Foreign investment & incentives in the Dominican Republic
The DR does not just allow foreign investment — it courts it. Law 16-95 puts your capital on equal footing with local money and guarantees you can take profits home. We structure the entry, register the investment and capture every incentive you qualify for.
Law 16-95 on Foreign Investment rests on one principle: national treatment. Foreign investors hold the same rights as Dominicans across virtually every sector, may own 100% of a Dominican company, and enjoy guaranteed repatriation of registered capital and profits. The legal welcome is real — what separates smooth investments from stuck ones is structure and paperwork, set up before the first dollar moves.
Why register your investment (optional — and worth it)
- An official certificate from ProDominicana evidencing your investment in the country.
- Smoother repatriation — banks move dividends and capital abroad faster against a registered investment.
- The residency fast track — a registered qualifying investment anchors the expedited investor residency route.
- Standing with authorities, lenders and counterparties who ask how your capital entered.
Incentive regimes we structure into deals
- Free zones (Law 8-90) — export-oriented operations with deep, long-term tax exemptions inside licensed parks; our dedicated free-zone desk runs these projects end to end.
- Tourism / CONFOTUR (Law 158-01) — classified projects with benefits of up to 15 years, including the transfer-tax and property-tax relief that matters in real estate deals.
- Renewable energy (Law 57-07) — equipment and fiscal incentives for qualifying clean-energy projects.
- Treaty protection — DR-CAFTA and a network of investment agreements that strengthen your legal position.
From term sheet to operating
- Structure. Entity type, holding arrangement and tax exposure — usually starting with a Dominican company.
- Execute. Incorporation, sector licenses, contracts and closings.
- Register. ProDominicana investment registration plus any sector filings.
- Repatriate and comply. Tax registrations, documented dividend mechanics and annual upkeep that keep the exit door open.
Engagement scope — Law 16-95 investment registration
Who it’s for
Foreign investors who want their Dominican capital registered — and freely repatriable.
What’s included
- Eligibility and structure review
- Evidence file for the capital inflow
- ProDominicana registration filing
- Registration certificate delivery
- Repatriation-readiness memo for your bank
You’ll need
- Proof of the funds entering the DR (bank documentation)
- Corporate documents of the receiving company
- A short description of the investment
Main stages
- Review
- Filing
- Certificate
Government and third-party fees are billed at cost, separately. A written professional-fee scope is provided after the initial matter review.
Frequently asked questions
Are any sectors closed to foreign investors?
Very few. The Dominican Republic operates on national treatment: with narrow exceptions tied to specific licenses, foreigners can own 100% of a Dominican company and invest across virtually all sectors of the economy.
Can I really get my profits out of the country?
Yes. Law 16-95 guarantees free repatriation of registered capital and profits. In practice, clean repatriation depends on paperwork: a registered investment, tax compliance and properly documented dividends — all of which we set up from day one.
What does ProDominicana registration actually do for me?
It produces an official certificate of your foreign investment. That certificate eases bank transfers abroad, anchors the investor fast-track residency route, and formally documents your capital in the country.
Let’s get your foreign investment matter moving
Free consultation, plain-English answers, and a written fixed-fee quote for most matters within one business day.
Review my investment structure