Your household goods to the Dominican Republic: free of import duty, once, and only if you stay

Anyone who settles permanently in the Dominican Republic may bring their used personal belongings, household goods and professional tools without import duty. That is in article 13 of the customs tariff law, Ley 14-93. The exemption applies once: anyone who has had it before does not get it again.

Three things to know in advance:

• The exemption is for those who come to live permanently. A tourist or temporary visitor falls outside it.
• Pensionados and rentistas have their own scheme in Ley 171-07. It applies only to the main applicant, not to the partner or children.
• What you import without duties may not be sold before you pay the duties after all.

Situation	Rule	Source
Foreigner settling permanently	used personal belongings, household goods and professional tools free of import duty, once	Ley 14-93
Pensionado or rentista	exemption for household goods and professional tools, main applicant only	Ley 171-07
Used household appliances	import prohibited, except in a removal	Ley 147-00
Selling after import	only after paying the duties	Ley 171-07
Cash	declare above US$ 10,000	DGA

Who may import their household goods free of duty?

The general rule is in article 13 of Ley 14-93. Exempt from import duty are personal belongings and household goods, and tools for a trade or profession, that have already been used. They must belong to a foreigner who settles permanently in the country. Dominicans who lived abroad for two years and return are also covered. The condition is that you have not received this privilege before.

Used household appliances may in principle not enter the country. The tax law Ley 147-00 makes an exception for removals of Dominicans and foreigners, under the rules that apply to them. A washing machine or fridge that is part of your removal therefore falls under that exception.

What does the pensionado law arrange?

Ley 171-07 gives pensionados and rentistas the same exemption, under their own conditions. Article 11 lists them:

• Your residence has been approved. At customs you hand in a copy of your residence card.
• If the card is not ready yet, you can start with a certified copy of the approval letter from the migration service.
• The exemption applies only to the main applicant. It does not apply to the partner or children.
• What is exempt may not be sold or transferred before you pay the duties after all.

On top of that come the usual requirements of the Dirección General de Aduanas (DGA), customs. The law says so in so many words: the pensionado hands in the card "in addition to the requirements and formalities the DGA normally asks for".

Plan your shipment around your residence. If your container arrives before the migration service has approved your application, you do not yet have a letter to request the exemption with. The approval letter only follows once your file is complete and checked.

The DGII, the tax authority, writes that every tax exemption under Ley 171-07 first goes through the Ministry of Finance (Hacienda). Whether customs also requires this for your household goods, ask the DGA in advance.

How do you send your belongings?

There are two ways: as baggage or as freight.

Customs distinguishes accompanied and unaccompanied baggage. Accompanied baggage travels on the same plane as you. Unaccompanied baggage comes as air freight. According to the DGA's Manual del viajero, strict rules apply to it:

• it may only contain the traveller's personal belongings;
• it travels with a document naming the traveller, and a packing list in English and in Spanish;
• it only travels between the airports for which you have a ticket;
• you or your agent clear it yourself, with all the papers.

If your furniture goes as freight, by ship or by plane, it falls outside the baggage rules. Then the exemption of Ley 14-93 or Ley 171-07 applies, with the DGA's requirements. Have your removal company request those requirements from the DGA in writing.