Countries › Dominican Republic › Guide › 8. Immigration › Bringing family to the Dominican Republic: dependants, spouses and children

Bringing family to the Dominican Republic: dependants, spouses and children

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

Spouses and minor children can follow a resident, a worker or an investor. Dependants of RT-3 and RT-4 holders use the RT-7 card at RD$20,300 per adult, and need permission to work. Spouses of Dominicans use a family route and an RS visa.

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

DPM visa	150 USDMIREX consular fee schedule, as of 2026-10-30 · in force
RT-7 filing fee	14000 DOPDGM service sheet, as of 2025 · in force
Common law union for family RS visa	2 yearsMIREX visas page, as of 2026-10-30 · in force
Reference rate used for USD conversions	60.9007 DOP per USDBanco Central reference selling rate, as of 2026-10-29 · in force

The rule

1. Relatives of Dominicans or of permanent residents are a permanent class: spouse and minor or unmarried children.Ley 285-04, General de Migración, art. 33 numeral 3 (printed as 3 after retirees), 2004-08-15 official text · verified 2026-10-30

2. The regulation defines relatives as spouse and unmarried children under 18, or disabled adult children.Decreto 631-11, Reglamento de la Ley General de Migración, art. 3 definitions, Pariente, 2011-10-19 official text · verified 2026-10-30

3. Spouses and minor children of temporary residents are also temporary residents.Ley 285-04, General de Migración, art. 35 numeral 7, 2004-08-15 official text · verified 2026-10-30

4. Approval of a category change extends to the spouse and unmarried minor children.Ley 285-04, General de Migración, art. 63, 2004-08-15 official text · verified 2026-10-30

5. Relatives of a temporary resident need express DGM authorization to work.Ley 285-04, General de Migración, art. 99, 2004-08-15 official text · verified 2026-10-30

6. The DPM visa lasts one year with multiple entries. The main holder must have a student or NM1 visa, or be a Dominican resident.
Cost to do it: US$150 (RD$9,135.10).MIREX visas page, Ley 875 de 1978 sobre Visados, Visa de dependencia, 2026-10-30 official text · verified 2026-10-30

7. The family reunification RS visa accepts a notarized common law union of at least two years, and the guarantee letter comes from the spouse or father.
Cost to do it: US$200 (RD$12,180.14).MIREX visas page, Ley 875 de 1978 sobre Visados, Visa de residencia, reunificación familiar, 2026-10-30 official text · verified 2026-10-30

8. RT-7 serves dependants of RT-3 and RT-4 holders for one year. It needs an NM visa, family records, criminal record certificate, guarantee policy and the main holder's status.
Cost to do it: Filing RD$14,000 (US$229.88); exam for ages 13 and up RD$6,300 (US$103.45); filing extension RD$7,000 (US$114.94).
Example: Adult RD$20,300. / Adult US$333.33.DGM service sheet, RT-7, Description and requirements, 2025 official text · verified 2026-10-30

9. The DGM states no cédula is issued for RT-7.DGM service sheet, RT-7, Notes, 2025 official text · verified 2026-10-30

10. Dependants of investors can apply with the main applicant under the preferential regime, and minors skip the criminal record item.Decreto 631-11, Reglamento de la Ley General de Migración, art. 56 and art. 57 numeral 16, 2011-10-19 official text · verified 2026-10-30

11. Retirees and rentiers can include their spouse, children and wards, with US$250 more a month for each.Ley 171-07 sobre Incentivos Especiales a los Pensionados y Rentistas de Fuente Extranjera, art. 3 paragraph and art. 5, 2007-07-13 official text · verified 2026-10-30

12. An application including dependants needs no separate guarantee letter for them, but the main letter must cover them.Decreto 631-11, Reglamento de la Ley General de Migración, art. 48 literal n, 2011-10-19 official text · verified 2026-10-30

13. Foreigners married to Dominicans with over three years of residence and over two years of marriage are outside the 80% headcount, among other cases.Ley 16-92, Código de Trabajo, art. 138, 1992-05-29 official text · verified 2026-10-30

14. Children of a non resident mother are registered at the consulate of her nationality, unless the father is Dominican. Clinics issue a pink birth record to mothers without legal residence.Ley 285-04, General de Migración, art. 28, 2004-08-15 official text · verified 2026-10-30

15. Persons born in the country are Dominican, except children of diplomats and of foreigners in transit or residing illegally. Non residents count as in transit.Constitución de la República, art. 18 numeral 3, 2024-10-27 official text · verified 2026-10-30

16. Non residents and those without status are treated as persons in transit.Decreto 631-11, Reglamento de la Ley General de Migración, art. 68, 2011-10-19 official text · verified 2026-10-30

Worked example

An engineer on RT-3 brings a spouse: DPM US$150 (RD$9,135.10) and RD$20,300 at the DGM, about RD$29,435.10 (US$483.33), plus the guarantee policy.

Step by step

Confirm the main holder's status first.
Apostille birth and marriage records.
Apply for the DPM or RS visa.
File with the DGM after arrival.
If the dependant will work, request DGM authorization.
Register any child born in the country with the correct office.

Common traps

The RT-7 sheet asks for a visa called NM, while MIREX issues a DPM visa for dependants. Confirm which one the consulate should stamp.
A child born here to a parent without residence does not gain nationality.
The regulation's definition of relative names the spouse only, while MIREX and DGM lists accept proof of a common law union. Confirm with the consulate.
The labor exception in art. 138 has its own conditions, which the labor page sets out.

Sources

← Retiree and rentier residence in the Dominican Republic: Ley 171-07Students, volunteers and short permits in the Dominican Republic →

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