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Countries › Dominican Republic › Guide › 8. Immigration › Naturalization in the Dominican Republic: terms, 2026 rules and the RD$29,200 fee

Naturalization in the Dominican Republic: terms, 2026 rules and the RD$29,200 fee

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

Foreigners can seek nationality after two years of residence, or six months if they run a business, own real estate or are married to a Dominican. Since July 2026 a new resolution sets an online file, a citizenship exam and a single RD$29,200 fee. The President may still refuse, and no term gives a right to it.

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

Ordinary residence term2 yearsLey 1683 art. 1 literal b, as of 2026-10-30 · in force
Reduced term for business, property or marriage6 monthsLey 1683 art. 1 literals c and d, as of 2026-10-30 · in force
Naturalization fee29200 DOPResolución MIP-RR-0005-2026, Ninth, as of 2026-07-17 · in force
Naturalization office certification2500 DOPResolución MIP-RR-0005-2026, Ninth, as of 2026-07-17 · in force
Active applications per guarantor2 applicationsResolución MIP-RR-0005-2026, Seventh, as of 2026-07-17 · in force
Reference rate used for USD conversions60.9007 DOP per USDBanco Central reference selling rate, as of 2026-10-29 · in force

The rule

1. Persons can naturalize under the law. Naturalized citizens cannot run for the presidency or vice presidency.Constitución de la República, art. 19, 2024-10-27 official text · verified 2026-10-30
2. Spouses of Dominicans who opt for that nationality and meet the law's terms are Dominican.Constitución de la República, art. 18 numeral 5, 2024-10-27 official text · verified 2026-10-30
3. An adult may naturalize six months after being granted domicile, or with two years of unbroken residence.Ley 1683 sobre Naturalización, art. 1 literals a and b, 1948-04-16 official text · verified 2026-10-30
4. Six months of residence is enough for a person who founded and runs urban or rural industries, or owns real estate, or who is married to a Dominican.Ley 1683 sobre Naturalización, art. 1 literals c and d, 1948-04-16 official text · verified 2026-10-30
5. Three months after domicile is enough for a person farming at least 30 hectares.Ley 1683 sobre Naturalización, art. 1 literal e, 1948-04-16 official text · verified 2026-10-30
6. Trips of up to one year with intent to return do not break residence.Ley 1683 sobre Naturalización, art. 1 paragraph I, 1948-04-16 official text · verified 2026-10-30
7. The regulation says a permanent resident may seek naturalization after two years of stay following that status.Decreto 631-11, Reglamento de la Ley General de Migración, art. 52, 2011-10-19 official text · verified 2026-10-30
8. The Executive may refuse even when all conditions are met.Ley 1683 sobre Naturalización, art. 7, 1948-04-16 official text · verified 2026-10-30
9. Minor unmarried children become Dominican with the parent, and may renounce within a year of adulthood. Adult children of the person can apply with one year of residence if they file together with their mother.Ley 1683 sobre Naturalización, art. 3 paragraph I and art. 4, 1948-04-16 official text · verified 2026-10-30
10. The decree must be published on payment of the fee. If six months pass without it, the decree lapses. The person then takes an oath.Ley 1683 sobre Naturalización, art. 8 and art. 9, 1948-04-16 official text · verified 2026-10-30
11. The Executive may revoke for false documents, for moving abroad within a year, or for leaving and not returning within ten years, among other grounds.Ley 1683 sobre Naturalización, art. 12 paragraphs I and II, 1948-04-16 official text · verified 2026-10-30
12. Privileged naturalization is a presidential grant for eminent service, limited to five persons a year.Ley 1683 sobre Naturalización, art. 18 and art. 20, 1948-04-16 official text · verified 2026-10-30
13. Ordinary applicants file online, are told within five working days if they must fix anything, and then attend with originals and biometrics.Resolución MIP-RR-0005-2026, Second, 2.1 and 2.2, 2026-07-17 official text · verified 2026-10-30 · changed: Replaced Resolución 26-2018 and the naturalization fees of Resolución 02-05 of 2005.
14. The file has a CV, birth record under five years old, passport valid one year, cédula, current residence card, civil records, criminal record certificates, a work letter or sworn income statement, and a notarized solvency statement pledging assets.Resolución MIP-RR-0005-2026, Second, 2.4 and 2.5, 2026-07-17 official text · verified 2026-10-30
15. Foreign criminal record certificates are needed if the applicant has lived under five years in the country.Resolución MIP-RR-0005-2026, Second, 2.4 literals g and h, 2026-07-17 official text · verified 2026-10-30
16. A person without solvency needs a Dominican guarantor. One guarantor may back only two active applications.Resolución MIP-RR-0005-2026, Second 2.5 and Seventh numeral 9, 2026-07-17 official text · verified 2026-10-30
17. Investor residents add proof of the investment.Resolución MIP-RR-0005-2026, Third, 2026-07-17 official text · verified 2026-10-30
18. Spouses of Dominicans need at least six months of marriage and the spouse's records.Resolución MIP-RR-0005-2026, Fourth, 2026-07-17 official text · verified 2026-10-30
19. Apostilles must be under six months old when filed, and translations come from a Dominican judicial interpreter.Resolución MIP-RR-0005-2026, Seventh numerals 2 and 3, 2026-07-17 official text · verified 2026-10-30
20. All adults take a citizenship exam in Spanish on culture, geography and history. An interview may follow.Resolución MIP-RR-0005-2026, Seventh numerals 6 and 7, 2026-07-17 official text · verified 2026-10-30
21. A single fee is paid at application.
Cost to do it: Naturalization RD$29,200 (US$479.47); certifications RD$2,500 (US$41.05); express add on RD$2,800 (US$45.98).Resolución MIP-RR-0005-2026, Ninth, 9.1 to 9.3, 2026-07-17 official text · verified 2026-10-30 · changed: Fee replaced the 2005 tariff, adjusted for about 155% inflation.
22. The resolution takes effect 15 working days after publication.Resolución MIP-RR-0005-2026, Twelfth, 2026-07-17 official text · verified 2026-10-30
23. Dominicans may take another nationality without losing theirs.Constitución de la República, art. 20, 2024-10-27 official text · verified 2026-10-30

Worked example

  • An investor with permanent residence, spouse and an adult child, each filing: 3 × RD$29,200 = RD$87,600 (US$1,438.41), plus notary, apostille and translation costs, and any Gaceta Oficial publication charge.

Step by step

  1. Check which literal of art. 1 you use.
  2. Get the DGM residence certificates.
  3. Apostille foreign documents within six months of filing.
  4. Sign the notarized solvency statement.
  5. File online and pay.
  6. Answer the five working day review.
  7. Attend for originals and biometrics.
  8. Sit the exam.
  9. Pay publication and take the oath.

Common traps

  • The law's two years and the regulation's two years after permanent residence do not read the same. Expect the Ministry to look for permanent residence, as its old 2018 resolution did.
  • The law sets RD$10 and half fees for Latin American nationals in arts. 27 and 32. The 2026 resolution sets a single RD$29,200, with no reduction stated.
  • The publication date of the 2026 resolution was not found, so its exact start date is not stated here.
  • No renunciation of the prior nationality was found in Ley 1683 or the 2026 resolution, but your home country may have its own rule.
  • A passport must have one year left, and the DGM certificates have their own lead times.
  • Moving abroad within a year of naturalization is a ground for revocation.

Sources

Related pages

Related: Dominican Republic country profile · live dashboard · central bank and release calendar · our posts on X

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