# Can I get residency by buying property in the Dominican Republic?

> Property does not grant a visa. Investor residency is a separate application a qualifying purchase can support. What to verify before assuming.

Source: https://canakeys.com/questions/can-i-get-residency-by-buying
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.

Buying property does not by itself grant residency. Ownership and immigration are separate processes in the Dominican Republic. There is an investor residency route that a qualifying real-estate investment can support, but it is its own application with its own documentation, minimum amounts and government fees, and it must be filed through immigration counsel — the purchase is evidence, not the permit.

## What owners can do without residency
Most visitors enter under the tourist regime and many owners never apply for anything more. You can own, rent out, sell and inherit property as a non-resident. Residency becomes relevant when you want to spend long periods here, import household goods, open certain accounts easily, or work locally.

## The investor route, in outline
A qualifying investment above a stated threshold can support an investor residency application, which is processed faster than ordinary categories. Amounts, document lists and fees change; verify the current requirements with an immigration lawyer in the year you apply rather than trusting a blog figure.

## What it is not
It is not citizenship, and it is not automatic. It is also not CONFOTUR — that is a project tax status and confers no immigration benefit whatsoever.

## FAQ

### Does a CONFOTUR unit help my residency application?
Answer: No. CONFOTUR is a tax exemption for a project. Immigration does not treat it as a status.
Permalink: https://canakeys.com/questions/can-i-get-residency-by-buying#does-a-confotur-unit-help-my-residency-application

### Can I apply after I buy?
Answer: Yes, the application is separate and can be filed later, but the qualifying criteria are checked at application time.
Permalink: https://canakeys.com/questions/can-i-get-residency-by-buying#can-i-apply-after-i-buy

## Related

- [Residency: the full page](https://canakeys.com/residency)
- [Guide: foreign buyers](https://canakeys.com/guides/foreign-buyers)
- [Relocating to Punta Cana](https://canakeys.com/use/relocation)