Moving back to the DR ...

stoburen · #1 03-08-2009, 09:34 AM

We spent 1994-2007 living in the DR and became legal residents about ten years ago. (We have kept our residency and cedulas up to date.) Then two years ago care-giving issues for my wife's parents forced us to temporarily move back to the States. Now both have died and we are considering our options on where to live. (We still have a home in Santiago.)

Of course, over the two year period here in the US we've "accumulated" stuff, including antiques and nostalgic things from both sets of now-deceased parents. If I remember correctly when we first got our residency, there was a one-time "free pass" where a resident could ship their goods in free of customs charges. We never used this option as at the time we already had bought everything we needed. However, our son is getting married in the DR and setting up house.

So does anyone know if this "one time free pass" for foreign residents is still available? Also any suggestions on how to bring a container in to the DR, companies to use, things to avoid would be greatly appreciated. Even though we lived in the DR for 13 years I'm a complete newbie in this area.

NOTE: I would also be grateful for any thoughts on shipping a late model car in. The two cars we left in the DR are aging.

Thanks in advance,
Steve

PS One last question. I also have a small 16' "pocket cruiser" fiberglass boat with a 50 HP outboard that would be perfect for gunk-holing along the DR coast and lagoons. Has anyone shipped a small boat and trailer in to the DR? Will I hit a morass of customs and licensing regulations when the boat is for private personal use? Will it be "no vale la pena"?

Hillbilly · #2 03-08-2009, 10:50 AM

Wonderful to see your return. Sorry for the losses, of course.

Regarding your plight: I think you can probably get your stuff in without too much of a hassle, but then again, I have never done this so I do not know absolutely. For sure you can ship a lot of stuff in boxes at $60-$75 a box door to door. And also there are good shipping companies from Florida and the New York Metropolitan area and the Boston-Providence area...

As for the boat, I envy you enormously...and lots of people have boats here...Talk to Mike Fisher or Ken, they have gone through this...

I have some friends in La Romana who can probably help on this issue, too, after you find out the basics, Okay???

And you can park it at Punta Rucia,,,,or Luperon...Or Ocean World...

HB