Dominican Republic work visa (NM1)

The NM1 visa is granted to people who, by the nature of their occupation, stay in the country for a year without necessarily leaving, generally those who fulfil fixed-term contracts with public or private companies established in the Dominican Republic. MIREX publishes four versions: private company, multinational or transnational company, free-zone company and international organisations or public institutions.

MIREX's detailed list also asks every NM1 applicant for a medical certificate stating that they have no infectious or contagious diseases and a request letter from the company on its letterhead. CVs and university diplomas do not need to be apostilled, legalised or translated. Staff of multinationals coming for less than a year to do technical work present a request letter from the parent company describing the work and naming the Dominican company where it will be done. Experts hired by public institutions or international organisations attach the employment contract and a request letter signed by the highest-ranking official, or a note verbale signed by the head of mission.

MIREX requires the guarantee letter to contain a set clause, or the mission will not accept it. In it the guarantor states that the visa holder will not stay in the Dominican Republic longer than the time granted by the Directorate General of Migration, will not apply for residence or a change of migration status from inside the country and will engage only in the activity for which the visa was issued, and accepts moral and financial responsibility for the person's return, including any cost to the Dominican State from their stay, repatriation or deportation. The applicant brings this letter, with the other documents, to the interview at the consulate.

Present a 2 x 2 inch photo with white background, an original passport valid for at least six months, your residence card if applicable, current or expired visas, a legalised or apostilled birth certificate and a certificate of no criminal record from each country of residence in the last five years, both translated by a judicial interpreter if not in Spanish, and your CV and university diplomas.

The company provides a job offer stating the position, base salary and benefits; a Ministry of Labour certificate that it is in the Integrated System of Labour Registries (SIRLA) and complies with Article 135 of the Labour Code, valid one year; a guarantee letter notarised and legalised by the Attorney General's Office, valid six months; and proof of solvency with its commercial registration. Free-zone companies add a National Council of Export Free Zones certificate; multinationals add the employment contract or transfer letter from the parent company.

The consulate accepts and evaluates the file and sends it to MIREX, which issues the final decision; consular officials cannot decide on the NM1 themselves. MIREX advises not to buy non-refundable tickets or make other plans until the visa is received. The response time given for visas is 10 to 20 working days.

NM1 holders have 30 days after entering the Dominican Republic to present themselves to the Directorate General of Migration (DGM) to formalise their residence or temporary permit, completing the additional requirements of the regulation of General Migration Law 285-04.

Dependants of an NM1 holder use the dependency visa (DPM). The request letter is signed by the organisation the NM1 holder depends on and states whether the beneficiary depends on the holder through family or work ties; marriage and children's birth certificates must be apostilled and translated, and the file includes the holder's solvency documents and copies of their Dominican visa and passport. MIREX's fee table lists USD 150 for the DPM visa, and DPM holders also have 30 days after arrival to go to the Directorate General of Migration.