He said that legal security, the welcoming atmosphere of Dominicans, services, and the exchange rate are among the attractions that lead Puerto Ricans, especially retirees, to retire to Quisqueya.
Taken from Listín Diario
The number of Puerto Ricans choosing the Dominican Republic for retirement is increasing every day, revealed the Dominican consul on the island, César Cedeño.
Although many manage their residency while in the Dominican Republic, the official figures from the consulate show that 232 foreigners have applied for a visa to the Dominican Republic to process residency, from that diplomatic headquarters, between October 2022 and 2024. Added to the official visas, the total reaches 360.
He said that legal security, the welcoming atmosphere of Dominicans, services, and the exchange rate are among the attractions that lead Puerto Ricans, especially retirees, to retire to Quisqueya.
“The legal security in the Dominican Republic has taken a 180-degree turn; there is true legal security. The government and the country have prepared to receive thousands of tourists… That price difference, for those who are already retired, is logical; $2,000 in the Dominican Republic (with an exchange rate of around 58 pesos to one dollar) is not the same as in Puerto Rico.”.
Puerto Ricans and Dominicans are united by the Caribbean Sea, share a close proximity since a flight of less than an hour takes them from one territory to another, and have great similarity in terms of musical rhythms and gastronomy.
The Dominican Republic regularizes foreign citizens with temporary visas or residencies, with facilities for retirees, rentiers, investors, and professionals from different areas.
The consul stated that residency applications for Puerto Ricans are processed through the consulate, a building that also houses other Dominican government offices.
Cedeño made these statements to Dominican journalists covering the inauguration of Senasa's seventh office abroad, which he described as positive for the thousands of Dominicans residing in Puerto Rico, as well as in other cities, who can join the Larimar Plan and receive medical care in their country.
Regarding residency permits, in 2023 the General Directorate of Migration granted approximately 58,629 permanent and temporary residency permits to citizens of more than 60 countries. Americans ranked fourth, with a total of 2,120 permits, followed by citizens of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. Haitians ranked first, followed by Venezuelans and Cubans.
RELATIONS WITH PUERTO RICO
The diplomat highlighted the consulate's efforts to strengthen the historic friendship between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, and emphasized that the main mission has been to improve the quality of life of Dominicans, especially in terms of health, regardless of their immigration status.
“From here at the consulate, we have tried to strengthen the historic friendship between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, seeking to improve the quality of life for Dominicans, especially in terms of health. We have a number of citizens who are undocumented, which is complicated. However, through these relations with the government of Puerto Rico, we have ensured that Dominicans receive care regardless of their legal status. It is a matter of humanity and health,” Cedeño stated.
The consul mentioned agreements such as the one established with the municipality of San Juan, which allows Dominicans to access health services in local hospitals, including the Cancer Institute.
“We have focused on trying to resolve the situation of Dominican citizens regardless of their immigration status,” he added.
DOCUMENTS
Another achievement that Cedeño cited in his diplomatic mission is the agreement signed with the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) of the Dominican Republic, which allows the correction of errors in documents such as passports and identity cards, directly from the consulate in Puerto Rico, preventing Dominicans from having to travel to their country of origin.
“This used to cost a Dominican three, four, five thousand dollars. With the agreement we signed, they simply come to the consulate, fill out a form, it's sent to the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE), the TSE issues a ruling, sends it back to the consulate and the Board, and it doesn't cost them a penny. It's a free service,” Cedeño emphasized.
Since the opening of the Superior Electoral Court, more than 200 cases have been handled, of which 12 have been successfully resolved.
The consul also shared the case of Miguel Álamo, an engineer who had an error in a document for decades and managed to resolve it in a month, at no cost. “It’s an achievement for the Dominican community,” he stated.
Text and photo: Listín Diario.
