On the Ground in the

by Mark Svoboda

On the Ground in the

he Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of Hispaniola, a part of the Greater Antilles Archipelago. The Dominican Republic is the second-largest Caribbean nation, consisting of 48,671 square kilometers (18,792sqmi), with an estimated population of nearly 10 million people. It is also one of the easiest countries to obtain a second passport from.

FIRST ARRIVALS
The native Tanos (meaning good or noble in their own language) lived on the island of Hispaniola before the arrival of Christopher Columbus. Sweet potatoes, peanuts, guava, pineapple, and tobacco were grown by the Tanos. Total peak population estimations vary from 100,000 to one million. But the Tanos were nearly wiped out within just a few decades by diseases brought to the island by colonists, as well as by their being overworked as slaves. But there are still descendants of the Tanos, due to the interracial marriages during the colonial period. Census records from 1514 reveal that 40% of Spanish men in the colony had Tano wives.

INDEPENDENCE & OCCUPATION

Christopher Columbus landed on the island on December 5, 1492, during the first of his voyages in search of India. Four years later, his brother Bartholomew Columbus founded the city of Santo Domingo, making it the oldest European city in the New World. Hispaniola became a springboard for further Spanish colonization of the Americas, but with the pursuit of gold, Spain lost interest in its Caribbean holdings, opening the way for French buccaneers to settle the western side of the island. In 1697, theTreaty of Ryswick, an agreement between France and an alliance of England, Spain, the Holy Roman Empire, and the Netherlands, ceded the western part of the island of Hispaniola to France. The new territory carried the name of Saint-Domingue, later to become Haiti. In 1795, the Treaty of Basilea ceded the remaining territory of Hispaniola to France. During this time, slaves were revolting against France, led by the Saint-Domingue slaveToussaint Louverture. In 1801, his army captured Santo Domingo, thus establishing control over the entire island, but in 1802, an army sent by Napoleon captured Louverture and sent him to France, where he died in prison. The death of Louverture did not stop his movement, however, and in 1804, his followers succeeded in expelling France from western part of the island and establishing the Republic of Haiti. Haiti became the first majority-black republic in the New World. The Eastern part of Hispaniola was still ruled by France, but not for long, as in 1808, the upper classin Santo Domingo began yet another revolution, thus returning Santo Domingo to Spanish control.

I N T E R N AT I O N A L M A N. C O M

On the Ground in the

Historic part of Santo Domingo In 1821, the people in the Spanish (eastern) side of the island declared their independence from Spain, naming Santo Domingo as the capital. Haiti seized the opportunity and attacked its neighbor, occupying it for more than two decades. It was a tumultuous time for Dominicans, a period of brutal military rule by Haiti. In 1844, the Dominican Republic finally achievedindependence fromHaiti, after years of war organized byJuan Pablo Duarte, Matas Ramn Mella,andFrancisco del Rosario Snchez, who are considered the founding fathers of the Republic. The Dominican Republic, in 1861, reverted to Spanish rule (the only country in Latin America to do so) in fear of another Haitian invasion.But two years later, in 1863, the War of the Restorationbegan against Spain, and in 1865, Spain decided to abandon the island, this time forever. During the 20th century there were two occupations of the Dominican Republic by US military forces: from 1916 to 1924 and from 1965 to 1966. For 30 years between these two occupations, Rafael Trujillo ruled as one of the bloodiest dictators in Latin America.

POPULATION
The population of the Dominican Republic is nearly 10 million people and growing at a steady rate, with a fertility rate of 2.41 births per woman. 16% are white; 11% are black; and 73% are of mixed heritage. Approximately 75% of the population lives in urban areas. Most of the people (95%) consider themselves Roman Catholic.

I N T E R N AT I O N A L M A N. C O M

On the Ground in the

The Dominican Republic is without a doubt an important economy in the area. It is the third-largest economy (after Cuba and Puerto Rico) in the Caribbean. The Dominican Republic is a developing nation, ranked in the upper-middle income, with a GDP per capita of US$9,600. The number of people below the poverty line has been decreasing, though it is still staggeringly high at 34% as of 2010. The Dominican Republic is rich in natural resources, though tourism, industry, and agriculture are the largest sources of income for the country. Tourism alone brought approximately $4.7 billion in 2012, with about 53% of the tourists coming from the US and Canada. Remittances are also an important part of the economy, with an estimated $3.3 billion in 2011. Exports play a substantial role in the economy, especially exports from the Free Trade Zones (FTZ). 70% of all exports go through FTZ. Export of medical equipment, for example, accounts for 11% of the countrys exports, the largest export item for the country. The US and the EU are the biggest trading partners, along with Haiti. According to the World Bank, its not that easy to do business in the Dominican Republic, as it ranks the country 116th in the world, and number 24 out of 33 ranked Latin economies, just below Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Guyana. The 2013 Index of Economic Freedom ranks the Dominican Republic as mostly unfree, placing it at number 87 in the world. The countrys performance in the Index has been declining since 2010. (Did you know that Chile (#7) is above the USA (#10) in that Index?) Among other challenges, lack of reliable electricity has been a plague for the country for many years now. Frequent blackouts are routine. I have found that, depending on where you live, you may expect your lights to go out several times a week. But access to electricity in tourist-heavy areas as well as in Free Trade Zones seems to be much more stable. The exchange rate for the Dominican peso (RD$) is 40.9 for US$1 as of February 2013, and the rate is constantly climbing in favor of the US dollar (US$). In 2009, the rate was approximately RD$35 for US$1.

Now lets get to the bright side. Due to the changes in exchange rates, the country is getting increasingly cheaper for tourists who spend their dollars and euros. According to the free and easy-to-use Numbeo service, price levels in Santo Domingo (the capital) are 62.20, excluding rent. The standard used by this service is New York City, which has an index of 100. To put this into prospective, Sydney ranks as one of the most expensive cities, with an index of 136, and Delhi is the cheapest capital, with an index of 34. Santo Domingo would probably be even cheaper if rent were included in the calculations, as rents for three-bedroom apartments in Santo Domingo range from US$496 (in suburbs) to US$660 (in city center). According to my own experience, you can rent a small one-bedroom apartment in a pretty good neighborhood of the capital city for US$250. In the Dominican Republic you can find people of all races. It really doesnt matter if you are black, white, Asian, or anywhere in the middle. People are open-minded, and skin color really doesnt play any significant role here.

I N T E R N AT I O N A L M A N. C O M

On the Ground in the

Sosa one of the resort towns located in the Northern part of the country

CLIMATE
Christopher Columbus described the Dominican Republic as The Fairest Land Under Heaven when he landed here in 1492, and it is easy to understand why. The Dominican Republic has a tropical climate with an average annual temperature of 25C (77F). In summer months, the weather becomes a little uncomfortable due to humidity and high temperatures of up to 31C (87F). Winters are cooler and very pleasant, with no air conditioning necessary. The Dominican Republic takes 2/3 of the Hispaniola Island and is home to an incredibly diverse ecosystem. 25% of this area is protected and includes 6 scientific reserves and 16 national parks (two of which are marine reserves). The Dominican Republic has more than 180 miles of beautiful beaches. Some of the most beautiful beaches in the world are here. Many readers will have heard of Punta Cana, with 20 miles of world-famous pristine beaches. Almost 4 million people visit Punta Cana each year.

I N T E R N AT I O N A L M A N. C O M

On the Ground in the

Punta Canas Coast The Punta Cana Airport is the busiest airport in the country and second busiest in the Caribbean, with multiple destinations to North and South America and Europe as far as Moscow. And while Punta Cana is the most famous beach destination in the Dominican Republic, when I asked locals about their most favorite beach, Nagua was the popular choice due to its close proximity to Santo Domingo and comparative lack of tourists. Though its beaches are what make the Dominican Republic famous, it would be wrong to assume that everything in the Dominican Republic is about beaches. The Dominican Republic also has the highest point in the Antilles: Pico Duarte (3,087meters or 10,128feet). Constanza is a lovely little town located in the highlands near Pico Duarte, and it is not difficult to imagine that you are in the Andes of Ecuador. It doesnt get much warmer than 80F (26C) there in the summer.

I N T E R N AT I O N A L M A N. C O M

On the Ground in the

Highlands near Constanza

BANKING AND PERSONAL FINANCE

The Dominican Republic has not historically been a beacon of banking stability, and I would avoid holding large amounts of money in the country. If you are in the Dominican Republic, opening an account should not be difficult. I personally went to a Canada-based Scotia Bank and was told that in order to open an account, I would need to bring my passport, references from two people, and a recommendation from my own bank back home. The lady at the counter did not speak English, but she quickly called someone who did. I also asked about their CD interest rates, and they were far from great. For a one-year peso-denominated deposit, they pay 2.75-4.5% (depending on the size of deposit), which is near the 3.4% the peso has been losing against the dollar. Dollar-denominated one-year CD rates are much lower, varying from 0.35% to 0.5% (the latter being for investments greater than US$100,000). The battles against drugs and money laundering are obvious, making it quite difficult to accomplish basic financial transactions. My own wire transfer from the US to a friend in Santo Domingo took almost a week to clear. Cash (especially dollars) is definitely king here, just like almost anywhere in Latin America. Cambios (money exchange places) are plentiful around the country. MasterCard and Visa are accepted in most of the retail outlets. American Express is accepted at a limited number of locations. Credit card fraud occurs in the Dominican Republic, so I would be careful about using them.

I N T E R N AT I O N A L M A N. C O M

On the Ground in the

LIFESTYLE
As mentioned earlier, the cost of living in the Dominican Republic is affordable. The median monthly salary in Santo Domingo is about RD$33,000, which is equal to about US$800. Labor is cheap. A full-time maid (to care for your home and children) will not cost you more than US$200 a month. Local groceries are affordable, but imports from America cost more than the same item in the US. Restaurants are relatively inexpensive, and US$4-5 will feed you well in places where locals eat. Dining in the more fancy restaurants of Santo Domingo or Boca Chica would cost around US$20 per person, including a bottle of wine. The nightlife can be very exciting here, as Dominicans absolutely love to have a good time. Literally anywhere you go, you hear bachata and merengue, two music styles and dances that are said to have originated on the island.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
Public transportation in the big cities is very limited. At present, there is only one subway line in Santo Domingo. Most of the population uses public buses and so-called public cars which are plentiful everywhere and follow established routes. They are inexpensive at RD$25 (about 63 cents US). The problem is that most of the public cars are incredibly old and with limited Spanish, it was difficult to determine the routes. A typical fully loaded public car seats six people, PLUS the driver thats four passengers in the back and two in front. Also, people tend to have shopping bags and kids on their laps (as kids are free). In most of the cars, the door handles are removed to give additional much-needed space to the passengers. One solution is to pay double or triple fare, or just use a conventional taxi, which are not as plentiful but are still inexpensive, with a maximum fare of RD$250 (less than US$7) inside Santo Domingo unless you are charged a gringo price, which is likely, as none of the taxis have meters.

MEDICAL CARE AND FACILITIES

Private health and medical care is adequate here. As with many other countries, there is a choice between free public medical care and private coverage. Public health care, available to everyone, is widely used by pregnant women from Haiti, who cross the border to give birth and receive needed medical attention they cannot get in their own country. Public health care may not be the best choice for an expat, as it is almost impossible to get a timely appointment. It is common to have to wait several months before receiving medical care. Also, public services, such as ambulances, rarely work efficiently, and in case of emergency youre better off relying on a personal means of transport. The standard of medical facilities varies from one clinic or hospital to another. Private medical insurance is common and readily available.This resource provides a pretty good overview of options available.

I N T E R N AT I O N A L M A N. C O M

On the Ground in the

Crime is pretty bad in the big cities, and one always needs to be aware of ones surroundings. Homicide rates have been going up over the last decade from lower teens in 2001 to about 25 per 100,000 in 2010. Outside the resort areas, such as Punta Cana, you may be overwhelmed by the relative chaos in the streets and unorganized traffic flows. To a Westerner who generally likes to be left alone in the street or on the beach, some of the locals may seem to be little too intrusive and annoying. When you stop at an intersection in Santo Domingo, for example, someone will often rush to clean your front window without asking you and will expect a payment for it. Refusing to pay may not be the wisest choice, because the washer may exact a small revenge as you drive away. But dont get me wrong: the majority of Dominicans are wonderful and open-hearted people. Otherwise I wouldnt keep coming back. The Latin maana culture is manifest here. Things rarely get done on time. This doesnt mean that you cant get anything done here, but be prepared to spend significantly more time on the same task here compared to what you would spend in US, for example. The good thing is that you would also probably spend only 1/3 the money on the same service. Natural disasters are another major downside. Hurricane season in the Dominican Republic is between June and November, but devastating hurricanes are very rare. Earthquakes are common in Hispaniola. (Remember, for example, the 2010 earthquake in neighboring Haiti).

[Editors note:This is information that has been verified by IM correspondent Mark Svobodas on-the-ground research. Like many other countries, the Dominican Republic government may change its citizenship requirements. As always, do your own due diligence.] The area of residency and citizenship providers in the Dominican Republic is very crowded, and prices and levels of services vary significantly. One of the firms that I contacted, Ascot Advisory, has a very good reputation (at least from what I could find). They are actually on the ground and go through the process themselves. The total charge quoted for fast-track residency (see option #2 below) is US$22,300. Prices at Guzman y Ariza (henceforth Guzman) are significantly lower compared to package providers like Ascot, and based on their reputation, I am as confident as a person can be without actually going through the process that they will get the job done. Please do your own due diligence when choosing a provider, as options are ample. Guzman has offices in several locations in the Dominican Republic, but all the immigration issues go through their main office in Santo Domingo. I personally visited their office in Santo Domingo and saw their signs in other cities.

I N T E R N AT I O N A L M A N. C O M

On the Ground in the

My contact in the firm wasLicelotte Minaya(lminaya@drlawyer.com). She has been very helpful in my information-gathering process, and I advise you to contact her if you choose to work with the firm. There are three residency/citizenship options with varying requirements. The shortest path to obtain a Dominican Republic passport and citizenship takes two years and costs US$6,642 in fees plus a US$200,000 refundable investment (see option #3 below). (Editors note:The following is from the Guzman y Ariza law firm and Marks personal research.) The following is applicable to all types of residencies: Fees are the same for additional applicants as for the primary applicant. Applicant always needs to get a special residency visa issued in the Dominican consulate of your home country. All fees are payable 70% in advance and the balance upon obtaining the applied-for status. Fees do not include travel or hotel costs in the Dominican Republic.

OPTION #1 REGULAR RESIDENCY TO CITIZENSHIP PROCESS

Approximate cost: $13,637 Time to passport: eight years Summary: 1. Obtain a residency visa, issued by the Dominican Consulate of your country of origin or from the closest country with a Dominican Consulate 2. Apply for temporary residency. That residency is valid for one year.You will need to renew it four times, for a total of five years of temporary residency. Costs of this stage: $1,738 (temporary residency application) + $5,596 (four times of temporary residency renewal at $1,399 each) = $7,334 3. After the fifth year is complete, apply for permanent residency. It is valid for two years. Cost of this stage: $1,478 4. After two years of permanent residency, apply for renewal. At the same time, you may apply for citizenship. At the time of application for citizenship, the permanent residency should be renewed. Costs of this stage: $1,428 (permanent residency renewal) + $3,222 (citizenship) + $175 (passport issuance) = $4,825 Total approximate timetoreceivea passport: five years of temporary residency + two years of permanent residency + one year for all other various procedures =eight years Total approximate fees:$7,334 + $1,478 + $4,825 = $13,637 In Detail: Obtaining regular residency in the Dominican Republic is a two-step procedure. First, the foreign applicant

10

I N T E R N AT I O N A L M A N. C O M

On the Ground in the

must obtain provisional resident status, valid for one year from the date the applicant receives his or her residency card, renewable once every year for a total of five years; then, upon expiration of the fifth year of the provisional residency, an application must be filed for permanent residence status. Once obtained, permanent residency must be renewed every two years. Requirements for Dominican residency are easily met by anybody in good health, who is drug-free, and has a clean police record. The time involved in obtaining provisional residency is usually six months from the time the application is filed. This time estimate assumes that all required documents have been provided and authenticated. To begin the residency process, the applicant must travel to the Dominican Republic with the following documents: Residency Visa, issued by the Dominican Consulate of your country of origin or from the closest country with a Dominican Consulate. (You cannot apply for this while in the Dominican Republic. If you are already in the Dominican Republic without this Residency Visa, you will have to fly back before you can apply for residency.) Original or certified copy of the birth certificate, apostilled in the country where it was issued, or authenticated at the Dominican Consulate nearest to the place of issue of the document. If such country is a party of the Hague Convention (as the US is), the birth certificate must be apostilled. If two spouses are applying together they will need an original or certified copy of the marriage certificate, apostilled in the country where it was issued, or authenticated at the Dominican Consulate nearest to the place of issue of the document. If such country is a party of the Hague Convention, the marriage certificate must be apostilled. Passportof the applicant (with the visa stamp, when applicable, and the stamp of entrance into the Dominican Republic). A certificate of no criminal record from the authorities in the applicants country of origin, or if the applicant has been residing outside his country of origin for five years or more, from the authorities in the applicants country of residence. The certificate should be apostilled in the country where it was issued or authenticated at the Dominican Consulate nearest to the place of issue of the document, and the authentication apostilled if the authentication country is in the Hague Convention. Eight pictures (2 by 2), four front and four profile, white background required, accessories such as earrings or sunglasses not allowed. All residency applications are filed through the Guzman Santo Domingo office, since the immigration authorities are based there. At your first meeting in the Guzman office, you will provide Guzmans attorney or paralegal with the documents listed above. The passport will be returned to you immediately after being photocopied. The first phase of the provisional residency consists of medical tests (blood sample, urine sample, and chest x-rays) at a government-designated location. The Immigration Department requires that these tests be preauthorized. To obtain this preauthorization the applicant must provide Guzman with a copy of the passport and a copy of the visa stamp.

11

I N T E R N AT I O N A L M A N. C O M

On the Ground in the

Once the authorization has been granted, Guzman will schedule your medical appointment for the following business day, at which time you will meet a paralegal at Guzmans office, who will take you to the location where the tests are performed. The appointment time will be 8:00 a.m. at the Guzman office, at which time the paralegal will review your file with you. At approximately 9:00 a.m., you will depart with the paralegal for the medical tests, which take approximately three to four hours, including waiting and travel time. As a part of the medical test preauthorization, Guzman must provide the Immigration Department with the applicants original birth certificate duly translated into Spanish and legalized. If the translation was completed by you, then it must be either apostilled in the country where it was translated (if a Hague Convention country), or authenticated at the Dominican Consulate nearest to the place where the document was translated, and the authentication apostilled if such country is a party of the Hague Convention. On the other hand, if you request the translation from Guzman, they will need approximately five working days (before the medical tests) to complete the translation and the required legalization of the translation. After the medical tests, Guzman will prepare the documentation to submit your application to the Immigration Department. This phase normally takes 10-15 days. In addition to documents (a) to (e) listed above, Guzman will file on your behalf: 1. A notarized letter of guarantee from a Dominican person or corporation 2. An affidavit regarding the solvency of the guarantor, backed by evidence of solvency, such as bank deposits, property titles, etc. 3. A Power of Attorney 4. A certificate of good behavior from the Dominican authorities 5. Completed application forms (All forms submitted with the application become part of the government file and will not be returned to the applicant.) Once the application is filed, attorneys have no knowledge of the internal process at the Immigration Department or at other entities (such as Interpol) until the application has been approved or rejected, ormore information is required from the applicant (for example, when an individual with the same name appears in an international criminal records database). Guzman will contact you promptly when a decision has been made on your application. If approved, your presence will be required in Santo Domingo in order to receive your residency card and cdula (the Dominican national ID card). Upon obtaining provisional residency, you will have a six-month period during which you can bring your household goods into the Dominican Republic duty free.

OPTION #2 FAST TRACK RESIDENCY PROGRAM

Approximate cost: $6,051 Time to passport: three years

12

I N T E R N AT I O N A L M A N. C O M

On the Ground in the

Summary: In this option, the applicant skips the temporary residency altogether and gets permanent residency right away. This process is specially designed for retirees and people who can prove stable monthly income (rentistas). The amount of income that needs to be proved is $1,500 for retirees or $2,000 for persons with means, or equivalent amount in Dominican pesos. This category is probably the most advantageous in term of cost vs. time, and I was told that most people applying for residency and citizenship in the country go this route. After holding the permanent residency for two years, applicant may apply for citizenship. Total approximate time toreceivea passport: two years of permanent residency + one year for various other procedures =three years Total approximate fees: $2,654 (for residency application) + $3,222 (citizenship) +$175 (passport issuance) = $6,051 In Detail: According to the Special Incentives to Retirees and Rentistas Law No.171-07, individuals with income derived from a non-Dominican source that match either of the two descriptions below will be allowed to obtain their provisional Dominican residency in 45 days and receive certain customs and tax exemptions. Retiree: any individual who receives a minimum monthly income of $1,500 (or its equivalent in DR pesos), derived from a pension or retirement income from a foreign source (government, official organizations, or foreign companies) who is interested in permanently relocating his residency to the Dominican Republic and will thereon receive the benefits of his pension or retirement income in the country. Rentista: a foreign individual who receives a minimum fixed monthly income of $2,000 (or its equivalent in DR pesos), derived from a foreign source, created by one of the following: 1. Deposits and/or investments in banks abroad 2. Remittances from banks or financial institutions abroad 3. Investments in foreign companies established abroad 4. Remittances derived from real estate properties 5. Interest derived from securities issued in foreign currency abroad, which are deposited at financial institutions legally authorized to operate in the Dominican Republic 6. Profits realized from investments in securities issued in foreign and/or national currency by the Dominican Government or its institutions. The source of the invested capital must be from abroad, and the currency exchange needs to be performed locally at any Dominican financial institution 7. Interest, income, or dividends derived from investments (or real estate transactions) in the Dominican Republic, whose principal amount has been generated or earned abroad The applicants spouse and unmarried children up to 18 years old, as well as adults with disabilities, or adults who are able to show proof of being college students and economically dependent on the main

13

I N T E R N AT I O N A L M A N. C O M

On the Ground in the

applicant, can also apply for this program as dependents. Please note that for each dependent who applies jointly with the main applicant, an additional monthly income of $250 (or its equivalent in local currency) would be needed. Documents required to apply for the Fast Track Residency Program are: 1. Completed application forms, duly signed by the representative of the foreign company/institution or government entity. 2. Passport (one complete photocopy), valid for a minimum of three months. It must show the date of the applicants last visit to the Dominican Republic. A Certification issued by the Department of Certifications of the Dominican Immigration Department stating the day of the last entrance is also required. 3. Original of the birth certificate duly authenticated in the country of origin, or at the nearest Dominican Consulate to the country of origin. If the document is in another language than Spanish, a translation into Spanish must be provided, duly authenticated at the nearest Dominican Consulate. These documents must be later authenticated at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic in Santo Domingo. If the applicants country of origin only issues one original birth certificate, then a true copy must be provided by the applicant. When the foreign applicant is a rentista, they are required to provide a document that confirms the registration of their foreign investment in the Dominican Republic. This requirement varies depending on their type of investment, as follows: 1. Direct investment: the applicant must show the original (or the request of) registration of the investment, issued by the Center for Exports and Imports of the Dominican Republic (CEI-RD) or the pertinent institution in the Dominican Republic. 2. Free Zones: the applicant must provide the certification issued by the National Council of Free Zone of Exporting (CNZFE), stating that the company is operating as a free zone. 3. For companies domiciled in country undertaking, promoting, or investing in tourist destinations and/or provinces and/or municipalities in accordance with special tourism incentive laws, such as Law #158-01, or are hired by the Dominican Government, the applicant must provide either a) an original of the approval by the Executive or the Executive decree that authorizes them to operate b) the resolution given by the corresponding Dominican government entity which is doing the project, or c) a document that certifies the approval of the contract by the Dominican Congress, as long as it mentions the project and the parties involved. Only one certification per company is required. 1. Retirees must provide a certification issued by the government, official organization, or private foreign company, where they have worked, duly authenticated by the nearest Dominican Consulate of the country of origin and at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic (Cancillera) in Santo Domingo. Its translation into Spanish must also undergo the same authentication process. This document shall contain the personal information of the applicant, time

14

I N T E R N AT I O N A L M A N. C O M

On the Ground in the

worked in the institution, his/her position in the company, and total amount of the monthly income received as a pension or retirement income. 2. Rentistas must provide the documentation that confirms that they have, for a minimum period of five years, received a stable and permanent monthly income derived from a foreign source. This document can be a copy of the fixed income contract/certificate of deposit along with a Spanish translation, both duly authenticated by the nearest Dominican Consulate of the country of origin and at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic. In addition, rentistas are required to show that they are currently receiving this income in the Dominican Republic, by way of copies of the checks and/or wire transfer receipts issued by the foreign bank institution. 3. All applicants 16 years of age and up are also required to obtain a Certificate of Good Behavior issued by the local Dominican authorities. If the applicant has been in country less than 30 days, the certificate of good behavior must be issued by the appropriate authorities of the country of the applicants last residency, duly translated into Spanish (if needed) and authenticated at the nearest Dominican Consulate of the country of origin of the applicant and at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic, in Santo Domingo. This document is valid for only 30 days. 4. Medical Exam. 5. Pictures: Applicant and dependents over 16 years of age are required to file nine 2 x 2 pictures (six front pictures and three right profile). For children under 16, five 2 x 2 pictures are required (three front and two right profile). For all pictures, a white background is required, and accessories such as earrings or sunglasses are not allowed. 6. A certificate of no criminal record from the authorities in the applicants country of origin, or if the applicant has been residing outside his country of origin for five years or more, from the authorities in the applicants country of residence. The certificate should be apostilled in the country where it was issued (if in the Hague Convention), or authenticated at the nearest Dominican Consulate. 7. If the applicant is a shareholder of a Dominican company, he/she shall provide an original of the resolution from the Administration Council (Consejo de Administracin) of the company, certifying the status of the applicant as a shareholder of the company, duly legalized by a Notary Public and authenticated at the Attorney Generals Office. 8. If the applicant is an employee of a Dominican company, he/she shall provide an original copy of his/ her Employment Agreement, duly registered at the Labor Department, along with a letter signed by the employer, legalized by a Notary Public, and legalized at the General Attorneys Office, showing the personal information of the applicant, his/her position in the company, date of entrance, and salary. If the Employment Agreement comes from abroad, it must be translated into Spanish (if needed) and authenticated at the nearest Dominican Consulate and at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic in Santo Domingo. 9. If any co-applicants are economically dependent on the main applicant (domestic employee, individual person subject to guardianship, children of 18 years of age or more), a letter needs to be provided and signed by the main applicant, stating the condition of the dependent, and must specify that the main applicant is responsible for expenses and repatriation costs, if any. When the application includes the spouse and children (under legal age), all documents listed in paragraphs

15

I N T E R N AT I O N A L M A N. C O M

On the Ground in the

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 above, must also be provided for each of them. In addition, an original of the marriage certificate (and its translation into Spanish, if needed), authenticated at the nearest Dominican Consulate and at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Dominican Republic in Santo Domingo is required.

OPTION #3 FAST TRACK RESIDENCY/CITIZENSHIP (BY INVESTMENT)

Approximate cost: $6,642 + $200,000 refundable investment Time to passport: two years Summary: This option is by far the fastest way to obtain citizenship but requires a large investment of $200,000 into the Dominican Republics financial system. You will be able to withdraw your investment after citizenship is granted. Total approximate time toreceivea passport:two years Total approximate fees: $3,245 (residency application) + $3,222 (citizenship) +$175 (passport issuance) = $6,642 + Incorporation fees for Dominican company In Detail: The process is mostly the same as obtaining regular residency. The only difference is that you will need to obtain a Certificate of Investment from the Dominican Republic for a value of $200,000, which can be obtained with a fixed deposit in a Dominican bank, and following a process with The Center for Export and Investment of the Dominican Republic (CEI-RD). That investment can be a personal Dominican bank account, or a Dominican bank account in the name of a Dominican corporation that the client could incorporate for this purpose. For technical reasons, Guzman recommends the client form a Dominican Limited Liability Corporation for this process, as it will be easier both to open the bank account and to obtain the paperwork for residency. The money must be deposited until you are fully a citizen. Following is the time line for the process of the investment residency. (The PA refers to Personal Appearance, which means that you must come personally to complete that step in the process.) 1. Form a Dominican company. Guzman will first need to incorporate one for you. This can be done with a Power of Attorney, so no personal presence is required. 2. Open a bank account in the name of the corporation. Time: three business days, but completely dependent on the bank efficiency. PA. 3. Deposit the $200,000 in the corporate bank account and get a reference letter. Time required: three business days. 4. Obtain the Certificate of Investment. This can be done by filing some forms that Guzman should already have at this point. Time: one month.

16

I N T E R N AT I O N A L M A N. C O M

On the Ground in the

5. Start the Investment Residency. 6. Complete necessary documents, which are the same as for normal residency (birth certificate, certificate of good behavior, etc.), apostilled in the country where it was issued. 7. Medical exams at the Immigration Department of the Dominican Republic. To be able to complete this part, you will need to enter the country with a Residency Visa. Time: one business day. PA. 8. File preparation and deposit. Time: three weeks. 9. Residency approval. Time: three months. 10. Receive residency. Time: one business day. PA. 11. After you get the Investment Residency, you would need to wait for a period of six months before you can apply for Citizenship.

The Dominican Republic is a country with exotic beauty and natural sceneries. The climate is great for tourism. It is relatively easy to get permanent residency in the Dominican Republic. Opting for a second citizenship in the Dominican Republic is also an option. Being a free zone, there are plenty of investment and business opportunities. You can learn all about internationalizing yourself with second passports... moving your cash offshore... setting up an offshore LLC... investing in international stock markets and foreign real estate... Its all available in an information-packed special report from Casey Research titledGoing Global 2013.You wont find a better resource for internationalizing your life and your assets. Click here to learn more.

17

I N T E R N AT I O N A L M A N. C O M

On the Ground in the

DISCLAIMER: Casey Research, LLC does not provide investment, tax or legal advice, and nothing in this e-mail or any document found at InternationalMan.com should be construed as such. Before undertaking any action, be sure to discuss your options with a qualified advisor. The information contained within this article is based on the best research we could find as of the date of publication. However, the world changes fast and information can become out of date relatively quickly. So, two points... First, before undertaking any action described in this material, please conduct your own due diligence and verify all facts. Second, if you happen to spot an out of date fact or figure (or even suspect something is out of date or false), simply get in touch with us and well look into it. International Man is a network made up of some very smart people - tax specialists, accountants, lawyers, analysts and many other talented individuals. As a group, we can create and maintain a very accurate and highly actionable resource for internationalization. Affiliate Notice: Casey Research has affiliate agreements in place that may include fee sharing. If you have a website or newsletter and would like to be considered for inclusion in the Casey Research affiliate program, please contact us at service@internationalman.com. Likewise, from time to time Casey Research, LLC may engage in affiliate programs offered by other companies, though corporate policy firmly dictates that such agreements will have no influence on any product or service recommendations, nor alter the pricing that would otherwise be available in absence of such an agreement. As always, it is important that you do your own due diligence before transacting any business with any firm, for any product or service. Casey Research, LLC. Terms of Service Privacy Policy

Casey Research, LLC PO Box 1427 Stowe, VT 05672

18

I N T E R N AT I O N A L M A N. C O M