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Countries › Dominican Republic › Guide › 8. Immigration › Temporary residence in the Dominican Republic: the RT-9 route and yearly renewal

Temporary residence in the Dominican Republic: the RT-9 route and yearly renewal

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

Ordinary temporary residence (RT-9) suits people moving without a job or investment route. It starts with an RS visa abroad, costs about RD$20,300 at the DGM and is renewed every year. Five years of it opens the door to permanent residence.

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

RT-9 filing fee14000 DOPDGM service sheet, as of 2025-07-25 · in force
Temporary residence renewal7000 DOPDGM service sheet, as of 2026-10-30 · in force
RS visa200 USDMIREX consular fee schedule, as of 2026-10-30 · in force
DGM time for RT-990 calendar daysDGM service sheet, as of 2025-07-25 · in force
Late renewal charge per month700 DOPDGM service sheet, 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. Temporary residents stay up to a year, renewable yearly while the activity lasts.Ley 285-04, General de Migración, art. 39, 2004-08-15 official text · verified 2026-10-30
2. A person who holds a residence visa completes the residence procedure in the country.Ley 285-04, General de Migración, art. 35 numeral 9, 2004-08-15 official text · verified 2026-10-30
3. The RS visa is good for 60 days and one entry, and the holder must register with the DGM after arrival.
Cost to do it: US$200 (RD$12,180.14).MIREX visas page, Ley 875 de 1978 sobre Visados, Visa de residencia, 2026-10-30 official text · verified 2026-10-30
4. A visa must be collected within 60 days of approval and used within its validity.Ley 285-04, General de Migración, art. 21, 2004-08-15 official text · verified 2026-10-30
5. The foreigner must report to the DGM within 30 days of entering on a residence visa. If the authorized stay falls short, the DGM can extend it by up to 30 days, renewable at its discretion.Ley 285-04, General de Migración, art. 45 paragraph and art. 71, 2004-08-15 official text · verified 2026-10-30
6. The file has the RS visa, no criminal record certificates for countries of residence in the last five years, biometrics, DGM medical, six photos, passport valid 18 months, birth and marriage records, guarantee policy, sworn guarantor statement and proof of solvency.Decreto 631-11, Reglamento de la Ley General de Migración, art. 48, 2011-10-19 official text · verified 2026-10-30
7. The DGM sheet asks for a passport valid six months, RS visa, birth record, photos, criminal record certificate, civil status proof, guarantee policy with Seguros Reservas and medical exams.DGM service sheet, RT-9, Requirements, 2025-07-25 official text · verified 2026-10-30
8. The DGM states a filing cost and 90 calendar days.
Cost to do it: Filing RD$14,000 (US$229.88); adult exam RD$6,300 (US$103.45); child exam RD$4,200 (US$68.96); filing extension RD$7,000 (US$114.94).
Example: Adult RD$20,300; child RD$18,200. / Adult US$333.33; child US$298.85.DGM service sheet, RT-9, Cost and time, 2025-07-25 official text · verified 2026-10-30
9. Documents go in Spanish with four sets of copies for review by the drug, intelligence, Interpol and police bodies.Decreto 631-11, Reglamento de la Ley General de Migración, art. 48 paragraph I, 2011-10-19 official text · verified 2026-10-30
10. Renewal may be requested within 30 days before the yearly expiry, in person, with a Procuraduría certificate, photos and policy.Decreto 631-11, Reglamento de la Ley General de Migración, art. 49, 2011-10-19 official text · verified 2026-10-30
11. Renewal costs a fee and a charge per month late. The DGM quotes 30 working days. On passport validity the DGM says it is flexible and looks at each country.
Cost to do it: Renewal RD$7,000 (US$114.94); per month late RD$700 (US$11.49); lost document receipt RD$700 (US$11.49).DGM service sheet, temporary residence renewal, Cost and requirement 2, 2025 official text · verified 2026-10-30
12. Residents and temporary residents must report changes of address or activity within 30 days.Ley 285-04, General de Migración, art. 73, 2004-08-15 official text · verified 2026-10-30
13. Temporary residents can change subcategory or ask for permanent status from inside the country.
Cost to do it: Change of category RD$21,000 (US$344.82) plus exams, 90 working days, per the DGM sheet.Ley 285-04, General de Migración, art. 61 and art. 62, 2004-08-15 official text · verified 2026-10-30
14. A re-entry permit of up to six months is available when a file is in process or when an absence would pass the card's expiry.
Cost to do it: RD$9,800 (US$160.92); first extension RD$11,200 (US$183.91); second RD$14,000 (US$229.88), per DGM sheets.Ley 285-04, General de Migración, art. 79, 2004-08-15 official text · verified 2026-10-30
15. A person in process cannot be away more than six months without cause, or the application restarts.Decreto 631-11, Reglamento de la Ley General de Migración, art. 85 paragraph, 2011-10-19 official text · verified 2026-10-30

Worked example

  • First year for one adult: RS US$200 (RD$12,180.14) + RD$14,000 + RD$6,300 = about RD$32,480.14 (US$533.33). Four renewals add RD$28,000 (US$459.76), plus policies and exams where asked. Being three months late adds RD$2,100 (US$34.48).

Step by step

  1. Gather and apostille documents before going to the consulate.
  2. Obtain the RS visa, 10 to 20 working days.
  3. Enter within the 60 days and go to the DGM within 30 days.
  4. Apply through the DGM portal, then pay.
  5. Take medical exams within three days of payment.
  6. File originals in Spanish.
  7. Collect the card and go to the Junta Central Electoral for the cédula.
  8. Renew in the 30 days before expiry.

Common traps

  • A search result of the DGM RT-9 page mentions a bank balance of RD$300,000, or RD$150,000 if married to a Dominican, but the archived sheet read here does not show it. Ask for the current solvency figure.
  • Stay and expired visa charges are added to files lodged late, and the visa penalty table in the DGM PDF predates the 2023 tariff.
  • Translations must come from a Dominican consulate or a judicial interpreter.
  • Certificates go stale. A Procuraduría certificate for permanent residence must be under 30 days old.

Sources

Related pages

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

← Temporary workers in the Dominican Republic: TT-1 permits, contingents and bondsPermanent and definitive residence in the Dominican Republic: five years, then ten →

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