Dominican Republic Citizenship by Investment: New Thresholds for 2025

Author: Miguel A. Peralta, Caribbean CBI Advisor

The Dominican Republic has long been the Caribbean’s open secret for investors who want a second passport without the price tag (or paparazzi) that follows its glitzier island neighbours. Yet the 2025 overhaul of the Citizenship-by-Investment Programme (DR-CBI) rewrites the playbook, introducing higher capital thresholds, sharper due-diligence filters and an ambitious digital application portal.

I spent the better part of last quarter in Santo Domingo grilling programme officials, escrow agents and half the legal fraternity to make sure my clients—and now you—aren’t blindsided. Below is the distilled brief you’d get if you booked me for a one-hour consult, minus the espresso and my questionable doodles.

Why the Dominican Republic Is Moving the Goalposts

Domestic economists have been warning for years that the US $100,000 donation previously required for a single applicant was, in polite Spanish, “demasiado barato.” Demand outstripped administrative capacity, queues stretched, and some lower-budget projects never delivered the promised jobs.

The 2025 reform has two clear goals:

1. Align the price with regional peers (think Antigua, Grenada, St Lucia).
2. Funnel capital into infrastructure the government can proudly put its name on—airports, green energy and coastal resilience.

The result? Higher entry tickets, but more transparent, better-capitalised projects—and, crucially, a faster lane for applicants who can prove legitimate source of funds on day one.

New Capital Investment Amounts (Effective 3 May 2025)

Key Take-Aways

• The donation option saw a 50 % hike, but it’s still cheaper than Antigua’s US $200k minimum.
• Real estate now demands title insurance from a panel of four pre-approved underwriters—welcome news for exit strategies.
• Dependents aged 18–25 must supply proof of full-time study and single status. This was optional before.

Pull-quote: “Cheap passports attract costly problems. The new thresholds filter out speculative flippers and refocus the programme on bona-fide investors.” — María Fernanda Reyes, Director, DR-CBI Unit

Real Estate vs Donation: Which Path Makes Sense in 2025?

Clients love real estate because bricks feel tangible; treasuries love donations because the cash arrives yesterday. Let’s pit them head-to-head.

Donation Route

Pros
- Lowest paperwork: no property valuation, environmental clearances or homeowners’ association rules.
- Liquidity preserved: you’re not tying money into an asset you may need to sell in a softer market.
- Speed: files clear committee review in 90–120 days on average.

Cons
- Capital is gone for good—no capital gain, no rental yield.
- Emotional ROI is zero unless you like reading government-issued thank-you notes.

Real-Estate Route

Pros
- Capital preservation: properties along Punta Cana’s “Coconut Corridor” appreciated 18 % in 2023–24.
- Rental yields of 4–6 % in high-season months.
- Potential tax write-offs if structured through a local SRL (the Dominican LLC).

Cons
- Minimum hold period extended from 3 to 5 years, matching St Kitts’ rulebook.
- Exit liquidity depends on foreign buyer demand—often cyclical with U.S. mortgage rates.
- Additional US $10,000 escrow supervision fee mandated for 2025 projects.

Advisor’s Tip

If you plan to spend fewer than 30 nights a year in-country, the numbers seldom beat a straightforward donation. Conversely, digital nomads planning long winters here can offset accommodation costs through ownership—similar to the way American families escaping high-cost California to Portugal routinely lease out their Lisbon flats in summer.

Step-By-Step Processing Timeline

Below is the updated sequence, incorporating the new e-Gov portal “CBI-360” slated to go live in July 2025.

1. Pre-Screening (1–2 weeks)
   • Scan passport, police certificates, KYC questionnaire.
   • Independent compliance officer issues a “go/no-go” memo.

2. File Preparation (3–6 weeks)
   • Collect notarised translations (Spanish or English).
   • Bank reference letter must now state average 12-month balance.

3. Submission & Govt. Acknowledgement (5 business days)
   • Pay processing fee to lock the FX rate (Central Bank issues receipt).

4. Tier-1 Due Diligence (30–45 days)
   • Conducted by two external firms—Sovereign Risk Solutions and Exiger Latin.

5. Tier-2 Interview (optional, video call)
   • Randomly selected 20 % of files. Dress code: business casual; I’m serious.

6. Approval in Principle (AIP)
   • Issued electronically; triggers donation payment or real-estate final drawdown.

7. Investment Clear & Naturalisation (4–6 weeks post-AIP)
   • Passport printing now centralised in Santo Domingo to shave off couriers.

8. Oath Ceremony (optional in-country or at nearest DR consulate)

Fast-Track?

The bill originally floated a 45-day fast-track for a US $50,000 premium. Legislators killed it under media pressure (“passports for the ultra-rich” is a hard sell). Expect it to re-emerge in a softer guise once press attention wanes.

Passport Strength: How Valuable Is Dominican Citizenship in 2025?

The 2024 Henley Index ranked the Dominican passport 74th, sandwiched between Georgia and Montenegro. But raw rankings miss the nuance that matters to investors:

Visa-free / Visa-on-Arrival Access (April 2025):

• EU Schengen: 90 days in a 180-day window (yes, still intact post-ETIAS roll-out).
• UK & Ireland: 180 days (tourism and short study).
• Russia & Israel: 90 days each.
• China: 30 days (exclusive among Caribbean peers).
• Mercosur bloc (Brazil, Argentina, Chile): 90 days each.

Upcoming negotiations: - Canada eTA: Draft MoU in parliamentary committee; insiders whisper Q4 2025.
- Australia: Talks on electronic visa waiver for APEC member invitees; DR’s participation is through the Pacific Alliance observer seat.

Comparative Snapshot

While Grenada edges out on the E-2 visa path to the United States, its cost parity disappears once you factor in larger due-diligence fees and pricier real estate. For applicants whose frontier markets are Asia and South America—think biotech execs pivoting to Bogotá or São Paulo—the Dominican passport checks the right boxes.

Family Considerations, Tax Nuances and Living on the Island

I’m no social worker, but I relocate enough families to know schooling and healthcare questions top every spreadsheet. Let’s address the highlights.

Education

• Carol Morgan School (Santo Domingo) and International School of Sosúa offer U.S. AP programmes at ~US $14k/year—mid-range by Caribbean standards.
• Home-schooling is legal, preferably under a local tutor’s supervision.
• University fees at INTEC or PUCMM are a fraction of U.S. colleges, so some parents treat DR citizenship as a “Plan B” against rising Ivy League costs—similar logic to families comparing Netherlands vs Denmark family-friendly welfare systems.

Healthcare

Caja de Seguro Familiar mandatory enrolment kicks in once you become tax-resident (>183 days). Expat private plans (BMI, Bupa) cost ~US $2,000/year for a family of four, with direct billing at Punta Cana’s International Medical Group.

Tax Snapshot

• No worldwide income tax unless you spend 183+ days per calendar year on the island.
• Local income sourced from passive investments (dividends, rents) taxed at flat 10 %.
• Capital gains on property resale after five-year hold: 1 % transfer tax + sliding-scale CGT capped at 27 %.
• A digital nomad decree is in draft, aiming to exempt foreign-sourced income for the first three years of residence—watch this space.

Advisor note: Structuring your property purchase via an SRL can defer CGT if you sell the company shares instead of the asset; always run the plan past a Dominican CPA.

Anecdotes from the Field

My firm processed 72 Dominican files last year; not all went smoothly. Three cautionary tales:

1. The Crypto Whale
   Arrived flaunting his cold wallet but no audited statements. His file languished 11 months until he provided a Kenyan tax clearance certificate—due diligence teams scour every corner.

2. The Speed Chaser
   Tried wiring donation funds before AIP to “shorten the timeline.” The treasury returned the funds, and compliance flagged him for protocol breach. Outcome: extra two-month delay.

3. The Patriarch
   Added his 30-year-old son as a dependent, claiming “emotional dependence.” Rulebook laughed; so did the committee. Junior filed a separate application with the real-estate option, which ironically saved the family US $5k in aggregate fees.

Bottom line: read the fine print or hire someone who obsessively does.

Frequently Asked Questions (2025 Edition)

Q: Can I finance the donation or property via a bank loan?
A: Donations must be sourced from unencumbered funds. Property may carry up to 50 % leverage from a Dominican bank, but only after the naturalisation certificate is issued.

Q: Is dual citizenship recognised?
Yes, the Dominican Constitution embraces dual nationality. Your home country’s stance might differ; always confirm.

Q: How soon can I pass citizenship to future children?
Immediately. Children born after you naturalise are Dominican citizens by descent, regardless of birthplace.

Q: Will ETIAS (Europe’s travel authorisation) complicate matters?
No more than it will for U.S. or Canadian passports. It’s a 15-minute web form valid three years.

My Verdict on the 2025 Thresholds

The Dominican Republic has nudged itself upmarket without pricing out serious investors. It now sits in a goldilocks zone:

• Cheaper than St Kitts, with comparable due diligence.
• More transparent than Vanuatu, without the geopolitics.
• Faster than Malta and barely half the cost.

If your priority is North American market access, Grenada’s E-2 advantage may tilt the scales. For everyone else—especially Asia-LatAm entrepreneurs—the DR passport punches above its weight.

Next Steps

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Disclaimer: The information above is for general guidance only. Always seek professional legal and tax advice tailored to your circumstances.