--- title: "Dominican Republic Spouse of a citizen requirements 2026" url: https://settleanywhere.com/countries/dominican-republic/spouse-of-citizen/ lang: en updated: 2026-10-11 --- Dominican Republic · Spouse visas # Dominican Republic Spouse of a citizen **First stay:** 1 yr Temporary residence (RT-9) for the spouse of a Dominican national First checked against official sources on 11 Oct 2026, some details partly verified [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/) - **Savings needed:** DOP 150k ≈ $2,460 (Savings of at least DOP 150,000 (≈ $2,460) · Minimum balance in a Dominican account for applicants married to a Dominican national. A fee of DOP 14,000 (≈ $230) · File deposit. A fee of DOP 2,000 (≈ $33) · Fee for the certification of residence for naturalisation by marriage.) - **First stay:** 1 yr (Residence permit valid for one year, renewable.) - **Who can apply:** Any passport (Foreign nationals; a Dominican consular residence visa is needed before applying, and visa rules depend on nationality.) - **Tax angle:** Tax relief (New residents: foreign-source income taxed only from the third year: A person who becomes a resident is taxed on foreign-source income only from the third tax year counted from the year they became resident.) ## Key facts Spouse of a citizen is a spouse visas route for Dominican Republic. Checked 2026-10-11 against the official source. - **Government fees:** DOP 14k ≈ $230 · DOP 2,000 ≈ $33 - **First stay:** 1 yr ## Cost, time and long term **Government fees: DOP 14k ≈ $230 · DOP 2,000 ≈ $33** - DOP 14,000 (≈ $230) File deposit. - DOP 2,000 (≈ $33) Fee for the certification of residence for naturalisation by marriage. **Shown, not spent: DOP 150k+ ≈ $2,460** - DOP 150,000 (≈ $2,460) Minimum balance in a Dominican account for applicants married to a Dominican national. **Renewal: Renewable** The residence is renewed for one year at a time. Apply when the card has expired or is within 30 days of expiring. [Dirección General de Migración, Dominican Republic](https://migracion.gob.do/servicio/renovacion-residencia-temporal-ordinaria-rt-9/) [Government of the Dominican Republic](https://dgii.gov.do/sobreTarjetaTurista/Documents/Ley285-04.pdf) **Permanent residence: After 5 years of residence** The Migration Directorate offers permanent residence (RP-1) after a first one-year temporary card plus four yearly renewals of ordinary temporary residence (RT-9). Law 285-04 (article 33) also lists spouses of Dominican nationals among those admissible as permanent residents; the directorate pages read route spouses through temporary residence first. [Dirección General de Migración, Dominican Republic](https://migracion.gob.do/servicio/solicitud-de-residencia-permanente-2/) [Government of the Dominican Republic](https://dgii.gov.do/sobreTarjetaTurista/Documents/Ley285-04.pdf) **Citizenship: Time here counts** After marriage, the Migration Directorate issues a certification of valid residence that is used to apply for Dominican nationality through the spouse. [Dirección General de Migración, Dominican Republic](https://migracion.gob.do/servicio/naturalizacion-por-matrimonio/) **Where to apply: From abroad** You need a residence visa (RS) before applying to the Migration Directorate. The law allows the residence process to start from abroad through Dominican consulates. [Dirección General de Migración, Dominican Republic](https://migracion.gob.do/servicio/residencia-temporal/) [Government of the Dominican Republic](https://dgii.gov.do/sobreTarjetaTurista/Documents/Ley285-04.pdf) ## Why this route may not fit Check this before you apply. - Applications are made from outside Dominican Republic, not after arriving ### What you'll need #### Who can apply - The applicant is a foreigner married to a Dominican national. #### What you must show - A bank account with at least RD$150,000 instead of RD$300,000. #### Documents - A marriage certificate, apostilled or legalised and translated into Spanish. - A passport valid for six months, a residence visa (RS), an unabridged birth certificate and a criminal record certificate for the last five years. - A guarantee policy from an insurer authorised by the DGM and medical exams. #### Steps 1. Apply on the DGM services portal; the file is processed in 90 working days. #### After you arrive - A residence card with six months of validity, the passport, the marriage certificate and the spouse's cédula support a certification for naturalisation by marriage. ## What happens at day 182 How Dominican Republic decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records. - **Stay on this route:** **1 year at first, renewable** - **Tax residence:** - **More than 182 days in a fiscal year** Individuals present in the country for more than 182 days, continuous or not, in the fiscal year are residents for tax. - **Foreign-source income:** Residents of the Dominican Republic pay income tax on Dominican-source income and on foreign-source investment and financial gains; the 2026 scale is exempt to RD$416,220 and then 15%, 20% and 25%, with a 27% top rate planned from 2027. - **Special regime:** **Foreign-source income** · Tax relief A person who becomes a resident is taxed on foreign-source income only from the third tax year counted from the year they became resident. [All tax rules for Dominican Republic](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/dominican-republic/tax/) Tax records checked 12 Oct 2026 ## What you need to arrange - **Bank account / funds** A bank account with at least RD$150,000 instead of RD$300,000 - **Certified translation** A marriage certificate, apostilled or legalised and translated into Spanish - **Police certificate and civil documents** A marriage certificate, apostilled or legalised and translated into Spanish Taken from this route's requirements above. The authority's own list is the one that counts. **Full official text** Ordinary temporary residence for a foreigner married to a Dominican national, with a lower solvency test of RD$150,000, leading to a certification for naturalisation by marriage. (sources 1, 2) #### What you must show and pay - Savings of at least DOP 150,000 (≈ $2,460) · Minimum balance in a Dominican account for applicants married to a Dominican national. (source 1) - A fee of DOP 14,000 (≈ $230) · File deposit. (source 1) - A fee of DOP 2,000 (≈ $33) · Fee for the certification of residence for naturalisation by marriage. (source 2) #### Requirements - The applicant is a foreigner married to a Dominican national. (sources 1, 2) - A bank account with at least RD$150,000 instead of RD$300,000. (source 1) - A marriage certificate, apostilled or legalised and translated into Spanish. (source 1) - A passport valid for six months, a residence visa (RS), an unabridged birth certificate and a criminal record certificate for the last five years. (source 1) - A guarantee policy from an insurer authorised by the DGM and medical exams. (source 1) - Apply on the DGM services portal; the file is processed in 90 working days. (source 1) - A residence card with six months of validity, the passport, the marriage certificate and the spouse's cédula support a certification for naturalisation by marriage. (source 2) #### Stay - Residence permit valid for one year, renewable. - Initial permitted stay: 12 months. - Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal. #### Nationality Foreign nationals; a Dominican consular residence visa is needed before applying, and visa rules depend on nationality. #### Family Dependent children can be included. #### Fine print Law 285-04 lists spouses of Dominican nationals as admissible permanent residents, but the Migration Directorate procedure starts with one-year temporary residence and permanent residence after five years. Checked 2026-10-11 · partly verified ## Official sources 1. [Ordinary temporary residence (RT-9)](https://migracion.gob.do/servicio/residencia-temporal/) · Dirección General de Migración, Dominican Republic · checked 2026-10-11 2. [Certification for naturalisation by marriage](https://migracion.gob.do/servicio/naturalizacion-por-matrimonio/) · Dirección General de Migración, Dominican Republic · checked 2026-10-11 3. [Renewal of ordinary temporary residence (RT-9)](https://migracion.gob.do/servicio/renovacion-residencia-temporal-ordinaria-rt-9/) · Dirección General de Migración, Dominican Republic · checked 2026-10-11 4. [General Law on Migration No. 285-04](https://dgii.gov.do/sobreTarjetaTurista/Documents/Ley285-04.pdf) · Government of the Dominican Republic (text published by the Dirección General de Impuestos Internos) · checked 2026-10-11 5. [Permanent residence application (RP-1)](https://migracion.gob.do/servicio/solicitud-de-residencia-permanente-2/) · Dirección General de Migración, Dominican Republic · checked 2026-10-11 ## Spouse of a citizen and its alternatives | Route | Money needed | Stay | Work | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Spouse of a citizen | – | 1 yr, renewable | – | | [Spouse of a citizen](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/mexico/spouse-of-citizen/) Mexico | – | 2 yr, renewable | Limited | | [Partner of a citizen](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/colombia/partner-of-citizen/) Colombia | – | – | Yes | | [Spouse of a citizen](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/costa-rica/spouse-of-citizen/) Costa Rica | – | 1 yr, renewable | Limited | | [Spouse of a resident](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/brazil/spouse-of-permanent-resident/) Brazil | – | – | Yes | ## Questions people ask ### How much money do I need for the Spouse of a citizen? Savings of at least DOP 150,000 (≈ $2,460). Minimum balance in a Dominican account for applicants married to a Dominican national. A fee of DOP 14,000 (≈ $230). File deposit. A fee of DOP 2,000 (≈ $33). Fee for the certification of residence for naturalisation by marriage. ### How long can I stay on the Spouse of a citizen? Residence permit valid for one year, renewable. ### Can I bring my family on the Spouse of a citizen? Dependent children can be included. ### Does the Spouse of a citizen lead to permanent residence in Dominican Republic? Time on the Spouse of a citizen counts toward permanent residence in Dominican Republic, which the rules allow after 5 years of residence. Time on the Spouse of a citizen counts toward citizenship. ### Is there a tax break for Spouse of a citizen holders in Dominican Republic? New residents: foreign-source income taxed only from the third year: A person who becomes a resident is taxed on foreign-source income only from the third tax year counted from the year they became resident. It's separate from the visa and has its own conditions. ## Tax Special regime ### [New residents: foreign-source income taxed only from the third year](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/dominican-republic/tax/#tax-do-new-resident-foreign-income) Tax relief **Details** - Who: The person is a national or a foreigner who starts to reside in the Dominican Republic A person who becomes a resident is taxed on foreign-source income only from the third tax year counted from the year they became resident. #### Taxed on Foreign-source income of individuals who become resident. For residents the charge on foreign-source income covers investment income and financial gains; foreign-source salary and business income are outside it (see the ordinary income tax record). #### Who it applies to - The person is a national or a foreigner who starts to reside in the Dominican Republic. - Foreign-source income is taxed only from the third tax year after the year in which residence began. #### Exclusions - Dominican-source income is taxed from the start. #### Tax residence Applies from the year the person becomes resident under the 182-day test. #### Visas Applies to any residence category. #### Other taxes Pensioners and rentiers have a separate exemption under Law 171-07. The Tax Code text on the tax authority's site could not be opened on 12 October 2026, so the three-year rule was not re-read. Checked against official sources on 12 Oct 2026, some details partly verified [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/) [Full page →](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/dominican-republic/tax/) ## More in Dominican Republic [Investor residence · $200k](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/dominican-republic/investor-permanent/) [Rentista residence](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/dominican-republic/rentista/) [Pensioner residence](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/dominican-republic/pensionado/) [Business permit NG-1](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/dominican-republic/business-permit-ng1/) [Managers and technicians](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/dominican-republic/managerial-staff/) [Work residence RT-3](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/dominican-republic/work-residence-rt3/) [Student permit E-1](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/dominican-republic/student-e1/) ## Spouse and partner visas elsewhere [🇦🇷 Spouse visa](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/argentina/family-reunification/) [🇺🇸 Spouse green card (F2A)](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/united-states/spouse-of-permanent-resident/) [🇵🇦 Spouse of a citizen](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/panama/spouse-of-citizen/) [🇵🇪 Spouse of a resident](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/peru/spouse-of-permanent-resident/) [🇦🇬 Spouse of a citizen](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/antigua-and-barbuda/spouse-of-citizen/) [🇨🇼 Spouse of a resident](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/curacao/spouse-of-resident/) ≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated. ## How this was checked **Checked on 2026-10-11 against 5 official sources.** Status: partly verified; the page marks the facts an official source does not fully confirm. Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out. 1. [Ordinary temporary residence (RT-9)](https://migracion.gob.do/servicio/residencia-temporal/) · Dirección General de Migración, Dominican Republic · checked 2026-10-11 2. [Certification for naturalisation by marriage](https://migracion.gob.do/servicio/naturalizacion-por-matrimonio/) · Dirección General de Migración, Dominican Republic · checked 2026-10-11 3. [Renewal of ordinary temporary residence (RT-9)](https://migracion.gob.do/servicio/renovacion-residencia-temporal-ordinaria-rt-9/) · Dirección General de Migración, Dominican Republic · checked 2026-10-11 4. [General Law on Migration No. 285-04](https://dgii.gov.do/sobreTarjetaTurista/Documents/Ley285-04.pdf) · Government of the Dominican Republic (text published by the Dirección General de Impuestos Internos) · checked 2026-10-11 5. [Permanent residence application (RP-1)](https://migracion.gob.do/servicio/solicitud-de-residencia-permanente-2/) · Dirección General de Migración, Dominican Republic · checked 2026-10-11 Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the [changes page](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/), and the [methodology page](https://settleanywhere.com/methodology/) explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email [contact@stayglobe.app](mailto:contact@stayglobe.app?subject=Correction) with a link to the official source.