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The first 90 days in the Dominican Republic: from apostilled documents to the first monthly filings

Argentina. For full detail on Argentina, go to The Argentine Thread.

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

The path starts abroad, with apostilled and translated parent documents. Next come the name, the signing, the 1% tax in 2026, the chamber within one month, then the RNC with beneficial owners. Register the investment with ProDominicana and the employer with TSS and the Ministry before hiring. Official costs start near RD$15,355 for a small S.R.L., and monthly filings begin at once.

USD figures use the Banco Central de la República Dominicana spot reference selling rate of RD$60.9007 per US dollar for 29 October 2026, the latest row in its published rate file on the verification date, rounded to the cent. Conversions are for orientation only.

Key facts

Hague Apostille party	Yes, in force 30 August 2009 textHCCH status table, as of 2026-10-30 · in force
Tax on incorporation, 2026	1 % of authorized capitalLey 173-07 art. 10, as of 2026-10-30 · in force
Minimum tax on incorporation, 2026	1000 DOPLey 173-07 art. 10, as of 2026-10-30 · in force
Year the tax is repealed from	2027 Ley 30-26 art. 58, as of 2026-10-30 · pending
Deadline to apply for registration	1 month Ley 479-08 art. 15, as of 2026-10-30 · in force
Santo Domingo formation fee, capital up to RD$100,000	2500 DOPChamber schedule in force from 1 December 2022, as of 2026-10-30 · in force
ONAPI trade name registration	4755 DOPONAPI service guide, as of 2026-10-30 · in force
Maximum partners, S.R.L.	50 partnersLey 479-08 art. 93, as of 2026-10-30 · in force
Foreign investment certificate	15 working daysDecreto 214-04 art. 3, as of 2026-10-30 · in force
TSS employer registration	0 DOPTSS question 6, as of 2026-10-30 · in force
Rate used for USD conversions	60.9007 DOP per USDBanco Central spot reference selling rate, 29 October 2026, as of 2026-10-29 · in force

The rule

1. The Dominican Republic is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention. It acceded on 12 December 2008, with entry into force on 30 August 2009. The status table marks the accession with an objection, so a document from an objecting state may still need another route.
Cost to do it: Apostille fees are set by the issuing country.HCCH status table, Apostille Convention, Status entry, 2009-08-30 official text · verified 2026-10-30

2. In Santo Domingo, documents of a foreign company being registered must carry an apostille in the country of origin and be translated into Spanish by a judicial interpreter where needed. Where a foreign company is a member of a local company, the chamber asks for its certificate of good standing or equivalent, translated, and proof of who represents it up to the last natural person.Cámara de Comercio y Producción de Santo Domingo, requirements for foreign companies, Requirements sheet, 2026-10-30 official text · verified 2026-10-30

3. An S.R.L. is formed by two or more persons (art. 89), with no more than 50 partners (art. 93). Quotas are fully subscribed and paid at formation, and funds received are deposited within eight days (art. 92). Capital has no statutory minimum and each quota is at least RD$100.Ley 479-08 as amended by Ley 31-11; Ley 68-19, art. 89, art. 92 and art. 93; Ley 68-19 art. 3, 2019 official text · verified 2026-10-30

4. The tax on incorporation is 1% of authorized capital with a RD$1,000 minimum, paid to DGII before registry filing. It is repealed from 2027.
Cost to do it: S.R.L. with RD$500,000: RD$5,000 (US$82.10). S.A.S. with RD$3,000,000: RD$30,000 (US$492.61).Ley 173-07 art. 10; Ley 30-26 art. 58, art. 10; art. 58, 2026-06-18 official text · verified 2026-10-30 · changed: Repealed from 2027 by Ley 30-26.

5. The application to the Registro Mercantil is due within one month of signing or the constitutive meeting (art. 15). Personality begins on registration (art. 5), and those who act before it are jointly and without limit liable unless the company assumes the acts (art. 8).
Cost to do it: Santo Domingo formation fee: RD$2,500 (US$41.05) up to RD$100,000 of capital, RD$5,000 (US$82.10) up to RD$500,000, RD$14,500 (US$238.09) from RD$1,000,001 to RD$5,000,000.Ley 479-08, as amended by Ley 31-11, art. 5, art. 8 and art. 15, 2011-02-08 official text · verified 2026-10-30

6. Trade name registration at ONAPI costs RD$4,755 and a prior search RD$600.
Cost to do it: RD$4,755 (US$78.08) plus RD$600 (US$9.85).ONAPI distinctive signs service guide, Nombre Comercial; Búsqueda de antecedentes, 2025-07-30 official text · verified 2026-10-30

7. DGII issues the RNC on form RC-02 with annexes, the Registro Mercantil certificate, the ONAPI certificate if held and identity documents of shareholders, using a passport for foreigners without a cédula.DGII, steps to register a legal entity, Steps 1 and 2, 2026-06-01 official text · verified 2026-10-30

8. The declaration of beneficial owners is made on registering or updating the RNC and in the annual return. Updates may never exceed six months after a change.Ley 155-17 art. 104; DGII Beneficiario Final page, art. 104 paragraph V, 2017-06-01 official text · verified 2026-10-30

9. After registration, a taxpayer asks once for authorization to issue fiscal receipts, then requests sequences, through Oficina Virtual or the local office.DGII guide for new taxpayers, Sections 2 and 3, 2025-12-01 official text · verified 2026-10-30

10. Foreign investment is registered as soon as it is made (Ley 98-03) and within 180 calendar days under the regulation, with 15 working days to issue the certificate on a complete file. Cash needs proof of entry of funds and the exchange document.Ley 98-03 art. 12; Decreto 214-04 art. 3, art. 12; art. 3, 2004-03-11 official text · verified 2026-10-30

11. The employer registers in SIRLA at the Ministerio de Trabajo in the first 15 days of activity. Registration with the TSS is free and online, and each worker enters the SUIR no later than the day before starting work, so that risk cover applies from day one.Ministerio de Trabajo service sheet; TSS questions 6 and 18, Registro de Empresas; questions, 2026-10-30 official text · verified 2026-10-30

12. The first monthly filings follow the registration: format 606 to 608 by the 15th, IR-17 and IR-3 by the 10th and IT-1 by the 20th, even with no operations for ITBIS and the formats.DGII guide for new taxpayers; Ley 11-92 art. 353, Sections 5 and 6, 2025-12-01 official text · verified 2026-10-30

When	Step	Authority	Legal limit or cost
Before day 0	Apostille and translate parent documents, plan funding	Home country; judicial interpreter	Home country fees
Week 1	Search and register the name, draft bylaws	ONAPI	RD$5,355 (US$87.93)
Day 0	Sign the constitutive documents	Partners	One month clock starts (art. 15)
Within 8 days of receipt	Deposit quota funds	Bank	Ley 479-08 art. 92
Weeks 2 to 3	Pay the 1% tax if forming in 2026	DGII	1%, minimum RD$1,000 (US$16.42)
By month 1	File at the chamber	Cámara de Comercio y Producción	From RD$2,500 (US$41.05)
After registry	RNC with beneficial owner annex	DGII	Form RC-02 and annexes
After RNC	Authorization and sequences for receipts or e-CF	DGII	DGII guide
Before the first hire	TSS registration; worker in SUIR the day before start	TSS	Free
15 days from starting	SIRLA and staff list	Ministerio de Trabajo	Decreto 258-93 art. 15
As soon as invested, 180 days at most	Foreign investment registration	ProDominicana	15 working days to issue
Next month and on	10th, 15th, 20th and third working day cycle	DGII; TSS	See start/tax-and-compliance-calendar

Critical path. Days are planning estimates by this guide except where a norm is shown, and they assume a Santo Domingo S.R.L.

Case	1% tax 2026	Chamber	ONAPI name and search	Total 2026	Total from 2027
S.R.L., capital RD$500,000	RD$5,000	RD$5,000	RD$5,355	RD$15,355 (US$252.13)	RD$10,355 (US$170.03)
S.A.S., RD$3,000,000 authorized	RD$30,000	RD$14,500	RD$5,355	RD$49,855 (US$818.63)	RD$19,855 (US$326.02)

Official cost to form a company in Santo Domingo, excluding professional fees and the RD$50 per document Colegio de Abogados contribution

Worked example

Two group companies form an S.R.L. in November 2026 with RD$500,000 of capital (about US$8,210.09). They pay RD$5,000 (US$82.10) of tax, RD$5,000 (US$82.10) to the chamber and RD$5,355 (US$87.93) to ONAPI, for RD$15,355 (US$252.13) before lawyers, translators and the bank. The same company formed in January 2027 saves the tax and costs RD$10,355 (US$170.03). Do not stretch the timetable, as the one month limit runs from signing.

Step by step

Before day 0: choose the vehicle and two holders, and collect apostilled parent documents.
Week 1: run the name search, which ONAPI lists at five working days.
Sign, deposit funds and pay the tax.
File at the chamber within one month, then get the certificate.
Apply for the RNC with the beneficial owner annex.
Open the bank account and move the funds through a route that leaves exchange and entry documents.
Register the foreign investment.
Register as employer before the first hire.
Authorize receipts or e-CF, then start the monthly filing cycle.

Common traps

The registration asks for proof of entry of funds and the exchange document for cash (Decreto 214-04 art. 3), so keep both from the first transfer.
A foreign parent with no certified chain up to a natural person will stall at the chamber and at DGII.
The name search is not the registration. Only registration gives the certificate.
Trading for over a month without registration risks a fine of up to three minimum salaries (Ley 3-02 art. 23).
Fees are for the Santo Domingo chamber only. Each chamber sets its own (Ley 3-02 art. 8).
The week by week timing here is a planning view. Chamber turnaround is not fixed by law.
Argentine parents should plan documents and FX on the Argentine side early; see The Argentine Thread guide.

Sources

← Tax and compliance calendar for a company in the Dominican Republic: late 2026 and 2027Reform tracker: what changed in Dominican business law in 2024 to 2026 and what starts next →

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