Why Dominican Republic?
Rentista residency: DGM's residence by investment as a renter. You qualify with foreign income of at least US$2,000 per month from a company or agency of foreign origin. No US$200,000 investment and no pension required.
Published income floor: Direccion General de Migracion sets the rentista minimum at US$2,000 per month. Source: DGM "Residence by Investment as a Renter."
Note for U.S. citizens: The U.S. taxes citizens on worldwide income regardless of residence. The Dominican Republic's residency benefits non-U.S. persons directly. Americans still get residency, banking, and the citizenship clock, but must still file U.S. returns.
2-year citizenship clock on the direct-PR track: If this file goes directly to permanent residency, you can apply for naturalization after 2 years of PR. That is the short path. See Dominican Republic Citizenship by Naturalization.
No CBI check: This is an income-based residence, not citizenship by investment.
DGM processing window: Official processing time on the rentista service is 90 working days after a complete file.
Who This Is For
Passive income earners who can show at least US$2,000 per month from a foreign company or agency.
Investors and rentiers with dividends, rental income, royalties, or similar foreign-source income that can be certified.
People who do not have a pension and do not want the investor (US$200,000) category.
Second-passport planners who want the 2-year naturalization clock that starts when the file is on the direct-PR track.
Applicants who need the income papered correctly so DGM accepts the source. If the income is not yet documented as passive, we use Passive Income Certification.
The Process
Step 1: Income Review and Category Confirm
We confirm the income is foreign-source, meets the US$2,000 monthly floor, and can be certified the way DGM asks: certified proof of the origin of the income, plus a Dominican bank certification.
Step 2: Documents, Apostilles, and Passive Income File
You gather the civil records. We build the immigration package: apostilles, translations, photos, criminal record, and the income certification. If the raw income would be rejected as active work, we run it through Passive Income Certification first.
Step 3: Consular Residence Visa (RS)
DGM requires a Residence Visa (RS) issued at the Dominican consulate in your country of origin or residence before the in-country file.
Step 4: DGM Filing in the Dominican Republic
We file through the DGM services portal, then deposit originals in Santo Domingo. Medicals are done at a DGM-authorized clinic. Guarantee policy is contracted with Seguros Reservas, as DGM lists.
Step 5: Card, Then the Clock
DGM publishes 90 working days for this service. After the card is issued on the direct-PR track, the 2-year naturalization wait starts. Citizenship is a separate service.
Requirements
From DGM's rentista page (Residence by Investment as a Renter):
Foreign income: Monthly or permanent income of at least US$2,000 from a company or agency of foreign origin.
Certified proof of income: Comprobante certificado del origen de los ingresos o renta mensual.
Dominican bank certification: Certificacion bancaria dominicana.
Passport: Minimum 18 months validity (DGM regulation 631-11).
Residence Visa (RS): Issued at the Dominican consulate.
Birth certificate: Full (inextensa), apostilled or legalized.
Criminal record: From your country of origin, or the country where you lived the last 5 years.
Civil status: Marriage certificate, sworn single status, or cohabitation record, apostilled or legalized.
Photos: Four recent 2x2, two front and two right profile, white background, no jewelry, ears visible.
Guarantee policy: Contracted with Seguros Reservas.
Medical exams: At a clinic authorized by DGM.
Passive income only for this product. Salary, freelance invoices, and active operating income are the usual rejection. If you do not already have certifiable passive income, we set it up through Passive Income Certification.
What's Included
Full file management: We run the rentista case from income review to card.
Income documentation: We tell you exactly what DGM needs on the certified income letter and the Dominican bank certification.
Passive Income Certification coordination: If the income is not yet in a form DGM will accept, we add Passive Income Certification (separate fee).
Document prep: Review, apostille coordination, translations, and package assembly.
Consular and DGM process: RS visa guidance, portal filing, and in-country deposit support.
Appointment and medical coordination: DGM medicals and Seguros Reservas policy.
Citizenship-clock briefing: When the 2-year PR clock starts on your file.
Not included: DGM government fees, Seguros Reservas premium, medicals, apostilles, translations, travel, or the citizenship application. Citizenship is Dominican Republic Citizenship by Naturalization.
Timeline
| Milestone | Timeframe |
|---|---|
| Income review and document prep | 2-6 weeks |
| Passive Income Certification (if needed) | Before the DGM file. Separate product. |
| Residence Visa (RS) at consulate | Consulate-dependent |
| DGM rentista processing | 90 working days (DGM published) |
| Naturalization eligible on direct-PR track | After 2 years of PR |
90 working days is DGM's published service time for a complete rentista file. We do not guarantee a grant date.
Important Notes
This page is the rentista path only. It is not the pensionado (US$1,500/month pension) path and not the US$200,000 investor path.
Income source matters. DGM asks for certified origin of the monthly income plus a Dominican bank certification. A screenshot of a brokerage is not a file.
Passive Income Certification: If you do not have passive income, we can help create and certify it through Passive Income Certification.
DGM government fees (published on the rentista page): file deposit RD$28,800; residence card RD$3,500; medicals RD$6,300. These are government charges, not our fee. Confirm on the live DGM page when you file.
Renewal: DGM lists a separate rentier renewal (four-year period). We handle renewals as a follow-on, not inside the first-application fee.
Citizenship is separate. Two years of PR on the direct track, then naturalization.
U.S. citizens remain U.S. taxpayers on worldwide income after DR residency.