Dominican Republic Expat Forum

volcan357
Joined 2013
Posts: 1681

6 years ago

Moving to the Dominican Republic

6 years ago

I currently live in Panama where I have lived for the past 17 years. A year ago I married a girl from the Dominican Republic. My problem is that Panama refuses to renew her visa so she can't get back into Panama. I think the Dominican passport is the worst in the world for visa free travel. So maybe I will be forced to move to the Dominican Republic in order to be with my wife. Does having a Dominican wife help you get residency in the Dominican Republic? Also besides being an American Citizen I am also a Panamanian citizen. I always travel to the Dominican Republic using my Panamanian passport. I suppose all my paperwork for residency would need to come from Panama? Because of my time in Panama I am very fluent in Spanish. I suppose that might help with residency? My wife speaks no English at all but that doesn't matter to me. Is it possible to stay in the Dominican Republic without residency? I am also wondering if my marriage certificate to a Dominican would help if I am questioned about my status . I really like Panama but I am beating my head against the wall trying to get my wife a visa. Panama wants to say our marriage is not legitimate because she is a lot younger than I am. We were even married in Panama and have a Panamanian marriage certificate but that s not good enough for them. It took me 13 years to get citizenship in Panama and was a super-hazzle with the paperwork plus passing an exam in Spanish so I hate to start over in another country. Anyhow I am wondering how the Dominican Republic might compare to Panama as a place to live. I know the people in the Dominican Republic are poorer and have a lower per capita income than in Panama. And maybe the level of corruption is higher like Panama was in the old days. Any comments would be welcome.

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