Get Dominican Citizenship by Descent – Through Your Dominican Parent
Were you born outside the Dominican Republic to a Dominican parent?
You may already be entitled to Dominican citizenship through descent — and we can take care of the entire process, from transcribing your birth to securing your official Dominican birth certificate.
At the Dominican Certification Service, we help Dominican-Americans, Dominican-Europeans, and others of Dominican heritage reconnect with their roots by securing their official Dominican birth certificate — legally, quickly, and affordably.
Why Claim Dominican Citizenship?
- The right to live, work, and study in the Dominican Republic
- The ability to apply for a Dominican cédula and passport
- Dual citizenship — no need to renounce your current nationality
- The chance to pass Dominican citizenship to your children
- A stronger connection to your heritage, culture, and family legacy
Who Qualifies?
Under Dominican law, anyone born abroad to a Dominican parent (mother or father) is eligible to claim Dominican nationality by descent.
Even if your Dominican parent is no longer alive, or if your documents are not in Spanish, we can still help. We’ve handled hundreds of cases just like yours.
How Our Service Works
We handle the process of registering your foreign birth in the Dominican civil registry and obtaining your Dominican birth certificate. Once this step is complete, you will be able to apply for your Dominican cédula (ID) and passport on your own.
Here’s what we’ll do for you:
- Document Submission
You send us:- The original long-form birth certificate from your country of birth, duly apostilled (Send by DHL or to our Miami address)
- A copy of your Dominican parent’s cédula, passport, or birth certificate (If you don't have a copy of your Dominican parent's cédula ID card, we can obtain a certified statement from the Old Cédula Office in Santo Domingo which would suffice)
- If your Dominican parent is no longer alive, we would need
you to send us an original long-form death certificate with
its apostille.
- Translation (if needed)
If your birth certificate is in a language other than Spanish, we’ll have it translated by an official Dominican legal translator. - Civil Registry Filing
We file the official request to transcribe your foreign birth in the Dominican Republic. - Certificate Delivery
Within a few weeks, we send you two original long-form Dominican birth certificates, legalized with apostille, ready for use in applying for your cédula and passport.
Important: What Happens After You Receive Your Birth Certificate
Once we have delivered your Dominican birth certificate, our role
in the process ends.
Applying for a Dominican cédula and passport must be done in person either in the Dominican Republic or at a Dominican consulate abroad, as both procedures require your fingerprints and a live photo to be taken.
However, if you are in the Dominican Republic and would like assistance visiting the Junta Central Electoral (JCE) to apply for your cédula, our staff can accompany you to help navigate the process.
General FAQs about our Dominican citizenship through descent service:
Who qualifies for Dominican citizenship by descent?
Anyone born outside the Dominican Republic to at least one Dominican parent is eligible. Required documents include your foreign birth certificate and a Dominican parent’s cédula ID and sometimes their birth certificate.
Do I need to give up my current citizenship to get Dominican citizenship?
No. The Dominican Republic recognizes dual nationality, allowing you to retain your current citizenship while becoming Dominican.
How long does the Dominican citizenship process take?
Most of our cases are completed within a few weeks, depending on document readiness and translation needs.
Can I apply for Dominican citizenship if my Dominican parent is deceased?
Yes. You’ll need to submit their Dominican birth certificate or ID and a death certificate with apostille.
How do I apply for Dominican citizenship by descent?
Fill out our online form. We assess your case, request necessary documents, and handle the civil registry transcription process.
Can I get Dominican citizenship for my child?
Yes, if you are Dominican and your child was born abroad, we can help register their birth and issue a Dominican birth certificate.
What documents are needed to claim Dominican citizenship by descent?
Your apostilled long-form birth certificate, your Dominican parent’s ID/passport or birth certificate, and a death certificate if applicable. Translations are needed if documents are not in Spanish.
Do you help with getting a Dominican cédula or passport?
We do not handle the cédula or passport application directly. These must be done by you in person. However, we can accompany you to the JCE in the Dominican Republic.
How much does it cost to get Dominican citizenship by descent?
Our all-inclusive service costs US$495, assuming that you have all your paperwork ready. This covers registration, translation, apostille, and two long-form birth certificates. There may be an extra cost for us to obtain Dominican documents of your parent's which you may not currently have.
Do I automatically get Dominican citizenship if I was born in the Dominican Republic?
Most people born in the Dominican Republic are citizens. Exceptions include children of foreign diplomats or undocumented residents, where eligibility must be verified.