|
The
foreigners can obtain the right to reside in the Dominican
Republic acquiring, in one first stage, a visa of residence by the
Secretariat of State of Outer Relations, and later a card of
residence, provisional and definitive, by the Main directorate of
Migration.
OBTAINING
THE
DOMINICAN NATIONALITY
The
Dominican Constitution establishes the different schemes from
obtaining of the Dominican nationality:
a.-
By
birth (those born in territory of the Dominican Republic are
Dominican);
b.-
For
origin (those with Dominican father or mother can decide on the
Dominican nationality);
c.-
By
law (those that to the present are invested with the Dominican
nationality by virtue of Constitutions
and
previous laws are Dominican); and,
d.-
By
naturalization (those that obtain the Dominican nationality in
accordance with our laws).
|
|
|
Foreigners
can be naturalized if
(a)
Have
obtained a fixed address six (6) months after the concession of
the same one;
(b)
Those
that at least justify an uninterrupted residence of two (2) years;
(c)
Those
that justify at least six (6) months of uninterrupted residence if
they have founded and maintained industries, or if they are
proprietors of buildings in the country;
(d)
Those
that have resided for six (6) months in the country, if they have
married a Dominican;
(e)
Those
that have obtained authorization of the President, whenever they
justify to have a parcel cultivated in the country;
|
(f)
Those
that have served the Armed Forces for the country;
(g)
Those
that have participated in the agricultural colonies of the State;
or,
(h)
Those
that have obtained a special concession from the President, which
normally grants foreigners who have served with merit, the
Dominican Republic.
It
is important to clarify that under the Law on Naturalization the
interruptions of residence by trips to the foreigner of not more
of a year of duration, with intention of return, will be computed
in the residence of the country. Also a residence of not more than
one year abroad will be able to be computed if it has been in a
mission or function conferred by the Dominican Government.
|
|
The
request procedure for the Dominican nationality begins by means of
a letter of directed to the President of the Republic, via the
Secretary of State of Interior and Police, containing the
arguments which explain the reason why the person is requesting
the Dominican nationality. The following documents must be annexed
to this letter:
a)
Certificate
of no delinquency issued by the competent authority of the
origin country;
b)
Birth
certificate, translated by a judicial interpreter if it’s in
another language other than Spanish, legalized by the Dominican
Consul in the country of origin;
c)
If
the interested one has a nationality that is not the one of his
origin, they must present a history summary explaining the
circumstance;
d)
Tax
payment receipt.
e)
Five (5)
pictures 2"x 2" of the applicant; and,
f)
Any
other document on which the applicant is based to carry out his
request, like:
(i)
Photocopy of the residency card of the interested person, which
helps to demonstrate uninterrupted residence for two years in the
country
(ii)
Two
registered letters emitted by the Department of Immigration of the
Dominican Republic establishing that the interested person is
resident in the country; and that its file contains the required
letter of guaranty to grant the residence according to the law
(iii)
A signed additional letter of guaranty before a Public Notary by a
person who assumes responsibility morally and economically for the
applicant;
(iv)
In case that the person is asking for the naturalization on
the basis of the acquisition of real estate, a copy of the title
certificate must be provided.
|
The
granting of the Dominican nationality is a discretionary power of
the President of the Republic, in case of deciding in favor of the
applicant emits a Decree in this sense. Also, the President can
revoke the nationality to any person who (i) within the first year
of obtaining the nationality changes their address to another
country; or (ii) if they have left the country and has not
returned in ten years. The interested person will have to later
pay the publication rights of the Decree in which the President
grants the nationality to him.
When
this Decree is published in the Official Newspaper, the interested
one will have to take oath of fidelity to the Republic.. The civil
employee who takes the oath will give the persona certified copy,
which will have a sealed photo of the naturalized one. This oath
must be also published in the Official Newspaper, publication that
will be subject to the payment of the publication rights, like the
Decree.
A
legal aspect to consider is the fact that the Constitutional
Reformation of 1994 consecrates the principle of the double
nationality.
|
