Hague member · apostille accepted · Spanish translation by a judicial interpreter
Apostille for the Dominican Republic
Marriage, residency, buying or inheriting property, and registering children. The apostille is accepted directly; translation is done in the DR by a licensed interpreter.
What the Dominican Republic usually asks for
| Purpose | US documents typically required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Marriage in the DR | Birth certificate; single-status affidavit (notarized); divorce decree or death certificate of prior spouse | Oficialía-specific requirements; freshness limits common |
| Residency (provisional or permanent) | FBI background check; birth certificate; marriage certificate for spouse-based residency; financial or pension letters, notarized | Consulate visa first, then DGM residency in-country |
| Real estate purchase | Power of attorney if signing remotely; notarized passport copy | Dominican notaries usually supply the POA wording |
| Inheritance and estates | Death certificate; will; letters testamentary; POA for the heir | Multiple certified copies |
| Registering a child / nationality | Child's birth certificate; parents' marriage certificate | Junta Central Electoral or consulate |
| Work, study | Diploma and transcript | — |
Translation
Dominican government offices require Spanish. Translations are normally done in the DR by a licensed judicial interpreter, and civil registries often require that translation to be legalized locally afterward. Apostille here first; translate there. Where a US certified translation is acceptable (some consulates, some private parties), we bundle it.
The single-status affidavit
Most Oficialías require a sworn statement that you are free to marry. You sign it before a US notary, using a jurat ("sworn and subscribed"), and the notary's state apostilles it. Some offices want specific wording or want it to name the intended spouse; ask the office first. Many also want the affidavit and the birth certificate to be recent, commonly within six months of the ceremony. Details on notarized documents.
What goes wrong
- An affidavit with an acknowledgment instead of a jurat. The office wants a sworn statement.
- Documents older than the Oficialía's freshness limit on the wedding date.
- A US translation where a Dominican judicial interpreter was required.
- A POA missing the specific powers the Dominican notary needs for the transaction.
How to start
Request a quote with the documents, the issuing states, and the receiving office's list. Shipping directly to the DR is available.
Price: $99 standard per document · $149 + $20 federal for the FBI check · three-document bundle for the common marriage set.
Get your exact price, all fees included
Two business hours to a written total. Nothing to pay and nothing to mail until you have it.
Start My ApostilleFrequently asked questions
Does the Dominican Republic accept apostilles?
Yes. The Dominican Republic is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention. US documents with an apostille are accepted by Dominican civil registries, courts, notaries, and government offices without a consular step.
Who translates for the DR?
Dominican authorities generally require Spanish translations by a judicial interpreter (intérprete judicial) licensed in the Dominican Republic, and the translation is often then legalized locally. The usual order is apostille in the US, translation in the DR. Some private parties and consulates accept a US certified translation; ask.
I am marrying a Dominican citizen in the DR. What do I need?
Typically your birth certificate, a single-status affidavit (declaración jurada de soltería) sworn before a US notary, and a divorce decree or prior spouse's death certificate if applicable, all apostilled. The Oficialía del Estado Civil handling the ceremony publishes its list; requirements vary by office.