Countries › Dominican Republic › Guide › 12. Sectors › Tourism operating licences

Tourism operating licences

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

Hotels, restaurants, bars, spas and timeshare firms need a Ministry of Tourism licence on top of company and sanitary papers, filed online. First time hotel filings need a no objection letter from the ministry's planning department. Tax incentives under Ley 158-01 are a separate track covered in the investing section.

USD figures use the Banco Central de la República Dominicana reference selling rate of RD$60.9007 per US dollar, as shown on its home page on 30 October 2026, rounded to the cent.

Key facts

Timeshare firm minimum paid capital	500000 DOPMinistry of Tourism sheet, as of 2026-10-30 · in force
Timeshare licence fee	30000 DOPMinistry of Tourism sheet, as of 2026-10-30 · in force
Timeshare guarantee bond, minimum	1000000 DOPMinistry of Tourism sheet, as of 2026-10-30 · in force

The rule

1. Hotels, aparthotels and other lodging, as persons or companies, obtain and renew the licence through the digital form at licencias.mitur.gob.do.Ministry of Tourism requirement sheet, section I item 1, 2021-04 official text · verified 2026-10-30

2. A first licence needs two bank references, a DGII tax compliance certificate, a TSS balance certificate and a current commercial registry certificate.Ministry of Tourism requirement sheet, section I items 2 to 5, 2021-04 official text · verified 2026-10-30

3. The applicant must show the right to use the property, by title, municipal certificate, or a notarized option, promise of sale or lease.Ministry of Tourism requirement sheet, section I item 6, 2021-04 official text · verified 2026-10-30

4. A copy of the full civil liability policy is required, and certificates are not accepted.Ministry of Tourism requirement sheet, section I item 7, 2021-04 official text · verified 2026-10-30

5. First time lodging files need a no objection letter from the Planning and Projects Department, proof of the licence fee and a favorable inspection.Ministry of Tourism requirement sheet, section I items 9 to 11, 2021-04 official text · verified 2026-10-30

6. Restaurants, cafeterias, bars, discos and similar venues run by companies need the same core papers plus a sanitary permit from the Ministry of Public Health.Ministry of Tourism requirement sheet, section II, 2021-04 official text · verified 2026-10-30

7. Timeshare firms need a Dominican company with subscribed and paid capital of at least RD$500,000, a lodging licence for the hotels used, and a trade name certificate from ONAPI.
Cost to do it: Minimum capital RD$500,000 (about US$8,210.09).Ministry of Tourism sheet on timeshare, items 1 to 4, 2021-04 official text · verified 2026-10-30

8. Timeshare firms must carry third party cover of at least RD$1,000,000 and post a guarantee bond of at least RD$1,000,000 against cancellations and non performance.
Cost to do it: Insurance and bond of at least RD$1,000,000 (about US$16,420.17) each.Ministry of Tourism sheet on timeshare, items 14 and 15, 2021-04 official text · verified 2026-10-30

9. The timeshare operating licence and its renewal cost RD$30,000.
Cost to do it: RD$30,000 (about US$492.61), on the first issue when the ministry so determines.Ministry of Tourism sheet on timeshare, item 20 and renewal item 13, 2021-04 official text · verified 2026-10-30

10. Hotels in tourist poles and other qualifying projects may apply for incentives before CONFOTUR under Ley 158-01. That is a separate decision from the licence.Ley 158-01; Decreto 372-14, whole text, 2001-10-09 official text · verified 2026-10-30

11. Casinos may be installed only in operating hotels classified four stars or more.Ley 86-26, art. 49, 2026-09-22 official text · verified 2026-10-30

Paper	Hotel	Restaurant or bar	Timeshare
Digital form or letter to the minister	Form	Form	Letter
No objection letter	Yes, first time	Not listed	Not listed
Sanitary permit	Not listed in section I	Yes	Not listed
Civil liability policy	Yes	Yes	Yes, at least RD$1,000,000
Tax and TSS certificates	Yes	Yes	Check sheet
Inspection	Yes	Check sheet	Yes

Main papers by business

Worked example

A timeshare operator budgets RD$500,000 (about US$8,210.09) of paid capital, a bond and cover of RD$1,000,000 (about US$16,420.17) each, and a RD$30,000 (about US$492.61) licence fee, renewed at the same fee.
A boutique hotel on leased land files a notarized lease as proof of use. It obtains the no objection letter first, since the application asks for it, then the inspection, and only then opens.

Step by step

Form the company and get RNC and commercial registry.
Register the trade name at ONAPI.
Ask the ministry's planning department for the no objection.
Complete permits on land and environment.
Buy the civil liability policy.
File online, pay, and pass inspection.
Renew on the ministry's schedule.

Common traps

The requirement sheets are undated, sit in a 2021 folder and still ask for a Covid protocol. Confirm the current list at the licence portal.
No official hotel licence fee was found, so none is given.
The ministry's other documents point to a one year licence, but the official source read does not state the term, so check it.
Short stay rentals are a different discussion. See the real estate pages.
CONFOTUR benefits do not license the hotel, and the licence does not give tax relief.

Sources

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