If you have ever been to the Dominican Republic, then you most likely remember white sandy beaches and palm trees of Punta Cana. However, not only tourists come to Bavaro area, Santo Domingo, or Puerto Plata, many expats are moving to the Dominican Republic from the USA, Canada, the United Kingdom, and some Latin American countries. Visitors usually get fascinated and stunned by the natural beauty of the country, but those who want to immigrate to the Dominican Republic need to get holistically prepared for a move. Take advantage of this detailed guide if you are relocating from the USA to the Dominican Republic or moving to the Dominican Republic from another state overseas in the nearest future. You will find information about the healthcare system, visa regulations, and the way locals live in the Dominican Republic.
Before moving to the Dominican Republic from the USA, Canada, the UK, or any other country, it is advisable to do some research about this island state. Thus, we have prepared some basic information that would be helpful when making a decision on relocating from the USA to the Dominican Republic, for instance. Here is the list of characteristics, some of which could be familiar while others are new to you.
| Location | The Dominican Republic is located on the Hispaniola island in the Caribbean. |
| Capital city | Santo Domingo |
| Climate | The climate of the Dominican Republic is semitropical with high temperatures throughout the year. The rainy season lasts from May to September, which means that there are occasional heavy rainfalls during that time. |
| Currency | Peso (DOP) |
| Language | Spanish is the official language of the Dominican Republic. However, local people speak so-called Dominican Spanish which is slightly different from Catalan. |
| Population | There are about 11 million people living in the Dominican Republic. The population of the country has increased by 10% over the last decade. |
| Timezone | UTC -4 |
| Surprising fact | Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, is the oldest city in the Americas as the first European settlement based there in 1496. |
You have to consider many aspects other than basic facts about the country before relocating from the USA to the Dominican Republic. One of those concerns the international removals to the Dominican Republic with a reliable logistics company. Eurosender is a renowned parcel broker that allows sending a package in the cheapest and the most reliable way ever. You do not need to compare the prices of numerous logistics providers any longer because our booking engine will choose the best option based on the price-to-performance ratio for you.
Here is the list of common items our customers send when moving to the Dominican Republic for a long-term period:
To get more information about the international removals to the Dominican Republic, contact our friendly support team agents who will gladly assist you.
The way of life in the Dominican Republic will depend on the particular city of your future residence. While Punta Cana is the most popular tourist area in the country, Santo Domingo is the hotspot where business negotiations and most cultural events take place. Anyway, expats moving to the Dominican Republic usually report similar advantages and drawbacks of living in this country.
Advantages
Disadvantages
The monthly expenses of expats usually differ depending on their city of residence, the number of family members, and the way of life in the Dominican Republic. As a rule, everything starting from food to apartment rental is more expensive in the tourist zones. Meanwhile, you will spend less in residential areas where locals and expats live permanently. The average monthly expenses of expats in the Dominican Republic are provided in the table below.
| Apartment rental | $200-500 (1-bedroom apartment) |
| Utility bills | $75-250 |
| Internet | $50 |
| A meal of the day | $5 |
| A cup of cappuccino | $1.5 |
| International school (optional) | $50-500 |
Previously, all visitors who entered the Dominican Republic as tourists were supposed to pay $10 as an entry tax (tourist card). However, things have changed lately, so this fee is already included in your airfare. Tourists are allowed to stay for longer than 30 days in the country, but it is possible to prolong this period by paying an extra fee and turning to the immigration office. Expats who decide to relocate to the Dominican Republic for longer than 2 months are supposed to contact the local immigration authorities and local lawyer.
Those who plan to travel to the Dominican Republic for other than tourist purposes can apply for a business visa. If you just plan to engage in short-term business activities in the country, then Visa de Negocios would be the right choice for you. It allows staying in the Dominican Republic for 2 months maximum, but sometimes multiple entries are allowed. Visa de Negocios con Fines Laborales is another type of business visa for the Dominican Republic. It is issued to those who are moving to the Dominican Republic to work on fixed-term contracts for private or public companies.
Even though the recent reforms in the healthcare sector were supposed to improve the quality of healthcare services in the country, there are still many issues present. Theoretically, the poorest people are granted access to healthcare services for free. In practice, those still have to make out-of-pocket payments even in public medical facilities.
Employed locals and expats have to make monthly contributions to the healthcare system of the Dominican Republic. As a rule, the company you work for will reimburse those expenses or you will share them. Anyway, it is highly advisable to purchase healthcare insurance which will cost you about $40 per month. It covers a greater part of expenses for medical services, still, patients also need to pay a smaller part for doctor visits, medicine, and other procedures.
Children of local Dominicans usually attend public schools starting from the age of six. Unfortunately, many students drop school education even before graduation. Nevertheless, the national literacy rate is pretty high – it is around 90 per cent for now.
Education in public schools requires many adjustments and rectifications in the national curriculum. Meanwhile, private schools grant comprehensive programs with extensive learning of foreign languages, English and French particularly. Most subjects are still conducted in Spanish in private schools, so your children need to learn the basics at least. The cost of education in private schools in the Dominican Republic ranges between $50 and $500.
The main sectors of the economy in the Dominican Republic are agriculture and tourism. Most locals and expats are employed in these spheres. While foreigners will find it difficult to search for job opportunities which require low qualification levels because local people and immigrants from Haiti are generally hired for such type of work. Meanwhile, most expats are moving to the Dominican Republic as foreign language teachers or tourism sector workers.
Those who want to rent accommodation will have to pay at least $200 for a room or a 1-bedroom apartment in the area where most local people live. Expats who prefer living not far from tourist areas will have to pay around $350 for a 1-bedroom apartment and $500 for a 3-bedroom apartment. A villa will cost you about $1000 per month.
Those who immigrate to the Dominican Republic for a long-term might consider buying an apartment and take advantage of the prices for real estate property in the Dominican Republic. The average price for a dwelling will be $30,000 in the apartment block. However, it is also possible to buy a flat in a luxury condo with a pool and a golf field. This will cost you around $100,000 – $150,000. The prices for villas start from $300,000 in the distant from ocean areas.
It is also worth mentioning that you need to make in-depth research before purchasing an apartment. The cases of cheating and burglary are typical in the Dominican Republic, especially in the touristic areas. Furthermore, consider that your apartment or villa needs to be storm-resistant because hurricanes sometimes hit the Dominican Republic. Consider that the houses located close to the sea or ocean might also suffer from high humidity levels, which consequently leads to unwanted moulding.
Consider the following tips before driving in the Dominican Republic:
Prior to relocation, discover the average moving costs to the Dominican Republic, the cheapest way to move furniture to the Dominican Republic, and the cost of moving a house to the Dominican Republic. We have prepared some pieces of advice on that matter along with the shipping tips for moving house to the Dominican Republic safely, cheaply, and fast.
Eurosender offers exclusive shipping services for expats with lower than the average cost of moving house to the Dominican Republic. When using Eurosender platform, you can instantly discover the shipping costs and book services just in a few minutes. Furthermore, you get a range of benefits as:
If you are planning a relocation, contact our logistics experts and they will offer an affordable cost of moving house to the Dominican Republic and craft an individual offer for you.
More than 1 million Canadians come to visit the Dominican Republic annually. Some of those decide to relocate to this paradise island after a short trip. Moving to the Dominican Republic from Canada would be enjoyable with Eurosender as we offer lower than the average moving costs to the Dominican Republic. Decide which items you will take with you and which ones must be shipped so that our logistics experts will be able to provide the most affordable prices for you.
If you need shipping services to send a parcel, suitcase, household appliances, or sports equipment from the UK to the Dominican Republic, Eurosender can offer you competitive prices. The logistics service provider collects and delivers packages of various sizes to a chosen address as fast as possible. Whether you are a one-time shipper or you send parcels regularly, we can help you to minimise the costs for moving to the Dominican Republic from the United Kingdom.
Disclaimer: The materials provided in this article were collected from other credible resources to be used for general information purposes only. Given that the legislative basis of the country and its economic development have a changing nature, the information provided in the article could be subject to change. Whilst we endeavour to keep the information up-to-date and correct, Eurosender will not be liable for any inappropriate, incomplete, or inaccurate information. Certain links will lead to websites which are not under control of Eurosender. Thus, Eurosender accepts no liability in respect of materials, products or services being not under control of Eurosender.