VisaDominican Republic labour visas require residence formalities within 30 days of arrival
NM1 workers must arrange a separate immigration application after entering the Dominican Republic.
Official source date: 2026-11-02
Edited and checked by the VisaWand editorial team
Record the deadline that starts on arrival
The Dominican Republic’s Foreign Ministry tells holders of the NM1 business visa for employment to report to the General Directorate of Migration within 30 days of arrival to formalise residence or temporary-permit procedures. The visa should therefore be treated as one stage of the employment journey, rather than the completion of all immigration formalities. This guide explains the current route; it does not announce a new deadline.
The ministry describes NM1 as a multiple-entry employment visa for people working under qualifying contracts, generally covering a year. It says applicants of all nationalities may seek the visa through Dominican consular offices, subject to assessment. Complete documents do not guarantee approval. Its guidance specifically advises against buying non-refundable tickets or making travel commitments before receiving the visa. Use the Foreign Ministry’s Visas page to identify the correct employment category and to record the post-arrival reporting obligation before departure.
Prepare the employer’s part of the consular application
The government’s NM1 service entry identifies documents that depend on the employer, including a job proposal registered with the Ministry of Labour, a Labour Ministry certification and a guarantee letter. Applicants should ask the employer to prepare those records alongside their own identity and civil documents. A signed job offer should not be assumed to replace every employer-related item on the official checklist.
The service tells applicants to contact the embassy or consulate nearest their residence or designated for that jurisdiction. Use that office’s instructions to arrange the submission and payment, particularly if applying outside the country of nationality. The Foreign Ministry’s separate Consular Fees table lists US$200 for the employment-purpose NM1 visa. That consular charge does not include the later migration application, medical assessment or guarantee insurance. Confirm the local payment currency and method with the mission rather than treating a quoted visa price as the complete cost of relocating for work.
Collect the residence documents before the 30 days run out
Migration’s detailed RT-3 labour-residence checklist requires a passport valid for at least six months, the NM1 visa and evidence of the latest entry, together with civil records and employment documentation. Its published document specifies a full birth certificate showing the parents’ details. A mismatch between the passport name and birth record needs the legal document explaining the change, appropriately authenticated.
The checklist also addresses applicants using a newly acquired nationality: naturalisation evidence must accompany the civil records. It asks for police evidence relating to the previous five years, an original employment contract registered with the Labour Ministry, and the relevant marital-status evidence. These items require preparation; the fact that some records were used for the consular visa does not establish that the separate residence file is complete. Use the RT-3 checklist to identify originals, copies, legalisation and translation needs before travelling, then confirm the current submission requirements through Migration’s live service page.
Use the migration portal and budget for the second stage
Migration’s RT-3 service page links its personal-services portal, where applicants register, choose the service and office, and complete the questionnaire. It requires JPG scans for the online application and originals for the physical submission, with the necessary authentication. The page states that an online request left without action by its user for 90 calendar days expires automatically and must be started again.
The service lists RD$14,000 for filing the case and a separate adult medical-examination charge of RD$6,300. It also identifies possible stay and expired-visa charges. Its child medical-fee age bands overlap, so families should obtain an individual quote rather than infer the charge for a child from the table. The published service time is 90 calendar days, distinct from the 30-day arrival reporting deadline. Check portal notices and medical instructions promptly; a pending application or payment receipt should not be mistaken for the final one-year RT-3 residence permission.
