This article is of interest to foreign citizens residing in the Dominican Republic having an expired Dominican identity card or cedula.  Recently, the Central Electoral Board of the Dominican Republic issued a public notice advising its decision to suspend 34,453 expired cedulas  issued to foreign citizens in the country. This institution will coordinate an agreement with the General Migration Department to establish deadlines for such foreign citizens to regularize their situation and renew their documentation.

The agreement with the General Migration Department is necessary because this issue is of common interest to both institutions since The General Migration Department does not provide a residence card to a foreign citizen until the presentation of a cedula. For example, in the case of the provisional residences the original cedula must be presented at the General Migration Department and for permanent residences, the original provisional residence must be presented at the Central Electoral Board.

This suspension is a consequence of the large number of foreigners who reside in the Dominican Republic without being properly authenticated and without complying with the requirements provided by Dominican law to legally carry out activities, business transactions, living, studying, among other things, in the Dominican Republic. Additionally, such foreign citizens with expired cedulas are not complying with the obligation to pay taxes due for the corresponding renewal.

We must emphasize that the renewal rates were increased recently and that the expired cedulas will pay a penalty fee for each expired month.

The process of renewing a cedula is easy and fast and requires the presence of their bearers in the offices of the Central Electoral Board at the Department of Immigration. The payment of the renewal fee plus the monthly expired payments  (if applicable) must be made, and the original residence card and the expired cedula must be presented. The new card is ready the same day, moments after taxes have been paid and a new photo has been properly taken.

When renewing the card, foreign citizens should also take the opportunity to update their information such as address, telephone number, marital status, etc.

It is important to mention that this article has resulted from the notice issued on December 22 in a national newspaper, by the Central Electoral Board. Currently, the Minutes of the Plenary of the Central Electoral Board that approves the suspension is pending of signature. The Central Electoral Board has authority for such actions in accordance with its Internal Rules at its eighth "Whereas" that specifies that Article 212 of the Constitution provides that it may regulate matters within its purview. Electoral Law No.275 also states in article 6, paragraph “e” that the Central Electoral Board is the institution responsible for the identification processes and the issuance of the cedula. Thus, this institution can order such suspensions of expired cedulas.

We recommend that all those foreigners who have expired cedulas should proceed with the renovation to avoid future economic and legal situations.