Work Permit / Residency

I am a British Citizen hoping to relocate to the D.R.in the very near future. Can anyone give me detailed information regarding the possibilities of obtaining a work permit which will allow me to work in the D.R for one year as a Tour Guide (are there such things?) Also, when I my initial visitor's visa expires after three months of my intended arrival in the D.R is there a quick and inexpensive way of extending it? (assuming, of course, that I'm NOT working) Finally, can anyone give me accurate information regarding what is reqired to apply for provisional residency, what the procedure entails, and what kind of cost can I expect?

Hi Mark! Getting Residency is time consuming & not cheap. You should do it through a lawyer here. Preliminary Residency cost me $800US & 4 months wait. It is good for 1 year then you go through it all again (including blood tests & X Ray) after 1 year. You also get your "Cedula" or Gov't ID with the Prelim Residency. I believe you could work on one of the jeep tours without any permits. Fluency in Spanish/French/German would be a definite asset, also International Drivers lic. You may be able to get more precise info via Dominican Embassy, or through DR1 message board from someone more learned than I.Regards, Canadian Bob

As in any other country, tourists in the Dominican Republic are not legally allowed to work during their stay. If you come into the D.R. with a tourist card and start working without obtaining a work permit or residency, you are violating the law. The fact that many do it doesn't make it legal. Obtaining residency is relatively easy but expensive as Canadian Bob remarked. Renewing your tourist card after its term expires is not a problem: when you go out of the country you will be charged for the extra time.

HI- WHAT JEEP TOUR DO YOU WPRK FOR? AND WHERE ITS LOCATION?

AMANDA

AMANDAI.CWTRFD@WSPAN.COM