Dominican Republic

Residencia Permanente en Calidad de Inversionista

The Residencia Permanente en Calidad de Inversionista is the Dominican Republic's investment residency program, granting permanent residence to foreign nationals who invest a minimum of US$200,000 in the country. Established under Ley General de Migración No. 285-04 (Article 33) and regulated by Decreto No. 631-11, the program bypasses the standard temporary residency requirement and grants permanent residence directly. It is jointly administered by the Dirección General de Migración (DGM), the Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores (MIREX), and ProDominicana (formerly CEI-RD), which certifies the foreign investment. Notably, investors who hold permanent residence may apply for Dominican citizenship after just six months of continuous residence under Ley No. 1683 de Naturalización — one of the fastest investment-to-citizenship pathways in the world.

• Minimum investment of US$200,000 (or equivalent in national or international currency accepted by the Central Bank)
• Investment must be registered with CEI-RD/ProDominicana or CNZFE (for free zone investments) within 180 calendar days of the investment being made
• Acceptable forms of investment: capital contributions to a commercial company; certified investment projects approved by CEI-RD; free trade zone projects certified by CNZFE; real estate; financial instruments with depository bank certificate; or contributions in currency, property, financial instruments, or technology per Ley 16-95
• Investment must be maintained throughout the residency period; failure to maintain it is grounds for revocation
• A Dominican bank account is required

• Completed application form (via DGM portal)
• Valid passport (minimum 6 months validity) plus copy
• Visa de Residencia (RS) from MIREX
• Original birth certificate (apostilled or legalized, translated into Spanish)
• Six 2×2 photographs (frontal view, white background, no jewelry, ears uncovered)
• Certificate of no criminal record from country of origin or countries of residence in the last 5 years (apostilled/legalized, translated)
• Marriage certificate, declaration of single status, or proof of cohabitation (apostilled/legalized)
• Foreign investment certificate issued by CEI-RD/ProDominicana or CNZFE
• Letter of incorporation into the Foreign Investment Program
• Bank letter confirming a Dominican bank account
• For company shareholders: administrative board act (original and copy)
• For financial instrument investments: certificate from the depository bank
• Guarantee/repatriation policy (póliza de garantía) from a DGM-authorized insurer
• Medical examination results from a DGM-authorized institution

The initial permanent residence card is valid for 1 year. The first renewal grants a 4-year card; subsequent renewals are every 4 years. Renewal requires updated foreign investment certification or bank statements proving the investment remains in place. After 10 years, a long-term card is issued. Residency is revoked if the investment is no longer maintained.

Spouse, unmarried children under 18, disabled adult children, university students, and persons under legal guardianship may be included. Each dependant benefits from the same preferential immigration regime without needing to meet standard temporary residency timelines. Each requires their own documentation package and medical examination. Under Ley 171-07, dependants require an additional US$250/month in proven income from the main applicant.

The Dominican Republic uses a territorial tax system. Under the general regime, foreign-source income is not taxed during the first three years of residency. Investors who qualify under Ley No. 171-07 receive permanent exemptions including: no income tax on foreign-source income; exemption from the 3% real estate transfer tax on the first property; 50% reduction in annual real estate property tax; 50% reduction in mortgage registration tax; exemption from taxes on dividends and interest; and import duty exemptions for household goods, equipment, and one vehicle (non-transferable for 5 years).

The process spans three government agencies:

1. Investment registration: Register the foreign investment with CEI-RD/ProDominicana (or CNZFE for free zone investments) within 180 days of making the investment. Submit proof of capital entry, incorporation documents, and investment details to obtain the foreign investment certificate.
2. Visa de Residencia (RS): Apply at the nearest Dominican consulate or MIREX, submitting a visa request letter, passport (minimum 18 months validity), birth certificate, CEI-RD investment certificate, and photographs. The consulate forwards the request to MIREX for final decision. The visa costs US$200.
3. DGM residency application: After entering the Dominican Republic with the RS visa, register on the DGM portal (personal.migracion.gob.do), complete the online application, upload scanned documents (.jpg format), and pay fees (DGM file deposit: RD$3,500; medical exam: RD$6,300). Submit original documents at DGM offices within 30 days of entry and undergo the medical examination within 3 days of payment. Processing takes up to 45 working days by regulation, though practical processing times of 3–4 months are common.

Upon approval, the investor receives a Carnet de Residencia Permanente valid for 1 year and must register with the Dominican tax authority (DGII).

Links

• https://migracion.gob.do/servicio/solicitud-de-residencia-en-calidad-de-inversionista/
• https://servicios360.mirex.gob.do/visas/
• https://drlawyer.com/regulation-application-foreign-investment-law-regulation-380-96/

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