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Capital in and out of the Dominican Republic: contributions, repatriation and treaty protection for transfers

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Last verified: 2026-10-30 · Status: Stable

Registered investors may take home the full capital invested, without prior authorization, on a sale of shares or a liquidation, after tax. The remittable amount is paid in capital less net losses, and the original certificate goes back to ProDominicana first. US investors also have the transfers clause in CAFTA-DR.

USD figures use the Banco Central de la República Dominicana reference selling rate of RD$60.9007 per US dollar for 29 October 2026, as shown on its home page on the verification date, rounded to the cent.

Key facts

Capital repatriationFree, no prior authorization, for registered investment textLey 16-95 art. 7; Decreto 214-04 art. 5, as of 2026-10-30 · in force
Notice of sale or liquidation60 calendar daysDecreto 214-04 art. 5, as of 2026-10-30 · in force
CAFTA-DR free transfers clauseIn force for the Dominican Republic since 1 March 2007 textCAFTA-DR art. 10.8, as of 2026-10-30 · in force
Cash limit on share transfers250000 DOPLey 155-17 art. 64 literal f, as of 2026-10-30 · in force

The rule

1. Foreign investment may go into the capital of new or existing companies, including branches, into Dominican real estate within existing limits on foreigners, and into financial assets under monetary authority rules.Ley 16-95 sobre Inversión Extranjera, art. 3, 1995-11-20 official text · verified 2026-10-30
2. Investors may remit the full amount of capital invested, including capital gains realized and booked under generally accepted accounting principles, after income tax and without prior authorization.Ley 16-95 sobre Inversión Extranjera, art. 7, 1995-11-20 official text · verified 2026-10-30
3. Remittable capital is subscribed and paid capital owned by registered foreign investors, less net losses of the company, if any.
Example: Paid capital RD$60,900,700 less net losses RD$12,180,140 leaves RD$48,720,560 remittable. / Paid capital US$1,000,000 less net losses US$200,000 leaves US$800,000 remittable.Decreto 214-04, Reglamento de Aplicación del Registro de la Inversión Extranjera, art. 1, 2004-03-11 official text · verified 2026-10-30
4. A registered investor may repatriate capital when selling its shares, participations or rights to national or foreign investors, or on liquidation of the company, if tax and statistical reporting duties are met. Capital gains realized and booked may also go out without prior authorization.Decreto 214-04, Reglamento de Aplicación del Registro de la Inversión Extranjera, art. 5, 2004-03-11 official text · verified 2026-10-30
5. A sale, transfer or liquidation must be reported to the agency within 60 calendar days.Decreto 214-04, Reglamento de Aplicación del Registro de la Inversión Extranjera, art. 5, 2004-03-11 official text · verified 2026-10-30
6. The investor hands the original certificate to the agency before repatriating, and the agency's receipt replaces the certificate at the bank.Decreto 214-04, Reglamento de Aplicación del Registro de la Inversión Extranjera, art. 5 paragraph I; art. 7 literal b, 2004-03-11 official text · verified 2026-10-30
7. A foreign buyer has 60 calendar days to obtain a new certificate and takes on the seller's rights, filing the old certificate, tax proof for the seller, transfer evidence and its application. This works only if the capital has not already been repatriated. If it has, the buyer registers as a new cash investment.Decreto 214-04, Reglamento de Aplicación del Registro de la Inversión Extranjera, art. 5 paragraphs II and III, 2004-03-11 official text · verified 2026-10-30
8. Revaluation surpluses are not foreign investment for repatriation, unless they become liquid through a sale to unrelated third parties.Ley 16-95 sobre Inversión Extranjera art. 12 as amended by Ley 98-03 (CEI-RD), Ley 98-03 art. 14, 2003-06-17 official text · verified 2026-10-30
9. Registrations in several currencies are adjusted proportionally in the original currencies, at the rate on the date of each application.Decreto 214-04, Reglamento de Aplicación del Registro de la Inversión Extranjera, art. 8 paragraph IV, 2004-03-11 official text · verified 2026-10-30
10. Each party must permit all transfers relating to a covered investment to be made freely and without delay into and out of its territory, in a freely usable currency at the market rate at the time of transfer. Transfers include contributions, profits, sale and liquidation proceeds, interest, royalties, fees and loan payments.CAFTA-DR, art. 10.8 paragraphs 1 and 2, 2007-03-01 official text · verified 2026-10-30
11. A party may still block a transfer through equitable, non discriminatory, good faith use of laws on bankruptcy and creditors, securities and derivatives dealing, crimes, reporting needed by law enforcement or financial regulators, and compliance with orders and judgments.CAFTA-DR, art. 10.8 paragraph 4, 2007-03-01 official text · verified 2026-10-30
12. Payment for the transfer of shares or company interests above RD$250,000 may not be made in cash. Notaries and registrars must not process such operations without proof of the means of payment.Ley 155-17 contra el Lavado de Activos, art. 64 literal f and paragraph II, 2017-06-01 official text · verified 2026-10-30
RouteDocumentsTerm
Sale to a Dominican or foreign buyerOriginal certificate to the agency, agency receipt to the bank, sworn statementReport within 60 calendar days
Sale to a foreign buyer keeping the registrationOld certificate, seller tax proof, transfer evidence, buyer applicationBuyer has 60 calendar days
LiquidationOriginal certificate to the agency, agency receipt to the bank, sworn statementReport within 60 calendar days

Repatriation file by route

Worked example

  • An investor put in US$1,000,000 and the company has US$200,000 of net losses. The decree's remittable capital is US$800,000 (about RD$48,720,560). If a sale at a higher price produces a realized gain, tax on the gain comes first and the gain can then go out as well.

Step by step

  1. Confirm tax is settled and get proof.
  2. Report the sale or liquidation to ProDominicana.
  3. Hand over the original certificate and get the receipt.
  4. Give the bank the receipt and the sworn statement, then buy the currency.
  5. For a sale, make sure the buyer's own certificate is handled within 60 days.

Common traps

  • The decree's capital route names sales and liquidation. A plain capital reduction with the shareholder staying in is not listed in art. 5, although Ley 16-95 art. 7 covers the full capital invested. Clear it with ProDominicana first.
  • Losing the original certificate delays repatriation, since the duplicate needs a sworn statement.
  • Do not repatriate before the buyer has re-registered if the buyer wants the old registration: the new registration depends on capital not having left.
  • The CAFTA-DR clause covers covered investments of parties to that agreement. It does not extend to other investors.

Sources

Related pages

Related: Dominican Republic country profile · live dashboard · central bank and release calendar · our posts on X · where Argentina is involved, see The Argentine Thread guide

← Dividends out of the Dominican Republic: no prior approval, 10% withholding and a US$100 exampleForeign loans into the Dominican Republic: no approval, a statistical report and the tax limits that matter →

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