# How foreigners buy property in the Dominican Republic

> Offer, contract and deposit, independent lawyer checks on title, liens and permits, closing, and title issued in the buyer's name.

Source: https://canakeys.com/buying-process
Publisher: Cana Keys (A&M Caribbean Group SRL), Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Last reviewed: 2026-08-27
Language: en
Licence: quote and cite with attribution and a link.

Foreigners can buy and hold freehold property in the Dominican Republic in their own name, with no residency requirement and the same ownership rights as nationals. The sequence is consistent: agreed offer, promise of sale with a deposit under defined conditions, independent legal verification of title, liens and permits, closing with transfer tax and registry fees, and finally a certificate of title issued in your name. This is orientation for 2026, not legal advice.

## The five steps
1. Offer: Agree price, payment schedule, what is included (furniture, parking, storage) and the due-diligence period in writing before any money moves.
2. Contract and deposit: A promise of sale (contrato de promesa de venta) sets terms and conditions. The deposit should be held under clear, refundable conditions if title or permits fail verification.
3. Independent lawyer: title, liens, permits: Your own lawyer verifies the certificado de título, checks for liens, mortgages, disputes and unpaid HOA, confirms the seller's authority to sell, and for off-plan checks construction permits, land title and the project's CONFOTUR resolution.
4. Closing: Final payment, signed and notarised deed of sale, transfer tax and registry fees. Budget for closing costs — transfer tax is 3% of the registry-assessed value, plus legal fees, unless a CONFOTUR exemption applies to the project.
5. Title in the buyer's name: The deed is filed at the Registro de Títulos and a new certificate of title is issued in your name (or your company's). Do not treat the transaction as finished until that certificate exists.

## Off-plan adds two checks
For projects under construction, verify construction permits and land title in the developer's name, and verify the project's CONFOTUR resolution before relying on any tax exemption. Delivery track record matters more than renderings — this is the core risk in inland masterplans such as Vista Cana and Ciudad Las Canas.

- [CONFOTUR is project-level, not zone-level](https://canakeys.com/confotur)
- [Vista Cana](https://canakeys.com/zones/vista-cana)
- [Ciudad Las Canas](https://canakeys.com/zones/ciudad-las-canas)
- [Guide: buying off-plan](https://canakeys.com/guides/off-plan)

## What your lawyer should hand you
- Title search result: A written confirmation of the certificado de título, its holder and any annotation against it.
- Lien and arrears check: Mortgages, judicial annotations, unpaid HOA and unpaid IPI, in writing.
- Contract review: A marked-up promise of sale with deposit conditions and a defined refund trigger.
- Closing file: Notarised deed, proof of transfer-tax payment and the registry filing receipt.

## FAQ

### Can foreigners own property in the Dominican Republic?
Answer: Yes. Foreign buyers can hold freehold title in their own name on the same legal footing as Dominican nationals, and no residency is required to buy.
Permalink: https://canakeys.com/buying-process#can-foreigners-own-property-in-the-dominican-republic

### Do I need a Dominican lawyer?
Answer: Yes — an independent one. Your lawyer verifies title at the Registro de Títulos, checks liens and encumbrances, confirms permits for off-plan projects and drafts or reviews the contract. The seller's or developer's lawyer does not represent you.
Permalink: https://canakeys.com/buying-process#do-i-need-a-dominican-lawyer

### How long does closing take?
Answer: A straightforward resale typically closes within a few weeks once due diligence clears; title transfer at the registry can take longer. Off-plan purchases follow the construction schedule.
Permalink: https://canakeys.com/buying-process#how-long-does-closing-take

### What are the total closing costs?
Answer: As 2026 orientation, budget roughly 4–5% of the registry-assessed value: 3% transfer tax, around 1% legal fees and the registry and notary charges on top. A CONFOTUR-approved project removes the transfer tax on the first sale.
Permalink: https://canakeys.com/buying-process#what-are-the-total-closing-costs

## Related

- [The due diligence checklist](https://canakeys.com/diligence/checklist)
- [What buying costs](https://canakeys.com/costs)
- [Zones](https://canakeys.com/zones)
- [Rental yield](https://canakeys.com/yield)