What Is It Like Living In The Dominican Republic?

Benefits of Working as a Digital Nomad in Dominica

There are advantages to being a digital nomad in Dominica that include:

Ease of obtaining a digital nomad visa. Dominica’s government has enabled remote workers to obtain their digital nomad visa within seven working days. Moreover, applying is done online, and it takes only a few minutes to complete.
Tax exclusion. You will not be subject to income tax, capital gains tax, or dividend tax as a digital nomad in Dominica.
Low cost of living. The prices in Dominica are relatively low compared to those in the rest of the Caribbean, America, and the United Kingdom. Approximately $800 is the estimated monthly cost of living for a single person without rent, while $3,000 is expected for a family of four.
Flavorful and delicious food. The Dominican cuisine is primarily Creole, but British and French elements have also influenced it. Restaurants on the island use domestic and imported ingredients to prepare flavorful dishes using fresh fish and locally cultivated fruits and vegetables. Some of the best dishes you can enjoy are mountain chicken, manicou, agouti, sancocho, codfish sandwich, and many more.
Leisure activities. All around the island, there are a variety of land, water activities, and tours to enjoy. In addition, Dominica offers a wide range of hiking opportunities for beginners and experienced hikers. Finally, visitors can take boat, diving, and snorkeling tours. You can also enjoy cricket because it is the most popular sport there.

In addition: Among the four English-speaking Windward Islands, Dominica is the most northern. With an area of 751km², it is located between Martinique and Guadeloupe in the Caribbean Sea. It is known as “Nature Island” because the country has many natural wonders. It has around 200 beaches; some are explored, and some are not. Furthermore, Dominica is quite famous because of the film Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest. The movie was filmed there and introduced this wonderful place to the entire world.

Requirements for Dominica Digital Nomad Visa

The paperwork required for submitting an application for a digital nomad visa for Dominica consists of:

Biodata page of your valid passport. The validity of your passport needs to be at least six months.
Photos passport-sized. The dimensions of the photos must be 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm). The head must be between 1 -1 3/8 inches (25 – 35 mm) from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head.
Evidence of your relationship to dependents. To prove your relationship, you need to have a marriage certificate (if you are married), birth certificate, or adoption certificate (if you have children).
Police records. You can get your and your dependents’ police records from your local police department, proving that you are clear of criminal records.
Letter of employment or self-employment. If you are employed, you need to have a letter from your employer. If you are self-employed, you can have your recent bank statement and certificate of good standing.
Proof of income. The income requirements are $50,000 per year.
A reference letter from your bank.
Health insurance. You need health insurance designed for digital nomads and remote workers living abroad. Your insurance has to have coverage in Dominica.
Visa. This applies to those countries where visas are required to enter Dominica.

It is necessary for all of your documents to be in English. However, if you do not have any documents in English, you may provide translated copies that have been certified.

How to Apply for a Dominica Digital Nomad Visa?

In order to obtain a digital nomad visa for Dominica, you must go through the following procedures:

Collect the documents. Make sure to have them in English and digitized. You can find the necessary documents in the section “Requirements for Dominica Digital Nomad Visa”.
Apply for the visa. The application is done online on the e-platform developed by the government of Dominica. You have to fill in all the personal information and upload the required documents. Make sure to double-check everything.
Pay the application fee. After filling out the application, you must pay the application fee. It is $100 and is non-refundable.
Submit the application and wait for approval. Now you only have to click submit and wait. You must wait seven working days to get an answer about whether your application was approved.
Pay the visa fee. When your application is approved, you must pay the visa fee. The visa fees for individuals are $800 and $1200 for a family.
Travel to Dominica. After completing the previous steps, you only have to get ready and travel to Dominica. First, however, make sure to be in Dominica within 90 days after your visa is approved.

Processing Time For A Digital Nomad Visa in Dominica

After submitting your application online and paying the required fee, you will receive notification of its approval or denial within seven business days. In the event of approval, you are given a period of 30 days to pay the visa fee.

How Long Can I Work in Dominica as a Digital Nomad?

Upon your arrival, you will be issued a digital nomad visa for Dominica which will remain valid for a period of 18 months.

Why the Dominican Republic?

Digital nomads find the Dominican Republic to be one of the premier countries in the Caribbean, blending nature, infrastructure, amicable citizens, and reasonable costs, all of which make it a desirable destination.

Although Punta Cana’s all-inclusive resorts are the Dominican Republic’s best-known tourist attractions, there is much more to discover outside the popular tourist areas if you take the time to explore further.

You don’t need to be concerned about staying in dilapidated guesthouses or isolated villages with no internet to experience the digital nomad lifestyle in the Dominican Republic.

The Samaná peninsula and North Coast are ideal destinations to complement your travel plans in the Dominican Republic as they offer a balanced mix of tourist amenities and unexplored excursions.

In addition, the Dominican Republic has relatively short driving distances. Despite being located across the entire country, every digital nomad hub featured in this guide can be reached with a (bus) journey of only 3-4 hours from Santo Domingo.

Whether you opt for a particular location as a digital nomad, you’ll be within proximity of the top attractions in the Dominican Republic, the airport, and the numerous offerings in Santo Domingo.

Safety in the Dominican Republic

Living in the Dominican Republic as a digital nomad has the advantage of providing safety, as it is regarded as one of the best islands for solo female travel. Even though it’s important to adhere to basic travel safety measures, the Dominican Republic is generally considered a safe destination by visitors.

Dominican Republic Visas

Visiting the Dominican Republic is a simple process for citizens from numerous American and European countries as they do not require visas to enter.

Your international flight ticket already covers the compulsory 10 USD tourist card. Currently, all you need to do is complete a free digital e-ticket.

Tourists are granted a 30-day approval that is possible to prolong for a maximum of 120 days. For extending it, you need to provide supplementary paperwork online, including a valid bank statement demonstrating adequate funds, a medical certificate from a local physician, a photocopy of your passport, and your departure flight itinerary.

Currently, a fee of 2500 DOP (approximately 45 USD) is charged for stays lasting 31 to 90 days, and a fee of 4000 DOP (approximately 70 USD) is charged for stays lasting up to 120 days.

In order to remain in the country for a period exceeding 120 days, you must undergo the challenging process of applying for residency. Alternatively, it is simpler to take a brief trip to a neighboring country such as Puerto Rico or Colombia and obtain a new tourist visa upon return.

You can obtain multiple tourist visas per year without any limitations.

Dominican Republic Remote Work Visa

At present, there is no distinct visa for remote work or digital nomads in the Dominican Republic and no indication of one being developed.

It is hoped that the Dominican Republic will also begin offering digital nomad visas like several other Caribbean countries that have done so during the pandemic.

An online search may provide information about the Dominican Republic’s remote work visa known as the “Work in Nature” digital nomad visa.

Cost of Living in the Dominican Republic

The cost of living in the Dominican Republic is generally regarded as affordable, particularly when compared to European or North American standards.

The Dominican Republic is an ideal destination for digital nomads of various professions and income brackets, given its accessibility. Aspiring entrepreneurs who are also digital nomads will find this feature particularly beneficial, while for those seeking to venture into the digital nomad lifestyle, teaching English online in DR is an excellent choice.

With 1000 USD per month, a digital nomad in the Dominican Republic can lead a comfortable life.

The Dominican Republic is considered a economical option, particularly for Caribbean nations. Nonetheless, if you compare it to other locations that attract digital nomads, such as Colombia, Peru, or certain Central American and Southeast Asian countries, your finances may not go as far.

Continue reading further below to obtain a comprehensive analysis of the significant components of your digital nomad budget and ways to economize.

Housing in the Dominican Republic

Depending on how long you are going to stay and if you are visiting multiple regions in the country, you can either get away with short-term stays (guesthouses, hotels, resorts, hostels – there are all kinds of accommodation in the Dominican Republic) or long-term rentals for 2 or 3 months.

The cost of housing fluctuates significantly based on the type and whereabouts of the dwelling. For instance, a well-situated one-bedroom apartment in Santo Domingo that entails a long-term lease may be priced at approximately 500 USD every month.

You can anticipate paying a minimum of 100 USD per night or 1000 USD per month if you’re interested in renting beachfront property like an apartment in Las Terrenas or Cabarete on the north coast.

Nightly rates for short-term accommodations are subject to greater variation. The following are some illustrations of this variability in pricing.

One night in a hostel: 15 USD per person
One night in a single or double room in a decent apartment, well-rated guesthouse, or family-owned hotel (not beachfront): 50 USD per room
One night in an all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana: 150 USD or more in a double room

Don’t forget to refer to the money-saving guidelines for digital nomads in the Dominican Republic mentioned below; they contain information on the most suitable housing options according to the length of your stay.

Getting Around In the Dominican Republic

Just like accommodation, the expenses associated with transportation for digital nomads in the Dominican Republic are influenced by their way of life and skill in utilizing public transit. Opting for public transportation can result in a remarkably inexpensive living experience in the country.

A ride on public transportation (such as the metro, shared taxi, or bus) in Santo Domingo only costs 0.40 USD per trip, for instance.

Even outside of the tourist zones, taking a taxi doesn’t have to be costly, especially as Uber is available in Santo Domingo, Santiago, and Punta Cana.

Although renting a car has grown more costly since the pandemic’s inception, it remains achievable for digital nomads with a slightly inflated budget.

Bus travel over long distances between cities is inexpensive too. For instance, the fare for a bus trip from Santo Domingo to Puerto Plata is just approximately 8 USD. Moreover, as the country is small, the distances are not too great and the journeys by bus are not excessively long.