Can Foreigners Own Property in Dominican Republic? The 2026 Legal Guide

Yes. Foreigners enjoy the same property rights as Dominican Republic citizens. A buyer can acquire, register, and own property in the Dominican Republic using only a passport, with no residency or visa required. The Foreign Investment Law (Law 16-95) guarantees the right to repatriate invested capital and profits in freely convertible currency.

This guide covers the legal framework, the CONFOTUR tax incentive program, the buying process, and the documentation requirements.

The legal framework

Property in the Dominican Republic is regulated by the Constitution, the Law on Real Estate Registration (Law 108-05), and supplemented by Law 16-95 on Foreign Investment. The Jurisdiccion Inmobiliaria (the specialized real estate judicial branch) administers the title registration system.

Foreigners can:

- Acquire residential, commercial, agricultural, and tourism real estate.

- Hold in their personal name, through a Dominican company, or through a foreign company.

- Repatriate sale proceeds and rental income in foreign currency under Law 16-95.

There is no foreign-buyer license, no nationality cap on the type or location of property, and no minimum investment threshold.

CONFOTUR (Law 158-01) and what it actually provides

CONFOTUR (Consejo de Fomento al Turismo) is the tourism promotion council. Law 158-01 grants substantial tax benefits to buyers of certified residential and tourism real estate. Foreign buyers receive the same benefits as Dominican buyers.

The principal exemptions:

- Transfer tax exemption. The 3% transfer tax (Impuesto de Transferencia Inmobiliaria) on the purchase price is waived for CONFOTUR-certified projects.

- Annual property tax (IPI) exemption. Up to 15 years of exemption from the 1% annual Impuesto sobre la Propiedad Inmobiliaria, depending on project specifics.

- Income tax exemption for rental income. Up to 10 years of income tax exemption on rental income generated by CONFOTUR-approved tourism projects.

- Capital gains exemption. On resale during the incentive period.

The exemptions apply to the project, not to the buyer. A buyer should verify the actual CONFOTUR resolution issued by the Ministry of Tourism for the specific project, not rely on a sales brochure claim.

The buying process

1. Promesa de Venta (promise of sale). Initial contract reserving the property, typically with a 10% deposit. This is binding on both parties.

2. Title search. The buyer's attorney verifies the title certificate (Certificado de Titulo) at the Registro de Titulos. The attorney also confirms the existence of a current deslinde (boundary demarcation).

3. Deslinde verification. This is the most important due diligence step in the Dominican Republic. A deslinde is a legal demarcation of property boundaries, conducted by a certified surveyor and approved by the courts. Without it, ownership of a specific parcel is not secure.

4. Sale Contract (Contrato de Venta). Notarized by a Dominican notary public.

5. Tax payment. Transfer tax of 3% on the appraised value (or zero on CONFOTUR-certified projects).

6. Title registration. The contract is recorded at the Registro de Titulos, which issues a new Certificado de Titulo in the buyer's name.

The full process typically takes 60 to 90 days for an existing-build resale, longer for pre-construction.

Documentation foreign buyers need

- Passport, with valid entry stamp or visa.

- RNC (taxpayer ID) for foreign buyers, obtained from the Direccion General de Impuestos Internos.

- Power of attorney if the buyer cannot be present, notarized and apostilled in the country of origin.

- Wire confirmation if funds are transferred internationally.

Taxes and fees

- Transfer Tax (Impuesto de Transferencia Inmobiliaria): 3% of the appraised value, paid at registration. Waived on CONFOTUR projects.

- Annual Property Tax (IPI): 1% on the value above an exempt threshold (currently DOP 9.86 million in 2026, indexed annually). Waived on CONFOTUR projects for up to 15 years.

- Capital gains tax: 27% corporate rate or up to 25% individual rate on resale gain. Waived on CONFOTUR projects during the incentive period.

- Rental income tax: Standard rates apply; CONFOTUR projects can be exempt for up to 10 years.

- Notary fees: Typically 1% of the contract value.

- Legal fees: Typically 1% to 1.5% of the purchase price.

Holding structures

- Personal name. The simplest route.

- Dominican SRL (Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada). A limited liability company, commonly used for rental property and to facilitate estate planning.

- Foreign company. Permitted, but tax reporting in the company's home jurisdiction can become more complex.

Residency through property

Property ownership does not, by itself, grant residency in the Dominican Republic. The country offers a separate Investor Residency program for investments of USD 200,000 or more in Dominican companies or government bonds. Property purchase can support an investor residency case but does not automatically qualify.

What this means in practice

The legal regime is genuinely open. The friction is in due diligence: the deslinde requirement, the lack of national agent licensing, and the fact that the Dominican Republic does not have a title insurance industry. Each of these places the verification burden on the buyer's attorney. Bektu publishes independent developer and project records to support that verification.