Working in the Dominican Republic: the work visa, the 80 percent rule and what a pensionado may do
Anyone coming to work for a Dominican employer applies in the Netherlands for a work visa, the NM1, and the employer has the contract registered with the Ministry of Labour. At least 80% of a company's staff must be Dominican, with exceptions for managers and technicians. Pensionados and rentistas may do paid work, but they simply pay tax on their wages.
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Anyone coming to work for a Dominican employer applies in the Netherlands for a work visa, the NM1. After arrival you have 30 days to report to the migration service, and your employer has your contract registered with the Ministry of Labour.
Three things to know in advance:
- A company must consist of at least 80% Dominican employees. There are exceptions for managers and technicians.
- You may only work if your residence category allows it. A tourist does not work.
- Pensionados and rentistas may do paid work. They simply pay Dominican tax on those wages.
| Subject | Rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Work visa (NM1) | one year, multiple entries, US$ 200 | MIREX |
| Reporting to the DGM | within 30 days of arrival | MIREX |
| Registering the contract | by the employer, within 3 days of signing | Ministry of Labour |
| Nationality of the staff | at least 80% Dominican, and 80% of the payroll | Código de Trabajo |
| Pensionado or rentista | may work, wages are taxed | Ley 171-07 |
How do you get a work visa?
MIREX, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, calls the visa for work the NM1: a business visa for work purposes. It is intended for people who work in the country for a year on a fixed-term contract, at a public or private company. The visa is valid for a year, with multiple entries, and can be renewed for as long as the contract runs. At the consulate it costs US$ 200.
The employer in the Dominican Republic issues a letter of guarantee, notarised and legalised at the Procuraduría General de la República. After arrival you have 30 days to arrange your residence or temporary permit at the Dirección General de Migración (DGM). For a temporary residence the regulation lists, among other things, an employment contract registered by the Ministry of Labour.
What does your employer do?
The employer sends your contract to the Ministry of Labour within three days of signing. That ministry registers contracts of foreign workers with an NM1, VTT or RS visa. The employer hands in four original contracts, a copy of your passport and of your visa or work permit. The contract states, among other things, your position, your working hours, your place of work and your monthly salary in pesos. The answer follows within ten working days.
What is the 80 percent rule?
The labour code has a chapter on the "nationalisation of labour". At least 80% of a company's employees must be Dominican. Also 80% of the total payroll must go to Dominicans; wages for technical, management or executive work do not count for this. Small companies have their own scale: with two employees, one must be Dominican.
The rule does not apply to:
- those who only manage or run a company;
- technicians, if the ministry finds there are no unemployed Dominicans who can replace them;
- foreigners married to a Dominican for more than two years who have lived in the country without interruption for more than three years;
- foreigners with Dominican children who have lived in the country without interruption for more than five years.
A Dominican employer must still meet that quota with you on board. Ask in the interview how the company stands, and whether your position counts as technical or managerial.
May you work as a pensionado or rentista?
Yes. Ley 171-07 says so in article 15: pensionados and rentistas may do paid work. The wages are taxed like those of any other employee. Your pension or income remains exempt, your wages do not. For a rentista, wages do not count towards the income requirement; see the residence routes.
How does tax work?
Wages for work in the country are income from a Dominican source. From tax year 2027 income up to RD$ 480,000 a year is exempt, a limit that is adjusted for inflation every year; above that the rate rises from 15 to 27%. Anyone who works self-employed registers with the DGII as a contribuyente, with form RC-01 and their cédula.
Do you work from the Dominican Republic for clients abroad? Then be careful. The tax law of June 2026 adds "technical assistance services" to the foreign income that residents pay tax on. It covers advice, management, design, IT, software development and similar work. Have your situation assessed in writing before you leave.
What happens to your social insurance?
A salaried employee falls under the régimen contributivo of Dominican social security. Employer and employee pay the contribution together, and through the employer you are also insured for healthcare; see healthcare in the Dominican Republic. For your AOW build-up in the Netherlands read AOW, pension and tax.
What this rests on
The facts in this article come from these official pages. Rules change. When in doubt, go by the source, not this article.
- MIREX — the visa for work (NM1) and the 30 days to go to the DGM — servicios360.mirex.gob.do
- MIREX — the consular fees — servicios360.mirex.gob.do
- Ministerio de Trabajo — registration of a foreign worker's employment contract — mt.gob.do
- Código de Trabajo (Ley 16-92), articles 135 to 139 — the nationalisation of labour (text published by the Consultoría Jurídica del Poder Ejecutivo) — consultoria.gov.do
- Reglamento 631-11, articles 35 and 48 — working with the right residence category (text published by the DGII) — dgii.gov.do
- Ley 171-07, article 15 — pensionados and rentistas may do paid work (text published by the DGII) — dgii.gov.do
- Ley 30-26 of June 2026 — the new text of article 269 and the tax scale from 2027 (text published by the DGII) — dgii.gov.do
- DGII — notice 23-21, registration in the RNC as contribuyente — dgii.gov.do
- Ley 87-01, article 7 — social insurance through the employer (text published by the Consultoría Jurídica del Poder Ejecutivo) — consultoria.gov.do
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