Moving to the Dominican Republic from the United States

Make a dreamy island relocation to The Dominican Republic from the USA

If you are planning to move to The Dominican Republic from the USA, get ready to explore the diverse landscape of this country which is the second biggest in the Caribbean. The white pristine beaches, long history of the settlements in the island country, colorful cultural traditions and the lore of the year round pleasant temperature! Look for the different visa options available to the expats willing to relocate to The Dominican Republic from the USA, get a feasible moving plan in place, get set on the post move dos and do nots and look forward to a dream relocation to this Caribbean country.

How International Sea & Air can help for moving to Dominican Republic

If moving to The Dominican Republic from the USA is on your mind then here is what you need to do – proper planning. And it is here that we at International Sea & Shipping can help you. For moving to The Dominican Republic from the USA you need to follow a proper documentation process and there are many other responsibilities like arranging freight for your household goods transfer, car relocation if you want and post relocation processes to follow. At International Sea & Air Shipping we can promise that we can guide you step by step in your complete relocation.

What we help in is the actual international relocation process. The relocation of your household goods, the relocation of your car, guiding you through the documentation process and more – we guide you through the entire process at a competitive price. It is here that our professional team of international moving experts at International Sea & Air Shipping can hold your hands and run you through the entire process of your dream international move to The Dominican Republic from the USA.

The relocation process involves not only your documentation but also transferring your household goods when you are transporting those to The Dominican Republic. There are the aspects concerning the shipping cost, time and safety for your possessions. At International Sea & Air Shipping we provide end to end specialized moving services for all types of moving from the origin to the destination countries.

So, let our professionals handle your international relocation to The Dominican Republic from the USA while you can enjoy the prospect of moving to this dream European country.

Customs Regulations for Dominican Republic

Passport (for customer and each member of the family), must be at least one year old – otherwise, previous passport is required
Original detailed inventory in English or Spanish
Marriage certificate (if applicable)
Birth certificate(s) of children living in the same household
Dominican Consular invoice
Foreigners must also have the following:
- Work permit
- Customs bond
- Residence visa
- Work Contract
- Dominican Residence Card
- Bank guarantee/affidavit
- Contracts for house or apartment rental, as well as electrical and water service

Customer must be present in the Dominican Republic for Customs clearance
All documents submitted must be originals
Customer must undergo a physical examination prior to applying for the Department of Exoneration for clearance of goods
Only one shipment is allowed
Used household goods are duty free, provided the customer has owned them for over two years
Dominican citizens may be allowed one-time exemption if they have lived abroad a minimum of one year
All new items are subject to duty and taxes

In the Dominican Republic, some articles may not be imported in a Customer’s baggage whatsoever. These items include, but may not be limited to:

Weapons and ammunition, explosives
Drugs and narcotics (shipment subject to confiscation if drugs are included)
Pornographic material

Some articles may have restricted quantities or require special authorization/ payments of duties and taxes to clear customs in the Dominican Republic. These items include, but are not limited to:

All new items (invoices required)
Duplicate electrical appliances (e.g. refrigerators, washers, dryers, air conditioners)
Computer equipment and machinery
Alcohol and tobacco products (must not be shipped with household goods – must be shipped separately and require consular documents)
Antiques, works of art, jewelry, coins and precious metals (may be included duty free if they are included in the household goods and personal effects shipment)
All plants (must be accompanied by a Phytosanitary Certificate from the origin location and the customer must obtain a Dominican Agriculture permit upon arrival)

In the Dominican Republic, the following rules apply when importing motor vehicles:

One automobile allowed per person
Vehicles must be registered/owned by the customer for at least one year
If the customer is a Dominican citizen, he or she must have lived abroad for a minimum of two years
Luxury vehicles are prohibited

For importation, the customer will need the following documents (all must be originals):

Title, must be certified by the Department of Vehicles and legalized by the nearest Dominican Consulate
Registration for the past three years
Residence Visa
Dominican Consular invoice, stamped at the nearest Dominican Consulate
License plate
Passport

When importing a pet to the Dominican Republic, the requirements are:

Veterinary Certificate must be issued within 90 days of departure
- No quarantine is required for cats or dogs
- Birds have a quarantine period of 10 days

NOTE – Customs regulations are subject to change at any time. The proceeding information is a brief summary of customs regulations applicable to household goods shipments to this destination and is being provided for general guidance to assist our Agents and Customers. Since such regulations are subject to change without notice, International sea & air shipping cannot be held liable for any costs, damage, delays, or other detrimental events resulting from non-compliance. Always double check with your local embassy or consulate.

Call our International Moving Specialists @ 1 (866) 315-4170

About the Dominican Republic

Its turquoise sea and miles of glittering beaches attract countless tourists to the Dominican Republic each year, but this second largest Caribbean nation offers much more to back its growing popularity in terms of tourism and travel. Despite it being the most visited destination in the Caribbean, nearly 10 million people call the Dominican Republic home, and 1 million live in Santo Domingo, its capital city.

The Dominican Republic is on the island of Hispaniola, and shares its border with Haiti to the West. Additionally, the Dominican Republic claims the region’s tallest mountain peak, Pico Duarte, and the Caribbean’s lowest elevation (and largest lake), Lake Enriquillo.

The region has the ninth largest economy in Latin America and the second largest economy in the Caribbean and Central American region. The Dominican Republic’s largest importers are: Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea, USA, Taiwan and Germany.

Located on the island of Hispaniola in between Cuba and Puerto Rico, The Dominican Republic is the second largest island country in the Caribbean and shares its border with Haiti. The country has all the distinguished Caribbean charm in terms of landscape and weather. There are pristine white sandy beaches and also year-round pleasant weather making it an attractive place to visit and settle down both! Home to almost 1000 miles of coastline this tropical island boasts of a vibrant flora & fauna equally colorful cultural & recreational opportunity.

Although the country has witnessed considerable political unrest in the near past, now the situation is stable offering a safe abode for expats to move to the Dominican Republic from the USA. In fact, of the island’s total population almost 4.5% is made of the foreign people calling the island their home now!

The different visas for moving to The Dominican Republic from the USA

Visa application process:

When you are planning to move to The Dominican Republic from the USA you will need to apply for proper visa. Here is how the application process looks like –

The application process is completely online. You will need to apply online for the visa on The Dominican Republic government site.

Once you are on the website you will have to register and create an account. Then after that you have to choose the proper visa that suits your purpose. Based on the type of visa you will get the complete list of documentation that one is asked to submit. The documents can be uploaded in scanned .jpg format.

You will also get a medical form that you will need to duly filled and signed by a physician and submit along with other documents. You will be prompted to make the necessary payments. Once all the submission is done and the fees is paid it takes almost 45 days to receive the decision related your application.

Different types of visas:

Work Visa – Like the work visas of other countries to move in The Dominican Republic from the USA if you are depending on the work visa then this visa must be applied by the employer in The Dominican Republic on your behalf. You will have to produce the proof of employment.

Family or Temporary Residence Visa – If you want to relocate to the Dominican Republic from the USA to reunite with the family you can apply for this visa. Generally, one has to be either married to a permanent resident of this country or may have parents and grandparents from this country and then only this visa will be issued.

Investment Visa – One lucrative and easy way to move to The Dominican Republic from the USA is to invest in real estate or in the companies of this country. The minimum amount of investment should be $200,000. Valid proofs need to be produced to obtain this visa and move to this Caribbean island.

Retired Residence Visa – The Dominican Republic also allows expats or people to move in from the USA to spend their retirement days. For obtaining the retired residence visa to relocate to The Dominican Republic from the USA one needs to show that he/she has a monthly pension of minimum $1,500 and an additional $250 for each dependent on the pensioner.

Renter Residence Visa – Perfect for the digital nomads world across, the renter residence visa can help Americans also for their moving to The Dominican Republic from the USA. All you need to show is the proof of a monthly income of minimum $2,000. You may need to produce last 6 month’s bank account details as a proof.

Top Reasons for Moving to The Dominican Republic from the USA

Low cost of living

Compared to the USA when you move to The Dominican Republic from the USA you will find the housing cost to be very affordable and that brings down the cost of living considerably.

Good schooling option

The second largest Caribbean nation also offers good schooling and education opportunities.

Pleasant weather

One of the many perks of moving to The Dominican Republic from the USA is the pleasant tropical weather all round the year.

You can also check out for some of the neighboring countries of Dominican Republic –