTACT

Posted in: Foreigners in the Dominican Republic

Comments

No Responses to “How to obtain permanent residency in Dominican Republic”

No comments yet.

Leave a Reply