New look at illegal foreigners

Sounds the entitled or upper income people are investing outside of Haiti. Seems that if that is the situation, they should follow the rules as all foreigners should. However, given the sad history, even these folks have a trail of poorer relativies that pose immigration issues. Not an easy fix as we all know....so many are honest great workers but there are also many linked to crime and violence & no country needs those!!

Do those rules only apply to illegal Haitians or all illegal foreigners? 

If they change the rules it will affect many here who think owning an apt or house gives them some rights or security.

@planner

      I read that Haiti is threatening to divert the Massacre river to excavate a canal if this happens a lot of farmland in the DR will b without water and will harm much of the environment in the west , so president Abinader will shut the border to air , sea and land commerce  on Thursday if not resolved….. they have to find out who Authorized it first because the Government is so unstable there

They are actively working on the diversion and Abinader is not tolerating it at all!  It's a powder keg for sure.

That is an important threat to the DR. With sucha n unstable government in Haiti, there will be MORE pressure for the UN to step in for whatever they might offer. CANADA is the country of choice for many (countries) to lead such a mission but with issues such as this how will any assistance be treated. Stabilize the government first....a real mess!!!

For months countries have refused to help.  They all expect us here in the DR to deal with it

Let’s cut to the chase……. Money has poured into Haiti for more than 30 years

w/the same results , they have nothing to offer ( exports) why would any country

want to get involved …the UN has no appetite for a lost cause that will just embarrass them and their policies . I just hope president Abinader keeps his anger at foreigners directed in one place ( Haiti )

This was not the intent of the thread.  So let's end that part of the conversation.

My intent was this govt looking at ANY illegals owning property!

How many Americans, Canadians, Brits etc own real estate and have not got residency????? Is this opening a new door?????

Interesting...we purchased property before we had residency, but we were NEVER in the country illegally. We never exceeded 30 days until our residency application was in process.

I'm sure that is true for many who own vacation properties here. It will definitely be a big change if they establish new criteria for property ownership - they would have to grandfather in any existing owners.

Never assume anything with the govt here.  They retroactively pulled many passports a number of years ago. 

And many many expats own property here and do not have residency. They come every winter and stay months at a time.  Some stay permanently. 

We can never count out what the govt or any future govt might do.

Can I clarify? It is ok to own property without being a resident, correct?  However even come to the DR, the expectation is that you are there legally. You don’t have to a resident to own property or do you?  I see so much marketing and emails. I thought you could have vacation property there but can’t overstay legal limits.

Wow imagine if they decided to not let foreigners buy property because they don’t or can’t get a residence’s … If they decide to not let foreigners own property , they might’s well shut down all the construction sites  , I don’t think there’s enough Dominicans in one part of the country to buy and build in the other half of the country

Currently non residents can own property. That has not changed. 

Tippj your assumptions are wrong.  While a major change in these rules would cause havoc your assumption there are not enough Dominicans of wealth is incorrect.

I agree Planner. Since purchasing our home on the NC I have met many wealthy Dominicans and have been told that the DR has the largest % of middle class in the carribean.  Overall this is a healthy indicator for the growth of the economy and the stability of the government.

That said, the economy relies on tourism and it would be great to have the residency process simplified for foreign investors, or a longer tourist visa for property. owners. 

Culturally and politically it is not a surprise that the Government will continue to crackdown on Haitian investors.  I think they are highly suspicious of their neighbor. 

I know many wealthy Dominicans also, but I don’t think you would find enough of them that would want to tie up their money in the real estate market that would become flooded w/properties if the law were to change  , or would want to buy up all the condos at the inflated prices that are being built ,

If the market would become flooded with properties the prices would go down, thus interesting for dominicans to buy. New projects with inflated prices would stall untill new demand makes the market go up.

As long as there is shortage of housing, a growing population and a good economy the market will always go up in the long run.

Imagine if they took your property away or forced you to sell it (on their terms) because you dont have residency.  This is a possibility, even if its not likely.  Whatever future rules may be put in place, I doubt it would effect any current owners. 

Don't doubt anything here.  I suggest people get legal.  That's the point of all this I think.

What happens if the can’t …… because of finances , background checks, maybe

the have duel citizenship already w/another country…….

    What about they just continue to come for 30 days and get their 3 month extension 💡

😳…wow that’s an idea

Like any country the DR has the right to regulate who comes here and who stays.  Maybe they will regulate who can buy real estate.  Maybe they won't.

So you buy a house for a lot of $$, you go through a lot of paperwork. Why would you not do that  for the extra 1-2% of the cost of the house to firm up your legal base?

It is like you have a house but the government has the key and you have to get it everytime you want in.

It's certainly a risk many have taken.

I wouldn't take a risk with a house, certainly not in the DR.

The reason why it is made so easy to buy a house; money comes into the DR, the house stays in the DR.

And if you sell it the money leaves.  Sorry, I am missing your point.

I love discussions with no facts yet huge amounts of opinions.

aah life in the DR

What are your referring to?  There is all kinds of "what if" discussion here. What's your point?

Maybe is time call Poland special forces like in 1994 GROM"thunder""rayo"for sort it out..

So as a foreigner thinking of coming to the DR, to buy a property, and stay as long as legally allowed on every trip:

• Is it still a good idea to buy property in the DR?
• What are the current facts?
• Are there any restrictions or limitations on foreigners buying property now (2023 onwards)?
• If there are no limits, what are the 'gotchas' to look out for?

I really appreciate any help you can provide.

@planner

I wonder how it will affect all the illegal foreigners who probably don't consider themselves illegal? Maybe it won't if they only rent? I wonder if it will result in more scrutiny on overstays...

I tried to delete this as once I could see all the other replies it's obviously repetitive.

Does anyone seriously think the Dominican Republic would close their borders to Americans, Canadians, or Europeans?  It will never happen lol

Nothing has happened yet, nothing has changed yet. Could it sure,  will it soon, not likely.

But imagine if the USA or Canada allowed anyone who wanted to just come in and do what they wanted?  The screams would be deafening. 

@ciscobenedict

You should be able to buy property.  I have never heard of anyone having trouble simply BUYING.  The problem and illegality happens when people stay here longer than allowed.  In other words, they buy property intending to live here permanently, but then they just stay, without applying for a visa.  If you purchase a property of at least $200,000 USD, you should qualify for the Investment Visa.  Check the DR Embassy page and some other resources for that exact amount, but I believe it's $200k.

If the property you buy is NOT at least $200k (so, you don't qualify for the investment visa), then, as @tippj pointed out, the normal tourist visa is 30 days but you can request extensions to get a total of 4 months.  There are a couple other visa options though:  pensioner's visa and rentista visa.  Pensioner's:  a minimum of $1,500 USD income per month from a pension (for 1 person).  Rentista:  a minimum of $2,000 USD income per month from rental property.  I believe the Rentista also includes other types of income that are not specifically rental or pension, but are received by you monthly.  Again, check the DR Embassy page and, to be on the safe side, consult an immigration attorney in the DR.

If your intention is to buy property and live here permanently, then make sure your purchase meets the minimum $$ requirement.  AND apply for the visa.

If my memory is correct, at one time if a non-resident wanted to own property in the Dominican Republic, they needed to establish a Dominican company.  And that company needed to have a Dominican on the “board”.  The non-resident could not own the property in their name.  That was changed to encourage foreign investment in the country.  Now that Haitians are the investors, things might change. ☹

Buying a property does NOT qualify you for investor residency whether inside a corp or not!

Investor residency is an investment that creates real business and real jobs!  Your villa / house / apartment does not qualify.

What about a house w/3  apartments attached to it , i’m hiring a maid ,  handyman, grounds keeper , painter ,  property manager ,  those people consider themselves lucky to hav a “ real job ”

@planner

They already are and the screams are deafening.

Tippj is it all held inside a corporation? Are they all legally registered on the TSS and do you declare all the income and expenses? 

I hire from an agency ,

Then it may not qualify.  Not sure on this situation.

Point is just investing in real estate does not qualify for investor based residency