To obtain Dominican Republic permanent residence by investment in 2026 you invest at least US$200,000, contributed to the capital of a Dominican company or held in qualifying financial instruments, and register it as foreign investment with ProDominicana (CEI-RD). The DGM issues the residence card within 45 working days: first for one year, then for four-year periods, provided the investment is maintained and evidenced at each renewal.
- US$200,000 is the general minimum. It must be contributed to the capital of a Dominican company or held in qualifying financial instruments, under Reglamento 631-11 art. 55.
- ProDominicana registration comes first. The investment must be registered with CEI-RD (or be in the process of registration) before the DGM files your residence.
- A property purchase on its own is not a confirmed route. No official source lists a personal real estate purchase as a qualifying investment, so we do not present it as one.
- Government fees are modest. The DGM charges RD$42,000 per file, RD$6,300 for an adult medical and a RD$3,500 CEI-RD file deposit; renewals cost RD$25,000 plus RD$1,500.
- The card is permanent but conditional. A one-year card is followed by four-year cards, and failing to maintain the investment leads to revocation (art. 58).
- One investment covers the family. Your spouse, children under 18 and adult children dependent for study or disability can be included, each paying the per-person DGM fees.
What are the Dominican Republic investment visa requirements in 2026?
The Dominican Republic investment visa requirements in 2026 are a qualifying investment of at least US$200,000, its registration with ProDominicana (CEI-RD), a residence (RS) visa from a Dominican consulate, a clean criminal record, a DGM medical examination and a set of apostilled civil documents. Applicants who meet them receive permanent residence directly, without first holding temporary residence.
The legal basis is the General Immigration Act, Ley 285-04 (art. 33), and its implementing regulation, Reglamento 631-11, whose arts. 54 to 58 govern investor residence. Investments are registered under the Foreign Investment Act, Ley 16-95. Article 54 is the reason the route is attractive: it exempts investors from the temporary-residence procedure that most other foreigners must complete first. If you are still deciding between this route and a citizenship programme with a similar name, read our guide to Dominica vs the Dominican Republic before going further.
What qualifies as an investment in the Dominican Republic?
A qualifying investment in the Dominican Republic is a contribution of at least US$200,000 to the capital of a Dominican company, made in cash, in kind, in financial instruments or in technology, or a contribution to an existing company, registered as foreign investment with ProDominicana. Reglamento 631-11 art. 55 sets this minimum and these forms.
Capital contribution to a Dominican company
The most common form is a capital contribution to a new or existing Dominican company. The Foreign Investment Act (Ley 16-95) recognises contributions in cash, in kind, in financial instruments or in technology, and the Companies Act (Ley 479-08) covers contributions to companies that already exist. Your file will include the company statutes, its commercial register entry and the CEI-RD investment certificate.
Qualifying financial instruments
Financial instruments qualify as a form of capital contribution under Reglamento 631-11 art. 55 Párrafo I. In practice this means a fixed-term deposit or other qualifying banking and securities products of at least US$200,000, supported by a certificate from the depository bank. No fixed lock-in period is stated, but at renewals after the first four years you must show that the required average deposit has been maintained.
Special incentive regimes
Companies operating under special incentive regimes, such as free zones, tourism or border development, follow their own regime rules. If your investment sits inside one of these regimes, confirm the threshold that applies to your specific project with the DGM and ProDominicana before you commit capital, rather than relying on general market statements.
Does buying property qualify for Dominican Republic residency?
Buying a personal property in the Dominican Republic is not confirmed as a qualifying investment for investor residence. Neither the DGM investor page nor Reglamento 631-11 art. 55 lists a personal real estate purchase; both describe capital contributions to a company and financial instruments. Until the DGM or ProDominicana confirms otherwise, Mirabello Consultancy does not present a property purchase as a route to residence.
A home in Punta Cana or Santo Domingo may be an excellent lifestyle decision. It should simply be planned alongside, not instead of, a qualifying investment.
| Investment form | Minimum | Evidence on file | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capital contribution to a Dominican company (new or existing) | US$200,000 | Company statutes, commercial register, CEI-RD certificate | Qualifies (Reglamento 631-11 art. 55) |
| Qualifying financial instruments (deposit, securities) | US$200,000 | Depository bank certificate, CEI-RD certificate | Qualifies (art. 55 Párrafo I) |
| Project under a special incentive regime | Set by the regime | Regime certification, CEI-RD or CNZFE certificate | Confirm case by case with DGM and ProDominicana |
| Personal property purchase on its own | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not confirmed by any official source |
How do you register the investment with ProDominicana?
You register the investment with ProDominicana, the Centro de Exportación e Inversión de la República Dominicana (CEI-RD), as foreign investment under Ley 16-95, and you receive a CEI-RD investment certificate. Free-zone companies register with the National Free Zones Council (CNZFE) instead. The DGM accepts the filing receipt while registration is still pending (Reglamento 631-11 art. 57.5 and 57.7).
ProDominicana registration is the step that turns an ordinary capital transfer into a recognised foreign investment, so it is worth getting right first. Wire the funds through the banking system so that their foreign origin is documented, keep every transfer record, and make sure the company documents, the bank certificate and the CEI-RD filing all describe the same amount. The DGM collects a RD$3,500 CEI-RD file deposit per adult with your residence application. The separate ProDominicana registration fee is not published on the official pages we reviewed, so ask for a written quote before you file.
Which documents do you need for Dominican Republic residency by investment?
The documents for Dominican Republic residency by investment are a consular residence visa, a valid passport, an apostilled birth certificate, criminal records, civil-status proof, an insurance guarantee policy, a repatriation policy for dependants, a DGM medical and the investment evidence. The list below follows the DGM investor pages and Reglamento 631-11 art. 57.
- Residence (RS) visa issued by a Dominican consulate before you travel to complete the process.
- Passport with ample validity. The DGM Spanish page asks for at least 6 months and Reglamento 631-11 art. 57 for at least 1 year, so plan for at least 1 year to satisfy both.
- Birth certificate, apostilled, or legalised where the issuing country is not part of the Apostille Convention.
- Criminal record certificates from every country where you have lived in the last 5 years. They are not required for children under 16.
- Civil-status proof: marriage certificate, single-status certificate or proof of cohabitation.
- Guarantee policy issued by an insurer authorised by the DGM.
- Repatriation policy for each dependant (Reglamento 631-11 art. 57.16).
- DGM medical examination, completed in the Dominican Republic within 3 days of paying the fees.
- Investment evidence: company statutes and commercial register, the CEI-RD (or CNZFE) certificate or filing receipt, and a bank certificate for financial instruments.
Documents issued abroad must be presented in a form the DGM accepts, so ask your adviser early which ones need an official Spanish translation. Note also that an online application left idle for 90 calendar days lapses automatically, which is the most common avoidable setback we see.
Would you like a document checklist tailored to your nationality and family? Book a free consultation with Mirabello Consultancy and our team will prepare it with you.
How much are the DGM fees for investor residence?
The DGM fees for investor residence are RD$42,000 per file, RD$6,300 for each adult medical examination (RD$4,200 under 13) and a RD$3,500 CEI-RD file deposit per adult. Renewals cost RD$25,000 plus RD$1,500 for CEI-RD, according to the official DGM Spanish service pages read in October 2026.
| Fee | Adult | Under 13 |
|---|---|---|
| Single file payment (DGM) | RD$42,000 | RD$42,000 |
| DGM medical examination | RD$6,300 | RD$4,200 |
| CEI-RD investment file deposit | RD$3,500 | Not stated |
| Renewal file (DGM) | RD$25,000 | Not stated |
| Renewal CEI-RD fee | RD$1,500 | Not stated |
| Optional VIP renewal service | RD$15,000 extra | Not stated |
| Late renewal surcharge | RD$1,700 | Not stated |
Two points matter here. First, the DGM English page still shows an older fee table; the current figures are the ones on the DGM Spanish investor residence page and the DGM investor renewal page. Second, the consular RS visa fee and the ProDominicana registration fee are charged separately and are not published on those pages, so budget for them and for professional fees on top of the government charges above.
How long does Dominican Republic residency by investment take?
Dominican Republic residency by investment takes 45 working days from a complete DGM file to the issue of the permanent residence card, according to the DGM investor page. The time you spend obtaining the RS visa, gathering apostilled documents and registering the investment with ProDominicana comes before that clock starts.
- Structure and register the investment with ProDominicana (CEI-RD) under Ley 16-95.
- Gather and apostille your personal documents, including criminal records for the last 5 years.
- Obtain the RS residence visa from a Dominican consulate.
- Travel to the Dominican Republic, pay the fees and complete the DGM medical within 3 days of payment.
- File with the DGM investment department; the card is issued within 45 working days.
Careful preparation of steps 1 to 3 is what keeps the overall timeline predictable, because the DGM clock only protects a complete file.
How long is the residence card valid, and what happens at renewal?
The Dominican Republic investor residence card is valid for one year at first, then for four years, renewable for similar periods. At every renewal you must show an updated CEI-RD (or CNZFE) registration certificate, and from the first four-year renewal onwards a certification of the contributions made, or proof that the required average deposit is maintained.
This is the requirement most often overlooked. Reglamento 631-11 art. 58 states no fixed holding period, but the investment must be maintained for as long as you hold the residence, and Párrafo II provides that non-compliance leads to revocation. In other words, the residence is permanent in category but conditional on the investment staying in place. You can read the rule in the official copy of Reglamento 631-11.
Practical points for renewals, all from the DGM renewal page: apply 45 days before the card expires; standard renewals take 10 working days, or 5 with the VIP service; and a late filing attracts a RD$1,700 surcharge.
Do you have to live in the Dominican Republic to keep the card?
No minimum physical stay is required to keep Dominican Republic permanent residence, because Ley 285-04 art. 39 gives permanent residents the right to reside indefinitely. If you are abroad beyond the validity of your card, however, you need a re-entry permit of up to 6 months (art. 79), so keep your renewal dates in your diary.
Can your family be included in one investment?
Your family can be included in one Dominican Republic investment: your spouse, children under 18, and children over 18 who depend on you financially for study or disability, according to the DGM investor page. There is no additional investment per dependant, but each family member pays the per-person DGM fees and needs a repatriation policy.
Every dependant files their own documents, including a criminal record certificate for those aged 16 or over and a medical examination at the adult or under-13 rate. Parents are not listed as eligible dependants on the official pages we reviewed, so treat their inclusion as something to confirm with the DGM rather than assume.
Can Dominican Republic investor residence lead to citizenship?
Dominican Republic investor residence can lead to citizenship only through ordinary naturalisation. As a general rule, a permanent resident may apply after 2 years of continuous residence following the grant of permanent residence (Reglamento 631-11 art. 52), and every adult applicant now sits a citizenship exam in Spanish under MIP Resolution MIP-RR-0005-2026.
Naturalisation is a separate and discretionary process: an interview may be held, investors add proof of their investment, and the applicant shows solvency. Residence by investment does not purchase citizenship. The DGM ordinary naturalisation service sets out the procedure if you later wish to pursue it.
Is the investor route right for you, or is another route a better fit?
The investor route is right for you if you want direct permanent residence in the Dominican Republic and are comfortable keeping US$200,000 invested in a Dominican company or qualifying instruments for as long as you hold the card. If your priority is retiring on a pension, or a passport rather than residence, another route will usually fit better.
- Retiring on a pension or passive income? The Dominican Republic Pensionado and Rentista routes are based on income rather than capital and may suit you better.
- Looking for citizenship, not residence? Compare citizenship programmes in our guide to the best citizenship by investment programmes, including Dominica citizenship by investment.
- Weighing other Latin American residence options? See our Panama residency overview, the Panama Qualified Investor visa and Mexico permanent residency.
- Comparing residence by investment worldwide? Our golden visa and residence by investment rankings and best retirement residency programmes set the Dominican Republic in context.
For quick, source-backed answers on any of these programmes, you can also chat with Mira, by Mirabello, the AI advisor of Mirabello Immigration Intelligence, which draws on the same verified programme data as this guide. When you are ready to structure the investment itself, speak with a Mirabello Consultancy specialist.
In summary
The Dominican Republic investment visa requirements are clear once they are laid out in order: at least US$200,000 contributed to a Dominican company or held in qualifying financial instruments, registered with ProDominicana; a consular RS visa and a complete set of apostilled documents; DGM fees of RD$42,000 per file plus medical and CEI-RD charges; and a residence card within 45 working days. The card then runs for one year and for four-year periods after that, as long as the investment is maintained and evidenced at every renewal.
The detail is where applications succeed or stall: the right investment form, a ProDominicana registration that matches the bank and company records, and renewal evidence prepared well ahead of time. With 250+ citizenship by investment cases, 350+ golden visa cases and a 99% approval rate, Mirabello Consultancy can structure each step with you. Book your free consultation to plan your Dominican Republic residence with Swiss precision, or start with our Dominican Republic residence by investment programme overview.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
What do I need to invest for Dominican Republic permanent residency in 2026?
You need to invest at least US$200,000, contributed to the capital of a Dominican company or held in qualifying financial instruments, and registered with ProDominicana (CEI-RD) as foreign investment (Reglamento 631-11 art. 55). The DGM then issues a permanent residence card within 45 working days.
What qualifies as an investment in the Dominican Republic for residency?
A contribution of at least US$200,000 to the capital of a new or existing Dominican company, in cash, in kind, in financial instruments or in technology, or qualifying financial instruments such as a fixed-term deposit backed by a bank certificate. Projects under special incentive regimes follow their own rules and should be confirmed case by case.
Can I get Dominican Republic residency by buying property?
A personal property purchase on its own is not confirmed as a qualifying investment by any official source. The DGM investor page and Reglamento 631-11 art. 55 describe capital contributions to a company and financial instruments, so Mirabello Consultancy does not present a property purchase as a route to residence.
Why do I need to register with ProDominicana?
ProDominicana (CEI-RD) registers your capital as foreign investment under Ley 16-95, and its certificate is a core document of the DGM file. The DGM accepts the filing receipt while registration is pending, and an updated CEI-RD certificate is needed at every renewal.
How much are the government fees for Dominican Republic investor residence?
The DGM charges RD$42,000 per file, RD$6,300 for an adult medical examination (RD$4,200 under 13) and a RD$3,500 CEI-RD file deposit per adult. Renewals cost RD$25,000 plus RD$1,500 for CEI-RD. The consular visa and ProDominicana registration fees are separate.
How long does Dominican Republic residency by investment take?
The DGM issues the permanent residence card within 45 working days of a complete file. Registering the investment, obtaining the RS visa and apostilling documents come before that, so plan the preparation phase carefully.
Do I have to keep the investment after I get residency?
Yes. Reglamento 631-11 art. 58 requires the investment to be maintained for as long as you hold the residence and evidenced at every renewal; non-compliance leads to revocation. From the first four-year renewal you show a certification of contributions or that the required average deposit is maintained.
Do I have to live in the Dominican Republic to keep investor residence?
No minimum stay applies: Ley 285-04 art. 39 gives permanent residents the right to reside indefinitely. If you are abroad beyond your card's validity, you need a re-entry permit of up to 6 months, so renew on time.
Can my spouse and children be included?
Yes. Your spouse, children under 18 and children over 18 who depend on you for study or disability can be included under one investment. Each pays the per-person DGM fees and needs a repatriation policy; criminal records are not required under 16.
How do I start with Mirabello Consultancy?
Book a free consultation. We review your goals and family, confirm the right investment form, and prepare your ProDominicana registration and DGM file step by step.
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