My Experience Of Moving To Santo Domingo "STAY FOOLISHLY ORGANIZED "

My motto here in DR is stay FOOLISHLY organized (sorry Steve for changing your quote lol), it says it all…

A few months ago I promised to share with you my experience of moving in Santo Domingo.
On 30th November 2017 I moved here from Italy and I am living with my wife (a Dominican citizen).
Due to marriage to a Dominican citizen, I could start the application process in order to get the temporary residency and the Dominican id (cedula) as well (reagrupación familiar por matrimonio/family reunification with a spouse).

However, the first step is to fill out the visa application form and submit it along with the required documents (Photos, Birth certificate, Marriage certificate, Criminal Records Certificate, etc…) to the Dominican Consulate in your country of origin. Everything must be apostilled or legalized and translated into Spanish. This visa issued for travellers whose intention is to establish in the Dominican Republic permanently. I’ve paid 500 euros (610 US$) for the visa application fees.
This topic has already been sufficiently covered in the Forum.
In my case, I got my Visa approved after almost 2 months….even if the processing time should be 15 days…After having checked my papers and the visa (e.g. name misspelling), I’ve finally booked my flight ticket to DR.

From the date of entry in Dominican Republic, the Visa will expiry in 2 months and it is valid only for one entry, YOU CANNOT RE-ENTRY THE COUNTRY WITH THIS VISA.
Once in Las Americas International Airport, you can go directly through passport control, you do not need to purchase a tourist card.

IMPORTANT: Within 30 days of his/her arrival in the Dominican Republic, the applicant must go to the Immigration Department with his/her passport to sign application forms, register fingerprints and undergo the required medical tests.

TABLA PAGO PENALIDAD VISA VENCIDA (Visa Overstay Fines)
TIEMPO (period)    TARIFA VIGENTE (Amount)
DE 1 A 4 MESES    RD$ 5,000.00
DE 4 A 5 MESES    RD$ 6,000.00
DE 5 A 6 MESES    RD$ 7,000.00
DE 6 A 7 MESES    RD$ 8,000.00
DE 7 A 8 MESES    RD$ 9,000.00
DE 8 A 9 MESES    RD$ 10,000.00
DE 9 A 10 MESES    RD$ 11,000.00
DE 10 A 11 MESES    RD$ 12,000.00
DE 11 A 12 MESES    RD$ 13,000.00
NOTA:
A PARTIR DE UN (1) AÑO DE HABER INGRESADO AL PAÍS SE COBRARA CINCO MIL PESOS (RD$5,000.00), POR CADA AÑO O FRACCIÓN. A LOS FINES PERTINENTES, EL PLAZO SE COMPUTARÁ A PARTIR DE LA FECHA DE ENTRADA AL PAÍS; NO DEL PERÍODO ESTABLECIDO EN LA VISA.
Source: https://www.migracion.gob.do/Menu/SubList/25

I completed the whole process without the aid of an attorney, let’s start from the beginning.
The first thing I did was opening a bank account. This is one of those tasks that needs to be done as soon as you can (remember the visa will expire).
This process took me around 2 weeks. I attempted to open a savings account (with debit card) in Banco Popular (Sambil Mall) with the help of my wife, she also has an account in Popular.
This is what I brought in order to open the account in Popular:
Passport, Italian ID, Driving Licence (originals and copies);
3 months bank statements from my Italian Bank;
1 Reference letter from my Italian Bank;
1 Reference letter from Dominican person and client of the bank (my wife)
Apartment rental receipt (My wife was already renting an apartment before my arrival, however it is enough to show a mobile phone contract or a electricity bill in your name).
Letter from Employer (My ex-employer in Italy)
Proof of income?????

However, I had no proof of income since I was just arrived in Santo Domingo (I went straight to the bank the day after my arrival). After submitting all my papers, the bank consultant told me that he would have called me once my request will be approved… I already knew how it would end LOL
After 2 weeks, as expected, nobody called me. So, I went to Banesco Bank (always in Sambil Mall) and there I could open a bank account in just 4 days. Why did it seem too good to be true?
Because there are few Banesco ATM Points in Santo Domingo (unlike Banreservas, Banco Popular, BHD Leon, etc…). I live near a Banesco Branch, so no problem at all. De todos modos, be always careful and check Google Maps to find nearby ATMs of your Bank before opening a bank account.
Once I had my bank account, I’ve printed a Bank Statement (estado de cuenta, it’s free) and a Reference Letter addressed to Immigration Office (Carta consular, 200 pesos, sounds more official) in order to use them in the Immigration Office. Given that I have no pension (only 31 years old, still have a long way to go LOL), I am not an investor and I do not own a property here in DR, I’ve used the Carta Consular with my savings as a proof of solvency (Minimum balance accepted is 100.000 pesos, around 2057 US$).
The next step is to create an account in the DGM Webiste.
https://personal.migracion.gob.do/Accou … nUrl=%2FMy  (The English version does not work properly LOL).
Once you are on DGM website, click on “SERVICIOS” (Services), then click “SOLICITUDES DE RESIDENCIA” (residency applications). Click “SOLICITUD DE RESIDENCIA TEMPORAL (Application for temporary residence), and in the end click “SOLICITAR EN LINEA (Apply Online). This will bring you to the Account creation page. Click “CREAR UNA CUENTA” (Create an Account). Be careful with all the information such as address, telephone number, passport number, etc… everything must be correct.
If you do not create an account in this website, you cannot request the temporary residency. Do not use strange nicknames like Tony Montana or Captain America LOL just use your own names and surnames.
After your registration, you will upload all your documents that you did previously in the Dominican Consulate in your country of origin plus some documents you will do here (Dominican Bank Reference Letter showing a minimum amount of 100.000 pesos, Dominican Bank Statement, etc…).
Documents MUST BE in JPG format, otherwise you will not be able to upload them in the DGM website. Once you upload everything, in one day the system will check your files and you will receive an email containing the status of your application (complete, incomplete, some documents missing, etc…). However, the website is not very intuitive so do not get desperate, navigate it with a Dominican friend or a person who can understand Spanish (I’ve uploaded my documents 5 times before receiving my receipt LOL).
If your application is complete, the day after your submission you will see a receipt that you have to print and bring with you to Immigration Office along with other documents.


IMPORTANT: DON’T GO TO IMMIGRATION OFFICES WITHOUT THIS RECEIPT. You will wait in line for 3-4 hours for no reason and they will tell you that you cannot start the residency application.
Then, the next step is to buy 1 insurance policy that covers all deportation expenses (Seguro de Garantía Migratoria) in case you come here to import cocaine to the United States LOL, just joking (btw Insurance is one of the requisites). “Law No. 285-04 mandates that residency applicants must obtain local insurance to cover medical and repatriation expenses.”
You can pay it in cash or by credit card. Personally, I went to a Seguro Patria Branch and I’ve paid 5462,50 pesos (112 US$). Remember to ask them to send a scanned copy of the contract to your email. You will need it ;-)
Here is the website of Seguro Patria https://www.segurospatria.com/patriacms/

Another step is to go Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores or MIREX (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) to legalize your Birth Certificate and your Criminal Records Certificate. Obviously, you have to bring your original certificates (e.g. in English) plus the translations into spanish done by the Consulate. The cost of the service is 620 pesos for each certificate (1240 pesos = 25 US$).
I discovered this issue at my own expense. When I was uploading my Birth Certificate and my Criminal Records Certificate the system sent me an email stating that these 2 certificates must to be apostilled by Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MIREX). So, do not waste your time like me and go directly to the MIREX.

Another suggestion: do not just upload the Spanish translation of your documents (only the translated ones by the Consulate). You must upload also the versions in your own language (where applies) otherwise the system will reject your application.

Then, you have to provide to DGM 8 passport photos size (4 Right Side and 4 Frontal Photos with white background). Photographer charged me 200 pesos (4 US$).
IMPORTANT: Even in this case, remember to ask to the photographer to take you 1 frontal photo and 1 right side photo and to send them to your email. My photographer used his mobile and my photos were uploaded successfully LOL
In the DGM website you have to upload 1 frontal photo and 1 right photo to your application. Save the physical ones for the day of the appointment in Immigration Offices.

SUGGESTION: create a folder on your computer where to store all the JPG Files. Moreover, divide the physical copies of your papers (passport copies, visa copies, birth certificate copies from the original ones). Buy some folders and manage your documents accurately, do not expect Immigration Officials to wait for you while you are looking for your passport copy in the middle of 10000 papers LOL
I tell you this because I saw many expats doing this mistake. You know what happened? Officials got impatient and asked them to sit down again and revise their papers…and so they lost their places.

Remember the title of my post: “STAY FOOLISHLY ORGANIZED” and you will be fine. Do not expect employees there to make photocopies for you. If you only forget 1 PHOTOCOPY you have to go out from the building, make the photocopy and stay in line 2 times for nothing.
No, it’s not a joke LOL I saw this happening to some guys there…

So, assuming that you already upload all your documents and that you have your confirmation receipt from the DGM Website, these are the documents (original and copies) that you have to provide in order to apply for your temporary residence (if you just miss a copy you will pay a presidente for all the forum users LOL):

1)    Original Passport and 2 copies of the data page (not one, I said 2 copies LOL)
2)    Two copies of the Visa issued by the Dominican Consulate
3)    Birth Certificate (with Mirex Legalization) and two copies
4)    Criminal Records Certificate (with Mirex Legalization) and two copies
5)    Medical certificate and 1 copy
6)    8 passport size photos
7)    Original and 1 copy of the Poliza de Garantia Migratoria
8)    1 Copy of the Receipt of the DGM Webiste
9)    2 copies of your last entry in the DR
10)    A full copy of your passport pages, yes until the last  page LOL (excluding the data page, the visa and the last entry that you have to keep separately)
11)    Marriage Certificate and 1 copy of spouse cedula (I am married to a Dominican citizen remember? LOL)
12)    Bank Statement with at least 100.000 pesos (estado de cuenta) and 1 copy
13)    Bank Reference Letter addressed to Immigration Office (Carta consular) and 1 copy
14)    You have to pay exactly 14500 pesos in cash (4500 pesos are for the medical exams) for the immigration services (around 298 US$)

Here you can check the fees https://www.migracion.gob.do/Menu/SubList/25

COSTOS ESPECÍFICOS DE LOS SERVICIOS

PAGO AL MOMENTO DEL DEPÓSITO         
RD$ 10,000.00
EXAMEN MÉDICO ADULTOS (MAYORES DE 10)   
RD$ 4,500.00
EXAMEN MÉDICO NIÑOS (MENORES DE 10)       
RD$ 3,000.00
PRÓRROGA PARA DEPÓSITO DE EXPEDIENTE
RD$ 5,000.00
PAGO DE ESTADÍA                                           
SEGÚN TABLA DE PAGO DE ESTADÍA
PAGO PENALIDAD DE VISAVENCIDA
SEGÚN TABLA PAGO PENALIDAD VISA VENCIDA
PERDIDA DEL RECIBO DEL PAGO DEL EXAMEN MÉDICO O EL “ FORMULARIO DE RECIBO DE DOCUMENTOS” PARA EL RETIRO DE LA RESIDENCIA TEMPORAL SOLICITADA
RD$ 500.00
VIP DEPOSITO DE EXPEDIENTES DE RESIDENCIA
RD$ 5,000.00

Of course, depending on the situation, you may be required to support your application with more documents…Fortunately for me these were enough for them LOL and please do not use the VIP service with the hope to receive sooner your residency…it does not work here aahahahaha

After 4 hours of waiting LOL they called me and they gave me a printed confirmation signed by an Official listing all the documents I’ve submitted (Formulario de expedientes para proceso de evaluacion), keep this receipt in a safe place as it is the only proof you have to show to authorities or prospective employers or whatever that you had already apply for the temporary residence. Once you will receive your Dominican ID (Cedula) you can trash it.

Upon approval of application as a resident, the applicant will receive a temporary residency card and a cédula de identidad (national I.D.). However you must hold current passports at all times.
They told me that I have to wait until 90 days before seeing any sign of life of my application LOL anyway, you can check your application status by entering your account in the DGM Website, click mi pagina (my page) and then click aplicaciones (applications). If everything goes smoothly, my residency will be ready around March…

However, after this process, I went out from the building and I walked straight to the clinic which is very near to the Immigration Office. Once there, you will show them the 14500 pesos receipt along with your passport and you will undergo the required medical tests (urine, chest x-ray, blood test including HIV Test).

I completed the whole process alone in 28 days, 2 days before the limit LOL Currently I am waiting for my cedula to be processed, but I can confirm that it is possible to find a job without it but you have to prove your legal status in DR (for this reason keep the receipt of the submitted documents in a safe place and also make some photocopies).

IMPORTANT: It is illegal for non-residents to work in the DR. Employers of non-resident workers will be subject to fines. Illegal workers are subject to deportation. Be careful…
Anyway, after 1 month here I have found a job. Currently I prepare and revise inventories for an important Dominican E-commerce importing good from the US to DR.

Well, that’s all Folks! LoL I hope that my post will be useful for you and I apologise for any mistakes in my English.

Que tengan un buen día!!

Stay FOOLISHLY organized my Friends!!

Elia