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Countries › Dominican Republic › Guide › 8. Immigration › Permanent and definitive residence in the Dominican Republic: five years, then ten

Permanent and definitive residence in the Dominican Republic: five years, then ten

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

After five years of renewed temporary residence a foreigner can move to permanent residence, on a first one year card and then four year cards. After ten years as a permanent resident comes the definitive card. Filing costs RD$23,100 for an adult, and the DGM quotes 90 calendar days.

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

Years of temporary residence to qualify5 yearsDecreto 631-11 art. 50, as of 2026-10-30 · in force
Permanent residence application16800 DOPDGM service sheet, as of 2025-08-04 · in force
Permanent residence application16800 DOPDGM service sheet, as of 2025-08-04 · in force
Definitive residence application28000 DOPDGM service sheet, as of 2026-10-30 · in force
DGM time for permanent residence90 calendar daysDGM service sheet, as of 2025-08-04 · in force
Term of each later card4 yearsLey 285-04 art. 75, as of 2026-10-30 · 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. Permanent residents may live in the country indefinitely unless the stay is cancelled.Ley 285-04, General de Migración, art. 39, 2004-08-15 official text · verified 2026-10-30
2. Temporary residents may ask to change to permanent.Ley 285-04, General de Migración, art. 61, 2004-08-15 official text · verified 2026-10-30
3. The application is lodged 45 days before completing five years of temporary residence renewed yearly, and can be made from five years on.Decreto 631-11, Reglamento de la Ley General de Migración, art. 50 and art. 51 paragraph III, 2011-10-19 official text · verified 2026-10-30
4. The director can exceptionally shorten the term for a professional, scientific, teaching, technical or cultural resource of high national interest.Decreto 631-11, Reglamento de la Ley General de Migración, art. 51 paragraph II, 2011-10-19 official text · verified 2026-10-30
5. The file has the form, a Procuraduría certificate under 30 days old, current temporary card, cédula, DGM medical, six photos, a passport valid 18 months, work contract if any, family papers, proof of solvency and an interview.Decreto 631-11, Reglamento de la Ley General de Migración, art. 50, 2011-10-19 official text · verified 2026-10-30
6. The card is first valid one year, then four years, renewable.Ley 285-04, General de Migración, art. 75 literal a, 2004-08-15 official text · verified 2026-10-30
7. Permanent residents may do any paid work, on their own or as employees, except retirees, pensioners and rentiers, who need DGM and Ministry of Labor authorization. Liberal professions still need their license.Ley 285-04, General de Migración, art. 98, 2004-08-15 official text · verified 2026-10-30
8. The DGM sheet states the costs below and 90 calendar days.
Cost to do it: Application RD$16,800 (US$275.86); adult exam RD$6,300 (US$103.45); child exam RD$4,200 (US$68.96); each month the temporary card is expired RD$1,000 (US$16.42).
Example: Adult RD$23,100. / Adult US$379.31.DGM service sheet, permanent residence, Cost and time, 2025-08-04 official text · verified 2026-10-30
9. Renewal covers four years and costs the amount shown, with 30 working days quoted. It can be filed from 45 days before expiry.
Cost to do it: RD$16,800 (US$275.86); delay charge RD$1,000 (US$16.42).DGM service sheet, permanent residence renewal, Cost and time, 2025 official text · verified 2026-10-30
10. After ten or more years of legal stay as a permanent resident, a foreigner receives a definitive residence card, subject only to the taxes due.Ley 285-04, General de Migración, art. 46, 2004-08-15 official text · verified 2026-10-30
11. The DGM describes the RD-1 as ten extra years, for those with continuous residence of ten years or more, with 30 working days quoted.
Cost to do it: Application RD$28,000 (US$459.76); permanent residence delays RD$1,000 (US$16.42).DGM service sheet, definitive residence, Description, cost and time, 2025 official text · verified 2026-10-30
12. A permanent resident may seek naturalization after two years of continuous 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
13. Stay can be cancelled if entry was by false documents or if an impediment is later proven. Cancellation ends the status and means regularizing or leaving.Ley 285-04, General de Migración, art. 42 and art. 43, 2004-08-15 official text · verified 2026-10-30

Worked example

  • Adult moving from RT-9 in month 60: RD$16,800 + RD$6,300 = RD$23,100 (US$379.31). Two renewals over the next five years, first after one year and then after four, add RD$33,600 (US$551.72). At 15 years, RD-1 costs RD$28,000 (US$459.76).

Step by step

  1. Diary 45 days before the fifth anniversary.
  2. Renew the last temporary card.
  3. Obtain the Procuraduría certificate no more than 30 days ahead.
  4. Apply on the DGM portal.
  5. Take exams within three days of payment.
  6. Attend the interview.
  7. Renew the card after one year, then every four.

Common traps

  • The DGM sheet contradicts itself: its description says one year of RT-9 and its audience line says five. The regulation says five.
  • A lapsed temporary card costs RD$1,000 a month, and the file needs a current card.
  • The regulation asks for 18 months of passport validity while the sheet says six. Use 18 months to be safe.
  • Investors, retirees and rentiers skip the temporary stage, so these timelines do not apply to them.
  • Duplicate cards cost more each time: a definitive card duplicate runs from RD$15,000 up per the DGM sheet, and Resolución DGM-004-2025 reset duplicate fees, though its text was not available.

Sources

Related pages

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

← Temporary residence in the Dominican Republic: the RT-9 route and yearly renewalInvestor residence in the Dominican Republic: US$200,000 and no temporary stage →

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