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Invest in the Dominican Republic
A short guide for companies expanding into the Dominican Republic: the economy at a glance, the rules and steps to set up, and who can help, each with its source.
1. Dominican Republic at a glance
Population
11.5 million
The World Bank reports a population of 11,520,487 in 2025.
Source: World Bank WDI, Dominican Republic population, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDP
US$127.4 billion
The World Bank reports GDP of US$127,407,463,759.04 in 2025, in current dollars.
Source: World Bank WDI, Dominican Republic GDP, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDP per person
US$11,059
The World Bank reports GDP per person of US$11,059.21 in 2025, in current dollars.
Source: World Bank WDI, Dominican Republic GDP per person, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Real GDP growth
2.1%
The World Bank reports real GDP growth of 2.1 percent in 2025.
Source: World Bank WDI, Dominican Republic real GDP growth, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Inflation
5.1%
Consumer prices rose 5.12 percent over the 12 months to September 2026, the central bank reports.
Source: BCRD, consumer price index report, September 2026 (in Spanish) (opens in a new tab) · as of September 2026
Foreign direct investment inflows
US$5.03 billion
Foreign direct investment inflows were US$5,032.8 million in 2025, in UNCTADstat data.
Source: UNCTADstat, foreign direct investment inflows, Dominican Republic, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
The currency is the Dominican peso (DOP).
Source: ProDominicana, home page (in Spanish) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
2. Before you set up
The investment agency, any one-stop route, the sectors reserved for nationals and the zones, as the guide found them.
ProDominicana, the Center for Export and Investment, promotes exports and foreign investment and keeps the register of foreign investment.
Source: ProDominicana, frequently asked questions (in Spanish) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
ProDominicana's 2025 investment guide says investors create an account on the Single Window for Investment to reach permits, licenses and certifications from several institutions.
Source: ProDominicana, investment guide, 2025 (in Spanish) (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Beyond Law 16-95, sector laws limit foreign ownership in broadcasting, air cabotage, mining, hydrocarbons and electricity, and professional services need a national exequatur.
Source: WTO Secretariat, Dominican Republic Trade Policy Review report, November 2022 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 29, 2022
The free zone council lists 98 free zone parks at the end of 2025, with 858 companies operating.
Source: CNZFE, Statistical Report 2025 (in Spanish) (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
3. Steps to set up
The main steps, in order, each with the body responsible and its official page.
Setting up in the Dominican Republic
- Reserve the trade name with the industrial property office, in Spanish; a non-resident foreign applicant files through a representative.Oficina Nacional de la Propiedad IndustrialOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: ProDominicana, Export Guide, February 2025 (in Spanish) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Enter the company in the commercial register of the chamber of commerce for its location.Cámara de Comercio y Producción de Santo DomingoOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: ProDominicana, Export Guide, February 2025 (in Spanish) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Register for a taxpayer number (RNC) with the tax authority.Dirección General de Impuestos InternosOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: ProDominicana, Export Guide, February 2025 (in Spanish) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Register the foreign investment with ProDominicana, or with the free zone council inside a free zone; the register is free.Centro de Exportación e Inversión de la República DominicanaThe WTO Secretariat reported in 2022 that the register is free and online since 2021.Official page (opens in a new tab)
Source: WTO Secretariat, Dominican Republic Trade Policy Review report, November 2022 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 29, 2022
Show 4 more set-up steps
- If you will operate in a free zone, apply to the free zone council for an installation permit.Consejo Nacional de Zonas Francas de ExportaciónOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: CNZFE, how to install a free zone company (in Spanish) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Register employment contracts of foreign workers with the Ministry of Labor within three days of signing.Ministerio de TrabajoFree; the Ministry of Labor gives a response time of 10 working days.Official page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Ministry of Labor, foreign worker contract registration (in Spanish) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Apply to the migration directorate for visas and temporary or permanent residence permits for foreign staff.Dirección General de MigraciónOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Transparency portal, migration directorate profile (in Spanish) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Record land or buildings you acquire with the real estate registry; Law 16-95 allows property investment within the limits that apply to foreigners.Registro InmobiliarioOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Dominican Republic, Foreign Investment Law 16-95, text (in Spanish) (opens in a new tab) · as of November 20, 1995
4. Organizations that help investors
Start with DGA. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
Each card says what it can help with:Get adviceFind financeMeet requirementsResearch markets
Investment and business setup
- Get advice
Free zone authority
CNZFE
Consejo Nacional de Zonas Francas de Exportación
Approves free zone installation permits, recommends new free zones to the President and keeps free zone statistics.
Visit CNZFE (opens in a new tab)Source: CNZFE, about the council (in Spanish) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Business formalization portal
Formalízate
Guides a business through taxpayer, employer and employee registration in one government portal.
Visit Formalízate (opens in a new tab)Source: Formalízate, business formalization portal (in Spanish) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Show 5 more organizations
- Meet requirements
Industrial property office
ONAPI
Oficina Nacional de la Propiedad Industrial
Registers trade names, trademarks and patents; exporters and new companies register their business name here first.
Visit ONAPI (opens in a new tab)Source: ProDominicana, Export Guide, February 2025 (in Spanish) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Get advice
Chamber and commercial register
CCPSD
Cámara de Comercio y Producción de Santo Domingo
Keeps the commercial register for its district, which a company enters after reserving its name.
Visit CCPSD (opens in a new tab)Source: ProDominicana, Export Guide, February 2025 (in Spanish) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Meet requirements
Labor ministry
Ministry of Labor
Ministerio de Trabajo
Registers employment contracts, including those of foreign workers, which the employer must file within three days.
- Meet requirements
Land and property registry
Real Estate Registry
Registro Inmobiliario
Keeps the register of land and buildings where an investor records a property purchase.
Visit Real Estate Registry (opens in a new tab)Source: Real Estate Registry, home page (in Spanish) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Meet requirements
Immigration authority
DGM
Dirección General de Migración
Issues visas and temporary and permanent residence permits to foreign nationals.
Visit DGM (opens in a new tab)Source: Transparency portal, migration directorate profile (in Spanish) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Customs and tax
- Meet requirements
Customs authority
DGA
Dirección General de Aduanas
Registers exporters, receives export declarations in SIGA, issues EUR.1 certificates and certifies authorized exporters.
Visit DGA (opens in a new tab)Source: DGA, manual to attach EUR.1 to declarations (in Spanish) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Meet requirements
Foreign trade single window
VUCERD
Ventanilla Única de Comercio Exterior de la República Dominicana
Gathers the permits, licenses and certificates that government bodies issue for exports, imports and transit in one access point.
Visit VUCERD (opens in a new tab)Source: VUCERD, single window home page (in Spanish) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Show 1 more organization
- Meet requirements
Tax authority
DGII
Dirección General de Impuestos Internos
Collects and administers internal taxes, including income tax and the ITBIS.
Visit DGII (opens in a new tab)Source: Transparency portal, Internal Revenue Directorate profile (in Spanish) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Chambers and industry associations
- Get advice
Exporters association
ADOEXPO
Asociación Dominicana de Exportadores
Represents exporters, publishes a newsletter and runs an exporter training institute.
Visit ADOEXPO (opens in a new tab)Source: ADOEXPO, home page (in Spanish) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Get advice
Industrial association
AIRD
Asociación de Industrias de la República Dominicana
Represents manufacturers and publishes studies on industrial incentives and competitiveness.
Visit AIRD (opens in a new tab)Source: AIRD, home page (in Spanish) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Show 2 more organizations
- Get advice
National chamber federation
FEDOCAMARAS
Federación Dominicana de Cámaras de Comercio
Brings together the chambers of commerce of the country, which keep the commercial register.
Visit FEDOCAMARAS (opens in a new tab)Source: FEDOCAMARAS, home page (in Spanish) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
- Get advice
Bilateral chamber of commerce
AMCHAMDR
Cámara Americana de Comercio de la República Dominicana
Runs member events and publishes analysis of the national economy.
Visit AMCHAMDR (opens in a new tab)Source: AMCHAMDR, home page (in Spanish) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
5. Worth knowing
Currency and settlement
The IMF's September 2025 staff statement says to keep exchange rate flexibility within inflation targeting and to intervene only to smooth large shocks.
What to do: Agree the invoice currency and settlement date in each contract, and ask your bank about conversion timing.
Sources: IMF, Dominican Republic 2025 Article IV concluding statement (opens in a new tab); BCRD, inflation targeting strategy page (in Spanish) (opens in a new tab) · as of September 15, 2025
Climate and water
The IMF's Executive Board said in November 2025 that high exposure to natural disasters calls for stronger disaster risk management and fiscal planning.
What to do: Check insurance cover and storm exposure for plants, stock and shipping routes before you sign.
Sources: IMF, 2025 Article IV staff report, November 2025 (opens in a new tab); IMF, 2025 Article IV staff report PDF, November 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 19, 2025
Reserved sectors
The WTO Secretariat reported in 2022 that foreign ownership is limited in broadcasting, air cabotage, mining, hydrocarbons and power, and that law bars toxic waste imports.
What to do: Check the sector law and ask ProDominicana before you design an investment in these activities.
Sources: WTO Secretariat, Dominican Republic Trade Policy Review report, November 2022 (opens in a new tab); Dominican Republic, Foreign Investment Law 16-95, text (in Spanish) (opens in a new tab) · as of November 29, 2022
Investment law reform
The Senate approved a bill on national and foreign investment in first reading on May 18, 2026; Law 16-95 remains the investment law found.
What to do: Check the Senate and the official gazette for the bill's status before you rely on Law 16-95 alone.
Sources: Senate, investment bill first reading, May 2026 (in Spanish) (opens in a new tab); Senate, investment bill committee report, May 2026 (in Spanish) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Show 2 more
Incentive rules
Law 30-26, promulgated on June 18, 2026, bars holding two incentive regimes for one activity and sends tax exemptions to a cost-benefit review.
What to do: Confirm with the incentive agency which single regime fits your project before you commit capital.
Sources: Dominican Republic, Law 30-26 of June 18, 2026 (in Spanish) (opens in a new tab); Presidency, promulgation of Law 30-26, June 2026 (in Spanish) (opens in a new tab) · as of October 30, 2026
Electricity
The IMF's November 2025 Article IV report says electricity sector reform is key to medium-term growth, and expects lower sector losses and better-targeted energy subsidies.
What to do: Ask the utility about supply reliability and tariffs at your site before you commit.
Sources: IMF, 2025 Article IV staff report, November 2025 (opens in a new tab); IMF, 2025 Article IV staff report PDF, November 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 19, 2025
6. How Promote:Global helps
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Promote:Dominican Republic is an independent guide by Promote:Global, not an official government portal. The organizations named here are independent public and membership bodies, not Promote:Global partners, and every link goes to their own site.
Facts read from public sources, with an editorial cut-off of October 30, 2026. Nothing here is investment, legal, tax or sanctions advice. Check current status with the organization before you rely on it.