Dominican Republic

Caribbean

A Caribbean nation with a 2-year citizenship path and residence by investment, but case-by-case immigration and tax rules.

Overall score

Moderate · 94% data coverage

Language

Spanish

Currency

DOP

Citizenship

2 years

Personal tax

Up to 25%

Cost of living

$900 / mo (single)

Rules change often. Confirm any immigration, tax or legal decision with a qualified professional.

Score breakdown

Access

17%

52Residence12%

61Citizenship and passport5%

Earning power

25%

64Salary and work12%

75Buying power13%

Business and wealth

20%

64Taxes7%

58Business8%

42Investment5%

Daily life

25%

56Quality of life18%

66Education7%

Rights and institutions

13%

67Freedom6%

48Rule of law7%

Pros

A 2-year citizenship path
Residence by investment

Cons

Case-by-case immigration and tax rules

Best for

Investors

Score profile

Access

Residence

Citizenship

Passport

Earning power

Salary & work

Buying power

Cost of living

Economy

Business and wealth

Taxes

Personal tax

Corporate tax

Business

Investment

Wealth building

Daily life

Safety

Healthcare

Environment

Infrastructure

Education

HDI

Rights and institutions

Freedom

Rule of law

How the scores are calculated

Access

Residence

Openness to residents

Moderate

Migrant stock6.5% of population (2024)

Regulatory quality0.21 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Main pathways

EmploymentStudyFamily reunificationBusiness or investment where eligible

Student	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Work	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Self-employed	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.
Permanent	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.

Citizenship

Citizenship accessibility

Good

Years required	2 years
Dual allowed	Yes
Language	Check the current naturalisation rules for the selected route
Residence	Typical headline route: 2 years; qualifying residence and absence rules apply
Notes	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.

Passport

Passport power

Limited

82 / 198

Mobility

#61

Global rank

Yes

Biometric

Visa-free38
On arrival40
eTA4
Visa required116

Placeholder estimates for 2024 to 2025. Check entry rules with each destination before travelling.

Earning power

Salary & work

Labour-market strength

Moderate

Output per worker$53,911 PPP (2024)

Unemployment5.1% (2025)

Participation64.8% of 15+ (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Mean monthly earnings of employees

Overall$364 · $1,008 PPP (2024)

Tech (IT & comms)$436 · $1,183 PPP (2024)

Source: ILOSTAT (International Labour Organization)

Freelance	Market access depends on language, sector, and work authorisation
Job market	Use current local vacancy and salary data for role-specific decisions.

Buying power

Purchasing power score

Good

GNI / person$26,980 PPP (2025)

Consumption / person$18,493 PPP (2024)

Price level38 (US = 100) (2025)

Income inequality39.0 Gini (2024)

Inflation3.9% / yr (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Cost of living

Affordability

Excellent

Price level38 (US = 100) (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Rent	Varies substantially by city and neighbourhood
Monthly	$900 / mo (single)
Cities	Santo Domingo, Santiago

Economy

Economic strength

Good

Output & income

GDP$127.4B (2025)

GDP / person$11,059 (2025)

GNI / person$26,980 PPP (2025)

GDP growth5.0% / yr (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Stability & labour

Inflation3.9% / yr (2025)

Unemployment5.1% (2025)

Output per worker$53,911 PPP (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Sector composition

Agriculture4.6% of GDP (2025)

Industry28.4% of GDP (2025)

Services60.1% of GDP (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Main industries

TourismMining (gold)Manufacturing (free zones)AgricultureConstruction

Top exports

GoldMedical instrumentsCigarsBananas & cocoa

Type	Upper-middle-income, tourism- and services-led
Key sectors	Tourism (the regional leader), Free-zone manufacturing, Mining
Summary	One of the Caribbean's fastest-growing economies, led by tourism, free-zone manufacturing and gold mining.
Currency	Dominican peso

Business and wealth

Taxes

Tax friendliness

Moderate

Personal	Up to 25%
Corporate	27%
Capital gains	Treatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
Dividends	Rates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Exit tax	Check current domestic rules before changing tax residence
Foreign companies	Management, permanent-establishment, CFC, and reporting rules may apply

Personal tax

Moderate

Personal	Up to 25%
Freelance	Registration, immigration permission, tax, and social contributions may apply
Capital gains	Treatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
Dividends	Rates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Exit tax	Check current domestic rules before changing tax residence

Corporate tax

Low

Corporate	27%
Capital gains	Treatment varies by asset, holding structure, residence, and treaty position
Dividends	Rates and withholding depend on residence and treaty eligibility
Foreign companies	Management, permanent-establishment, CFC, and reporting rules may apply

Business

Business friendliness

Moderate

Regulation & bureaucracy

Regulatory quality0.21 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Government effectiveness0.07 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Operating rules

Foreign company	Generally possible, subject to sector, registration, tax, and substance rules
Local company	Available company forms and capital requirements vary
Freelance	Registration, immigration permission, tax, and social contributions may apply

Investment

Investing environment

Limited

Private credit33% of GDP (2025)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Capital gains	Treatment varies by asset, residence, holding period, and treaty position
Dividends	Data not available yet
ETFs & funds	Data not available yet
Wealth tax	Check current national and subnational rules
Brokers	Local and international availability varies by residency and compliance checks
Foreign access	Data not available yet
Tax-advantaged	Data not available yet

Wealth building

Wealth accumulation

Moderate

Salary & work

Moderate

Business

Moderate

Investment

Limited

Tax friendliness

Moderate

Cost of living

Excellent

Daily life

Safety

Safety & stability

Moderate

Personal safety

Homicide rate10.9 per 100,000 (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Institutions & stability

Control of corruption-0.27 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Political stability0.59 (−2.5 to 2.5) (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Check current government travel and security advice before relocating.

Healthcare

Healthcare score

Moderate

Outcomes

Life expectancy73.9 years (2024)

Under-5 mortality30.6 per 1,000 births (2024)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Capacity & resourcing

Physicians2.43 per 1,000 (2023)

Hospital beds0.75 per 1,000 (2023)

Health spending$1,169 PPP / person (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

System & costs

System	Public/private mix varies by eligibility and residence status
Insurance	Check residence-permit and local coverage requirements
Average cost	Depends on eligibility, income, insurer, and chosen coverage

Environment

Environment score

Excellent

Environmental pressure

PM2.5 exposure13.5 μg/m³ annually (2023)

Water stress39.6% (2022)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Infrastructure

Infrastructure score

Moderate

Digital infrastructure

Internet use91.0% (2024)

Internet resilience51 / 100 (2026)

Fixed speed70 / 100 download index (2026)

Mobile speed58 / 100 download index (2026)

Sources: World Bank World Development Indicators · Internet Society Pulse Internet Resilience Index

Utilities

Electricity access99.6% (2023)

Grid losses12.8% of output (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Transport

Transport quality2.70 / 5 (2022)

Air connectivity1,600 departures / million people (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Education

Education score

Good

Attainment

Expected schooling13.6 years (2023)

Mean schooling9.4 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Participation & investment

Tertiary enrolment58% gross (2024)

Education spending3.8% of GDP (2023)

Source: World Bank World Development Indicators

Tuition	$2,000–10,000 / yr
Public university	Varies by institution, programme, and student nationality
Languages	Spanish
Student work	Rules depend on status and circumstances; verify the current requirements with the competent authority before acting.

HDI

Human development score

Good

HDI0.776 (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Long & healthy life

Life expectancy73.7 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025

Knowledge

Expected schooling13.6 years (2023)

Mean schooling9.4 years (2023)

Source: UNDP Human Development Report 2025