Moving to Spain from the Dominican Republic

The Dominican community in Spain is large and well established, especially in Madrid and Barcelona, and many families reunite there through a relative who is already a resident or a Spanish citizen. Dominicans need a visa even for a short visit, so the route has to be settled before travelling. Here is how people usually make the move and which documents to prepare.

Key facts

• Entry: Dominican passport holders need a Schengen visa even for tourism. That visa does not allow work and is not a way to settle: to live in Spain you need a national residence or study visa.
• Citizenship: as a national of an Ibero-American country you can apply for Spanish citizenship after 2 years of legal, continuous residence. The 1968 dual nationality treaty lets you keep Dominican nationality.
• Documents: the Dominican Republic is party to the Hague Convention, so an apostille is enough and no translation is needed.
• Driving: there is an exchange agreement. Once resident you can drive for six months on your Dominican licence and exchange it without a test for cars and motorcycles.
• Social security: the Spain–Dominican Republic agreement lets you combine contributions from both countries for your pension.

How people usually move

• Family resident in Spain. If your spouse or partner (or your parent, if you are under 18) holds residence in Spain, they can sponsor you once they have lived there for a year and their permit has been renewed (or renewal applied for). Family reunification
• Family of a Spanish citizen. Many Dominicans are already Spanish: their spouse or registered partner, children under 26 (or older dependent children) and dependent parents can apply for residence as family members of a Spanish citizen. Family member of a Spanish or EU citizen
• Studies. A degree, master’s or vocational course with a student visa; it allows work up to 30 hours a week. Time as a student does not count towards the 2 years for citizenship. Study permit
• Work in Spain. A Spanish employer applies for the work permit and you then request the visa. Employment permit
• If you are already in Spain. After 2 years of continuous stay and with no criminal record, social, socio-labour or socio-training arraigo may become available. Family arraigo (for example, if you are the parent of a Spanish child or a relative of a Spaniard) does not require those 2 years. Arraigo

Documents and apostille

• Certificate of no criminal record (Certificado de No Antecedentes Penales, also called certificado de buena conducta) from the Procuraduría General de la República. It is requested online on its services portal or at its service centres, and apostilled. It usually has to be recent.
• Birth and marriage certificates (actas) from the Junta Central Electoral, apostilled. For citizenship or civil registry procedures, the full-text version (acta inextensa) is usually requested.
• Apostille: issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MIREX) through its Document Legalisation Directorate in Santo Domingo.
• Degrees and transcripts, apostilled, if you will study or have your qualification recognised in Spain.
• Driving licence, valid: you will need it for the exchange at the DGT once you are resident.

What to keep in mind

• The Consulate General of Spain in Santo Domingo covers the whole country. Visa applications, both Schengen and national (study, work, family reunification, family of Spanish citizens), are filed by appointment at the BLS International centre; the decision lies with the consulate.
• Book only on BLS’s official website and be wary of anyone selling appointments or “guaranteeing” a visa.
• Common mistake: travelling on a tourist visa planning to switch later. Most residence permits are applied for from the Dominican Republic with the right visa.
• In Spain: register at the town hall (padrón) and, if you came with a residence or student visa, apply for your TIE within the first month.

Frequently asked questions

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