Is your business planning to expand operations to the Dominican Republic? If so, you’ll need to hire a team of talented employees abroad — but you’ll probably want to relocate some of your existing team members to make sure the transition is as smooth as possible. Before they can start working in the Dominican Republic, however, it’s up to you as the employer to make sure they have the visas and permits to do so legally.
Table of Contents
- Types of Work Visas in the Dominican Republic
- Requirements to Obtain Dominican Republic Work Visas
- Application Process
- Other Important Considerations
- Partner With G-P
Types of Work Visas in the Dominican Republic
Foreign nationals will need to secure a specific visa to move to the Dominican Republic for employment purposes. Employees have two categories of work visas to choose from depending on the nature of their job and the length of time they plan to stay in the Dominican Republic:
- A business visa, or Visa de Negocios: This visa is valid for 60 days with a single entry or a year with multiple entries. However, the multiple-entry business visa does not allow the holder to stay in the Dominican Republic for more than two months at a time throughout the year.
- A business visa for employment purposes: This visa, locally known as a Visa de Negocios con Fines Laborales, applies to foreign nationals who are employed by private or public companies based in the Dominican Republic. It’s valid for an initial duration of one year, after which it is eligible for renewal as long as the holder still has a valid work contract.
Any foreign employees who will work for your company on a long-term basis will need to obtain a business visa for employment purposes. They will also need a residence permit.
Requirements to Obtain Dominican Republic Work Visas
In order to apply for a business visa for employment purposes, foreign nationals will need to submit documentation such as a:
- Completed visa application form
- Passport that will be valid for the duration of the applicant’s stay in the Dominican Republic
- Medical certificate
- Passport photograph
- Police background check from their country of residence
- Copy of the applicant’s national identity document from their country of origin
- Letter to the consular section from the employing company in the Dominican Republic
Foreign workers who plan to stay in the Dominican Republic for more than two months will also need a residence permit. The requirements for this permit include:
- A completed application
- A valid passport
- A passport photo
- A medical certificate
- A criminal background check
- A copy of the applicant’s national identity document
- A birth certificate
- A notarized letter of guarantee from the employer
- Documents proving financial solvency
Application Process
Foreign nationals can begin the visa application process after signing an employment contract with a company based in the Dominican Republic. Applicants will need to gather the required documents for the visa and residence permit, then submit them to the Dominican embassy or consulate in their country of residence.
After the visa application is approved, the foreign worker can travel to the Dominican Republic. They’ll need to bring all the paperwork from the application along with them to submit it to the foreign ministry in Santo Domingo. After doing so, they can begin working.
Other Important Considerations
Foreign employees should be aware that all supporting documents for their visa and residence permit must be translated into Spanish.
Partner With G-P
As your business scales internationally, you’ll want to partner with a global PEO to stay compliant and ensure a seamless transition for your employees. That’s where we come in. G-P makes expansion fast and easy in more than 185 countries around the world. Contact us today to learn more about our comprehensive solution for employment and expansion in the Dominican Republic.