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Step-by-Step Moving Checklist
A successful Dominican Republic move starts with choosing your city, visiting first, and starting the residency process while still in your home country.
- Visit first: spend 2–4 weeks exploring Santo Domingo, Las Terrenas, Cabarete, and/or Punta Cana before committing
- Choose your residency path: Pensionado ($1,500/mo), Rentista ($2,000/mo), or Investor ($200,000) — hire a Dominican immigration lawyer
- Gather documents: apostille your criminal background check, pension letter, birth certificate, marriage certificate if applicable
- Certified Spanish translations of all apostilled documents — required by immigration
- Short-term housing: Airbnb or furnished rentals for the first 1–3 months while you settle and explore neighborhoods
- Shipping: most expats ship personal items only; furniture and appliances are affordable locally at La Sirena, IKEA (opening), or local stores
- Vehicle: buy locally — import duties are 35–50%; used cars available from $5,000; Japanese brands are most common and parts most available
- Bank account: open with cédula (residency card) at Banco Popular or BHD León; use Wise/Revolut until then
- Health insurance: arrange local (Humano, Mapfre) or international plan before arrival