Foreign Investment Law 16-95 guarantees foreign investors the same treatment as Dominican nationals and the right to send their capital and dividends abroad. To rely on those guarantees easily, the investment should be registered and backed by its certificate.
It is one of the steps most often skipped on arrival, and the gap usually shows up later, when the investor wants to repatriate profits, apply for residency or sell their stake.
1. What Law 16-95 protects
- National treatment: foreign investors have the same rights and obligations as Dominicans, unless a special law provides otherwise (art. 6).
- Free remittance: invested capital and declared dividends may be sent abroad in freely convertible currency, without prior authorisation, once income tax has been paid (art. 7).
- Forms of contribution: foreign currency channelled through authorised banks, goods such as machinery and equipment, and technology, including trademarks and know-how (art. 2).
- Excluded sectors: toxic waste disposal, activities harmful to public health or the environment and, unless the Executive authorises it, defence and security materials (art. 5).
2. Where and when to register
Registration is handled today by ProDominicana, the Dominican Republic's export and investment agency. The implementing regulation sets a deadline of 180 calendar days from the date the investment enters the country. Free zone companies follow their own procedure before the National Free Zones Council.
Since 2021 the registration is filed online and free of charge, and since 2023 it is part of the Single Investment Window (VUI), a platform that brings together procedures from several government agencies.
3. Documents usually required
- Investor identification: a passport for individuals, or apostilled incorporation documents for a foreign company.
- Documents of the Dominican company receiving the investment: commercial registration, tax ID (RNC) and an updated list of partners or shareholders.
- Proof that the capital entered the country: the bank record of the currency transfer or, for contributions in kind, the import documents and their valuation.
- Amount, sector and description of the project, and an environmental certificate where the activity requires one.
The exact list may vary with the type of investment, so it is worth checking on the VUI before putting the file together.
4. Why the certificate matters
- It documents the origin of the capital for banks, auditors and the tax authority.
- It makes repatriating capital and dividends easier.
- It is required to apply for residency by investment, which has a minimum of US$200,000 and is also processed through the VUI.
- It protects the investor in dealings with local partners in a sale, a merger or a dispute.
5. How we handle it
- We review the investment structure before the funds are transferred, so the transaction is properly documented from day one.
- We incorporate or adapt the Dominican company that will receive the capital. See how to open a company as a foreigner.
- We prepare the file and submit it through the VUI within the deadline.
- We deliver the certificate and, if you wish, start your residency-by-investment application.
Frequently asked questions
Can I register an investment I made years ago?
It needs to be reviewed case by case. If the deadline has passed, we look at the available documents and the best way to regularise the situation.
Is there a fee for registration?
Filing with ProDominicana has been free since 2021. The costs lie in preparing documents, apostilles and translations.
Do I need to live in the Dominican Republic to register?
No. The whole process can be handled remotely through your lawyer and the online platform.
Planning to invest in the Dominican Republic?
We structure your investment, incorporate the company and register the capital, so you can repatriate profits and apply for residency without setbacks.
