Countries › Dominican Republic › Guide › 13. Regulation › E-commerce and electronic signatures

E-commerce and electronic signatures

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

Ley 126-02 gives data messages and digital signatures legal force, and contracts can form online. A digital signature has the force of a handwritten one if it meets five attributes, and INDOTEL licenses certification entities. Online sellers also owe consumers 3 working days of reflection and at least 7 working days of trial under Ley 358-05.

Key facts

Reflection period	3 working daysLey 358-05 art. 62, as of 2026-10-30 · in force
Trial period	7 working daysLey 358-05 art. 62, as of 2026-10-30 · in force
Regulator of certification entities	INDOTEL textLey 126-02 art. 35, as of 2026-10-30 · in force

The rule

1. The law applies to any information as a digital document or data message, except treaty obligations of the State and warnings that must be printed on products.Ley 126-02 sobre Comercio Electrónico, Documentos y Firmas Digitales, art. 1, 2002-08-14 official text · verified 2026-10-30

2. A written requirement is met by a digital document if it can be accessed later and meets the law's terms.Ley 126-02 sobre Comercio Electrónico, Documentos y Firmas Digitales, art. 5, 2002-08-14 official text · verified 2026-10-30

3. A signature requirement is met by a valid digital signature, including with public bodies.Ley 126-02 sobre Comercio Electrónico, Documentos y Firmas Digitales, art. 6 and paragraph, 2002-08-14 official text · verified 2026-10-30

4. Digital documents are admissible, with the force of private signed documents, and cannot be denied effect for being digital.Ley 126-02 sobre Comercio Electrónico, Documentos y Firmas Digitales, art. 9 and paragraph, 2002-08-14 official text · verified 2026-10-30

5. Offer and acceptance can be made by data message unless agreed otherwise, and a contract cannot lose validity for that reason.Ley 126-02 sobre Comercio Electrónico, Documentos y Firmas Digitales, art. 13, 2002-08-14 official text · verified 2026-10-30

6. A digital signature has the force of a handwritten one if unique to its user, verifiable, under the user's exclusive control, tied to the data so that changes void it, and in line with regulations.Ley 126-02 sobre Comercio Electrónico, Documentos y Firmas Digitales, art. 31, 2002-08-14 official text · verified 2026-10-30

7. Certification entities can be public or private legal persons, Dominican or foreign, and chambers of commerce, with INDOTEL's authorization.Ley 126-02 sobre Comercio Electrónico, Documentos y Firmas Digitales, art. 35, 2002-08-14 official text · verified 2026-10-30

8. INDOTEL can warn, fine up to 2,000 monthly minimum salaries, suspend, ban for 10 years or revoke.Ley 126-02 sobre Comercio Electrónico, Documentos y Firmas Digitales, art. 57, 2002-08-14 official text · verified 2026-10-30

9. Sellers at a distance must state price with tax, delivery and shipping beforehand, keep proof of delivery, allow returns by similar means at their cost, and cover shipping on guarantee work.Ley 358-05 General de Protección de los Derechos del Consumidor o Usuario, art. 62 literals a to e, 2005-07-26 official text · verified 2026-10-30

10. They must allow at least 3 working days of reflection before delivery and at least 7 working days of trial before return.Ley 358-05 General de Protección de los Derechos del Consumidor o Usuario, art. 62 literals f and g, 2005-07-26 official text · verified 2026-10-30

11. Invoices can be digital where that fits the contract.Ley 358-05 General de Protección de los Derechos del Consumidor o Usuario, art. 99, 2005-07-26 official text · verified 2026-10-30

Step by step

Choose a certification entity authorized by INDOTEL for signed documents.
Keep logs and hashes for accessible retrieval.
Put terms in Spanish with click acceptance.
Add reflection and trial periods in your returns policy.
Cover data notices, as Ley 172-13 applies online.

Common traps

A simple e-signature tool may not meet the five attributes. Check the certificate chain.
The reflection and trial periods are minimums and apply to internet sales.
Return costs for claims fall on the seller.
Some acts still need notarial or registry form under their own laws, so read the specific rule.
The copy of the law read shows Senate approval on 14 August 2002 but no promulgation date.

Sources

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