The Dominican Republic - tips for future residents

Disclaimer:
Please bear in mind, that the information posted here is the essence of the experiences and opinions expressed by many foreign residents we have interviewed during the past two month (Jan.&Feb. 1997); although all information has been crosschecked, we cannot be held responsible for the outcome of any of your actions or decisions based or influenced by the lecture of the following pages.

Looking for answers about:
The Basics: Must read to get you started	Immigration & Residence: Do your paperwork
Money Matters: Your $ are welcome	Work Matters: From 9 to 5 ?
Health: Stay in shape	The Environment: Still in shape
Living : Change your lifestyle	Miscellaneous: Bits & Pieces

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The Basics -- you may call this nonsense or trivial -- but it shall open your eyes

• The Dominican Republic is an underdeveloped country with all its (sometimes negative)consequences
• A two week vacation in a four or five star resort does not reflect the reality of living there for a longer period -- outside the tourist hotels.
• If you think to get rich fast all you have to do is to get there, you arrived 15 years too late.
• If you do not bring enough money you will have to work as hard as everywhere else to make a living.
• The (relative) cost of living is not lower, if not higher than where you came from.

So why shall I live there then ?

• The Climate: we mean the weather and the political situation.
• Breathtaking Beauty: from the whitest sandy beaches to the greenest forests on to the more than 100 rivers and the central mountain range with the highest peaks in the Caribbean. Columbus was right when he wrote in his logbook: "..this is by far the most beautiful... human eyes have ever seen ..."
• The People: easygoing,openminded and heartwarming hospitality (among some crooks you find everywelse in this world).
• The Opportunity to: be yourself, be your own boss, find inner peace, satisfy your soul.

Immigration & Residence: Be patient and complete you paperwork in time -- you need to:

• check out the latest requirements directly in Santo Domingo as the information given to you by Dominican tourist offices and embassies/consulates in your country is not always up to date, especially since the new government has implemented (positive) changes in the procedures.
• basically produce the following documents:
  • valid passport
  • original birth certificate & legalized copies in Spanish.
  • original clean police/criminal record & legalized copies in Spanish.
  • substantial proof of income, like a Dominican work contract, investment proposal with financial guarantees, proof of receiving a pension from another country etc.
  • legalized declaration from a Dominican citizen soliciting & guaranteeing your residence (or marriage certificate with a Dominican citizen).
  • legalized declaration of three more Dominicans who state to know you & you are ok
  • recent photographs
• basically you need to:
  • have an Aids test done in an Dominican hospital authorized by the Immigrations Department.
  • have a general health check done in an Dominican hospital authorized by the Immigrations Department.
  • have a lot of patience.

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And finally some more things:

• You will always have to deposit your documents and have your health checks done directly in Santo Domingo
• The first residence issued is only provisional and valid for one year.
• Then you will have to apply for a permanent residence and go thruogh the whole procedures all over again ( of course you will pay all the fees and taxes again as well ).
• It is not obligatory to use a lawyer to apply for and process your residence -- even if you are told so !
• There is an army of "Immigration attorneys" trying to charge you as much as they can get from you; some people have reported to have paid between US$ 2,000.00 and US$ 10,000.00 for such a service.
• If you do not speak fluent Spanish and/or are in a hurry to get the resident status you may as well rely on the contacts of those attorneys, but "shop" around first before you comit yourself.
• Doing it on your own will cost you your precious time and about US$ 800.00.

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