Buying a Home in the Dominican Republic as a Foreigner: 2026 Guide

Yes, a foreigner can buy a home in the Dominican Republic without being a resident. 2026 Guide: Documents, Steps, Costs, and Mistakes to Avoid.

Dominican law does not distinguish between domestic and foreign buyers: anyone, whether or not they reside in the country, can purchase a home in the Dominican Republic with the same property rights as a Dominican citizen. You do not need a residence visa, citizenship, or a local partner to own a property in your name. The process is formalized with a preliminary sales agreement, a title due diligence review by the Real Estate Registry, and, finally, the registration of the title under Law 108-05 on Real Estate Registration—the document that certifies the property is legally yours. If you buy off-plan, your money is typically held in an escrow account regulated by Law 189-11 while the project is under construction. At the time of transfer, you pay a 3% ITBI tax on the registered value, according to the General Directorate of Internal Revenue (DGII). You can complete the entire process remotely using a power of attorney if you are unable to travel to sign in person.

Can a foreigner buy a home in the Dominican Republic without restrictions?

Yes. Unlike other Caribbean countries, where a foreigner needs a local partner or a special permit, in the Dominican Republic you can buy a home with full ownership rights, in your own name, and without any additional conditions based on your nationality. The same rule applies to Dominican buyers.

In short, to make a purchase as a nonresident, you do not need:

• No legal residence or Dominican ID card.
• Dominican citizenship or a local partner or spouse.
• Set up a Dominican company to make purchases in your own name.

What you do need is organization: the right documents, title verification, and legal guidance every step of the way. That’s exactly what we’ll cover in the rest of this guide.

Documents You Need to Make a Purchase as a Nonresident

Before reserving a unit, gather this basic documentation. It is the same documentation your legal team will ask for and the basis for the preliminary sales agreement:

• Valid passport: This is the primary identification document for the entire process, from the reservation to title registration.
• Proof of the source of funds: bank statements or other documentation showing where the money for the purchase came from. This is a standard compliance requirement, not something unique to Garrigó.
• Notarized or consular power of attorney: If you are buying an apartment or house remotely and cannot travel to sign in person, a power of attorney allows you to authorize your attorney in the Dominican Republic to sign on your behalf.
• Contact information and address in your country of residence: for the contract and for legal correspondence following the closing.
• Dominican RNC (optional): only if you plan to file taxes locally, for example, if you are going to rent out the property.

Gathering this documentation usually takes no more than one or two weeks if you already have your bank accounts in order. The sooner you have it ready, the faster you can move from the reservation to the preliminary sales agreement without losing the unit you're interested in.

In practice, the notarial or consular power of attorney is the document that raises the most questions. It is signed before a notary in your country or at a Dominican consulate, and must be properly legalized or apostilled before it can be used in the Dominican Republic. Your legal team here will provide you with the exact format you need, depending on the country where you sign it.

Step-by-Step Guide to the Purchasing Process in the Dominican Republic

The entire process, from the moment you choose your project until you receive your degree, follows a fairly standard sequence:

1. Reservation and Initial Deposit: You reserve the unit by paying a deposit, which is usually deducted from the final price.
2. Preliminary Sales Agreement: a document that specifies the price, payment method, delivery date, and terms. Review it with your attorney before signing—not just with the sales team.
3. Title due diligence: Your legal team verifies that the seller or developer has a clear title, free of liens or pending litigation.
4. Establishment or verification of the escrow account (if you're buying during the presale): Your payments are deposited into a protected account as construction progresses, rather than going directly to the developer.
5. Payment of the ITBI: 3% of the registered value, according to the DGII, unless the project is covered by a valid exemption.
6. Title registration: the final step before the Real Estate Court, under Law 108-05 on Real Estate Registration, which formally transfers ownership of the property to your name.

None of these steps require you to be physically present in the country at all times. With a valid power of attorney and a trusted legal team, you can sign, pay for, and register your property entirely remotely.

The total time, from the reservation to title registration, varies depending on what you’re buying: a completed unit can be finalized in a matter of weeks, while a presale purchase depends on the construction schedule and can take months or even years. In any case, each step is documented, and your legal team should be able to show you exactly what stage your purchase is at at all times.

How do I pay? Payment plans for international buyers

Payment terms are another common question among online shoppers. During the presale phase, most of the developments in our portfolio offer an installment payment plan: an initial deposit to reserve the unit, periodic payments during construction, and a final balance due upon delivery or title registration. This allows you to spread out your payments over time, rather than paying 100% in cash.

Mortgage financing in the Dominican Republic for non-residents is available, but the requirements are usually different from those in your home country, and not all banks offer it under the same terms. For this reason, most foreign buyers in the price range we handle—between US$104,000 and US$326,000—finance their purchase with their own funds or through the developer’s direct payment plan, and treat local mortgage financing as a secondary option, when the project allows it.

Before committing your deposit, ask for a written copy of the complete payment schedule: amounts, dates, and what happens if you miss a payment. That schedule should be included in the preliminary sales agreement, not just a verbal promise from the sales team.

Buying Off-Plan vs. a Completed Property: Which Is Right for You?

Both options are valid for a nonresident buyer, but they differ in terms of risk, the initial cost, and the time it takes to receive your title:

We offer both options in our portfolio. An example of a protected presale held in trust is Coral Lake Residences at Coral Golf Resort, where you can purchase a unit in the early stages of construction with your payments safeguarded as the project progresses. If you prefer a project with a sooner completion date, we’ll work with you to identify which projects in our portfolio are in more advanced stages.

There is no single best option: it depends on your investment horizon, your tolerance for waiting, and whether you're looking for the lowest possible entry price or a property that's ready to rent right away.

How Much Does Buying a Home Really Cost: ITBI and Other Closing Costs

The list price is not the total cost. When budgeting for your purchase, be sure to also consider these items:

• ITBI (Real Estate Transfer Tax): 3% of the property’s registered value, according to the General Directorate of Internal Revenue (DGII), unless an exemption is currently in effect under Confotur.
• Legal fees: for due diligence, drafting the contract, and handling the registration process.
• Title registration fees: administrative fees payable to the Real Estate Registry.
• Trust setup or administration fees, if you purchase during the presale.

That 3% ITBI tax is the item that has the greatest impact on the closing budget within the price range we handle—from US$104,000 for commercial projects like The Point to US$326,000 for developments like Makai Residences in Cap Cana. If a project has a valid Confotur certification, that tax may be waived; you can review how this benefit works in detail in our guide on Confotur and see how much you can save. For a complete breakdown of all closing costs, we have a dedicated guide on ITBI and the actual costs of buying a property in the Dominican Republic.

The Role of Garrigó Real Estate's Legal Team in Your Purchase

When you buy a property remotely, the legal aspects are where you need the most peace of mind. Our legal team is responsible for verifying the property’s title with the Real Estate Registry in accordance with Law 108-05, reviewing the preliminary sales agreement before you sign it, and confirming that the project’s trust, when applicable, is established under Law 189-11.

If the property title has already been registered and you want to know how to verify it yourself before moving forward, we’ve written a specific guide on how to verify a property title in the Dominican Republic. And if you’re purchasing a pre-sale property, details on how the escrow account that protects your money works can be found in our guide on real estate escrow in the Dominican Republic.

We do not delegate this review to third parties without follow-up: we support you through every interaction with the developer until the title is registered in your name, as part of the same support process we offer to those evaluating an investment in Punta Cana from abroad.

Our support doesn't end when you sign the contract. We monitor the case until the title is registered in your name with the Real Estate Registry, and we'll notify you if the developer falls behind on any milestone in the schedule or on submitting documentation to the registry.

Common Mistakes Made by Foreign Buyers

These are the mistakes we most often see among buyers from abroad who come to buy a home in the Dominican Republic:

• Sign the preliminary sales agreement without having it reviewed by an independent attorney first.
• Failing to verify the property title with the Real Estate Registry before making the deposit.
• Purchasing during the presale period without confirming that a trust has been established under Law 189-11.
• Do not include the 3% ITBI in the final budget, assuming that the list price is the final cost.
• Submitting a power of attorney without the proper legalization or apostille, which delays the signing process in the Dominican Republic.
• Confusing the sales agreement with the registration of the definitive title: these are two distinct stages of the same process.

Almost all of these mistakes can be avoided with a single decision: seeking legal counsel from the very beginning of the project, not just at the end.

Frequently Asked Questions About Buying a Home in the Dominican Republic as a Foreigner

Do I need to be a resident to buy a house in the Dominican Republic?

No. Any foreigner, whether a resident or not, can buy a home in the Dominican Republic with the same property rights as a Dominican citizen.

Can I buy an apartment without traveling to the Dominican Republic?

Yes. With a duly legalized power of attorney or consular authorization, you can purchase an apartment remotely: your attorney signs on your behalf at every stage of the process.

How much is the ITBI when buying a property?

According to the DGII, the ITBI is equal to 3% of the property’s registered value, unless the project has a valid Confotur exemption.

What happens if I buy during the presale and the project is delayed?

If your payments are held in a trust established under Law 189-11, your money remains protected in that account while the delay is resolved, rather than being handed over to the developer.

Do I need a lawyer to buy property in the Dominican Republic?

It is not required by law, but it is what we always recommend—especially if you’re buying remotely: conducting due diligence on the title and reviewing the contract are precisely what prevent most problems down the road.

At Garrigó Real Estate, we're with you every step of the way, from choosing a project to the transfer of title.

Let's talk about your next investment —or message us directly on WhatsApp.