The most common procedure to obtain Dominican residence is through the ordinary residence process, which has 2 different phases: the provisional residence and the permanent residence. In the present article we will be explaining the main characteristics of the process and the requirements established by the Dominican General Immigration Department in order to obtain the provisional residence.

Dominican residence permits are regulated by Law 285-04 of August 27th, 2004. According to such , all foreigners who travel to the Dominican Republic with the purpose of residing in the country, temporarily or permanently, must document their immigration status at the General Immigration and Passports Department, and must request the applicable immigration permit.

In this sense, the provisional residence permit is the first phase all foreigners must complete when staying in the Dominican Republic for more than 60 days or intend to reside temporarily or permanently in the country. Furthermore, if foreigners will carry out profitable activities or establish a business in the country they must also request such permit. The provisional residence is valid for 1 year from the date it is issued and once it expires the foreigner is eligible to apply for the permanent residence before the same institution.

The application procedure begins with a medical examination at the laboratory of the General Immigration Department, which will include a blood test, urine exam and x-ray; and is followed by the payment of taxes which will vary depending on the time the foreign has been in the country, once the 60 day period has expired. Generally, the provisional residence process takes between 3 to 5 months to be approved.

When the foreigner deposits his/her file before the General Immigration Department, he/she will receive a deposit receipt which will include his/ her file number used to follow up on the status of the matter. In the event the foreigner needs to travel abroad while the file has been reviewed, a travel certification that certifies the applicant’s file has been deposited will be necessary. In this case, if the foreigner needs a Dominican visa to enter to the country, he/ she will have the option of applying for a re-entry permit, which can be used to enter the country without having the obligation of requesting a visa before the Dominican consulate of his/ her country of origin.

Once the General Direction of Migration approves the provisional residence application, the applicant will be granted an authorization to request his/her Dominican ID card before the Central and Electoral Board, and will also receive his/ her residence card, being both required documents in order to legally reside in the Dominican Republic.

The Dominican ID card, known as the Cedula, is the national identification number. With this identity card, foreigners can open bank accounts, hire services, and request their Dominican driver’s license, among others, while the residence card validates the foreigner’s immigration status in the country and is used to travel abroad and to enter the Dominican Republic accompanied by their passports.

Having a residence card will eliminate the need of having to purchase tourist cards in order to enter the country (only if the foreigner’s nationality is allowed to enter the country with such) or if they require a visa to enter the country, they will not have to incur in additional expenses to request the same at the Dominican consulate every time when travelling to the Dominican Republic.


Bibliography:
• Law 285-04 on Migration
• www.migracion.gov.do