IN THE UNITED STATES

 First, obtain an official copy of the birth certificate (no photo copies). Second, take the birth certificate to the closest Dominican embassy or consulate office and have them legalize the birth certificate. There is usually a fee for processing the document, and runs for about USD $40.00.

IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

• Take the legalized birth certificate to an official licensed translator, who will translate the birth certificate into Spanish. This will run you about RD $ 500.00 pesos. (If the documents are not in Spanish, they will no be accepted.)

• Next, you must go to La Oficina de La Procuraduria, and have the translated birth certificate legalized by that office. This ensures that the translated version is legal and was done by a licensed professional. This will cost RD $ 522.00 pesos.

•  After that you must take the original birth certificate to the Secretaria de Estado de Relaciones Exteriores de Legalizaciones (a.k.a. La Oficina de la Cancilleria) and have the birth certificate legalized by that office. This is to verify that the birth certificate, and its signatures, is valid. This will cost RD $ 900.00 pesos.

•  Once you have all of these documents in hand, take them to La Junta Central Electoral (JCE) to el Departamento de Juridica. Present the documents, along with a copy of the parent’s cedula, a copy of the parent’s valid birth certificate, and a “solicitud” (which you can get at the JCE) in a manila folder. Include in your folder a copy of all documents, and make copies for your personal records.

• Once you have fulfilled all requirements, you will be asked to which “oficialia” you would like to be registered at. This detail is fairly important because it is at this office that your birth certificate will be registered, and where to go in order to get the Dominican cedula, amongst other things. If you can, choose one closet in proximity to your place of residence.

•  You will then be asked to return to the JCE in 1 to 2 weeks to retrieve the authorization for a birth certificate. Take the authorization form to the oficialia you chose earlier, and submit it, in order to get a Dominican birth certificate. Once this is done, you can then apply for your Dominican cedula, officially making you a Dominican citizen.

CEDULA

The cedula the process is much easier. Once you have your Dominican birth certificate, go to the office of “cedulacion.” (you can ask at the oficilia for the closet office near you.)

You will give them your birth certificate. They will then take your picture and give you a temporary form of that can serve as identification. In about a month you will be asked to return to retrieve your Dominican cedula.