October 5th, 2023 at 12:37 pm
Retirement Visa for the Dominican Republic
The Caribbean country of the Dominican Republic is well-known for its golf courses, beaches, and resorts. The unique history, cultural experiences, museums, festivals, and cuisine of the Dominican Republic astound foreign visitors. Furthermore, the Dominican Republic has the lowest cost of living in all of Latin America. Because of all of this, the Latin nation is a well-known retirement destination.
An application for a Pensionado Visa is required in order to retire in the Dominican Republic.
For foreigners who are retired or pensioners who wish to enter the Dominican Republic to live there, they can apply for a Pensionado Visa.
Who Is Eligible to Apply in the Dominican Republic for a Retirement Visa?
If you wish to live permanently in the Dominican territory, you can apply for a retirement visa for the country. You must be receiving a minimum $1,500 monthly pension or retirement ($1,750 for couples) from a foreign-origin private enterprise, government agency, or other official body.
Forms Needed for a Retirement Visa to the Dominican Republic
You must provide the following paperwork to the appropriate authorities in order to finish your application for a retirement visa for the Dominican Republic:
- ID card. Your passport needs to be good for at least 18 months.
- Visa for Residency (RS). You must also provide the visa you got outside of the Dominican Republic if you are applying for a visa from within the country.
- Certificate of Birth. The birth document needs to be authenticated or made lawful.
- Four pictures. Four recent photos of the same set should be submitted: two frontal and two right profile shots against a white background. The pictures ought to be 2 by 2 centimeters in size.
- A document attesting to the fact that you are not facing any criminal accusations. The nation in which you were born or the nation in which you have lived for the last five years must issue the certificate.
- A certified copy of the pension’s original paperwork.
- An official document issued by a Dominican bank. A bank account must be opened in a Dominican bank.
- A marriage certificate, a declaration of single status, or evidence of cohabitation that has been attested or authorized.
- A travel insurance policy with guarantees obtained from insurers approved by the Director General of Migration (DGM). Medical costs for an emergency resulting from an accident, repatriations, document loss, deportations, and legal aid should all be covered by the travel insurance policy.
- Medical exams conducted in one of the facilities approved by the Director General de Migración attest to the absence of any infectious diseases that are spread by infection.
NOTE: Original documents that have been notarized, legalized, and apostilled are required for submission in the DGM.
How Can I Apply in the Dominican Republic for a Retirement Visa?
A retirement visa can be obtained either before or after traveling to the Dominican Republic. You can enter the nation without a visa or with a resident visa, and then go to the Dirección General de Migración to apply for a retirement visa, also known as pensioned residence. The electronic application platform on the Dirección General de Migración website is used for the online application process. Here’s how to apply for a retirement visa for the Dominican Republic, step-by-step:
- Open the service site for the Dirección General de Migración.
- Enter your password and username into the system.
- Select the service you want and fill out the “INFORMATION QUESTIONNAIRE FOR APPLICANT” with the necessary details.
- Upload the necessary files. It is necessary to scan documents in JPG format.
- Pay the cost of the retirement visa. The available payment methods will be shown to you. Within three days of payment, you must undergo a medical examination in a facility approved by the immigration service; otherwise, you will have to remit the cost. In 10 days, the examination’s results will be released.
- If you are applying from overseas, you must submit a request through the Dominican Consulate in your nation in order for the Dirección General de Migración to process your visa. In the event that your nation lacks a Dominican consulate, you may submit your request to the closest consulate.
Visa Processing Time for Retirement in the Dominican Republic
A Dominican Republic Retirement visa will be processed in 45 working days if all application materials are submitted on schedule and no paperwork is missing.
But in other circumstances, the processing time could be longer.
Can I Bring My Family With Me?
Married individuals may apply for a retirement visa to the Dominican Republic jointly with their spouse. The application may be submitted simultaneously, but you will need to include an extra $250 for each dependent.
How long is a Dominican Republic retirement visa valid?
A visa for retirement to the Dominican Republic is granted for a duration of two years. You must enter the Dominican Republic and submit your application for provisional residence at the General Directorate of Migration in Santo Domingo during the first thirty days of the validity of your visa.
What is the required amount of money in the Dominican Republic for retirement?
You can live comfortably on a modest income in the Dominican Republic because it’s one of the most affordable countries in Latin America. The cost of lodging varies based on where you choose to live. Rent for an apartment outside of the city is $230 for a one-bedroom apartment and $370 for a three-bedroom apartment per month. One-bedroom apartments in the city center will run you about $400, while three-bedroom flats will run you $670.
In general, $1,400 a month will get you by in the Dominican Republic.