Dominican Citizenship Requirements & Transcription Process
Complete requirements guide for obtaining Dominican citizenship through your parents. Learn exactly what documents you need, how to get apostilles, which parent documents are required, and the step-by-step JCE transcription process from start to finish
Dominican citizenship by descent begins with birth transcription, where your foreign birth certificate is registered in the Dominican civil registry. The process may look simple on paper, but in practice, missing apostilles, outdated cédulas, or name differences can delay or even block approval.
With us, you can complete the entire process from the comfort of your own home — no consulate visits required! We review your case, resolve document issues, and deliver your new Dominican birth certificate straight to your door.
Service Costs:
- Standard Service US$495: When you have clear photos of both sides of your parent's most recently issued plastic cédula
- Complex Service US$795: When cédula is unavailable or documentation is incomplete
- Additional services: Parent record search & cédula certification US$195 (if needed) • Original certificates: cost varies by case
Not sure which service you need? Learn about Dominican citizenship by descent eligibility or start your free assessment →
Document Retrieval Service — US$295
If you need us to hunt for your Dominican parent's documents in the civil registry:
- Their Dominican birth certificate
- Statement from the Old Cédula Office
- Everything authenticated and ready to use
This is useful either to help your parent get a new cédula (so you can go the fast route), or if you're stuck going through the Inspectorate and need the documentation
How We Work Together
Step 1: Free Assessment (No Strings Attached)
Fill out our free assessment form. We'll figure out if you qualify and which pathway makes sense for your situation.
Step 2: Engagement Fee — US$195
After we do your free assessment, if you want us to stick with you while you're gathering documents—answering questions, giving you personalized advice, basically being there for the whole journey—we charge a $195 engagement fee. Think of it as locking us in. The good news? It's completely credited toward your final service (whether that's the $495 or $795).
Step 3: We Handle Everything
- You Send Us Your Documents
What we need:- Your original long-form birth certificate from wherever you were born, with apostille (ship it via DHL or send it to our Miami address)
- Clear photos of both sides of your Dominican parent's current plastic cédula
(Don't have this? Then we're going the Inspectorate route. Lost touch with your parent? We'll work with what you can get.) - If your parent has passed away, their death certificate with apostille
- A photo or scan of your current passport or ID (only if you're over 15)
- Translation (If Your Docs Aren't in Spanish)
We get everything officially translated by a certified Dominican legal translator. - We File Your Case
We submit everything to the Dominican civil registry so your birth gets officially recorded. - You Get Your Certificates
You'll receive two original Dominican birth certificates (with apostille), ready for you to use for your cédula and passport. All done remotely—no consulate hassles.
Understanding the Inspectorate
The Inspectorate (Departamento de Inspectoría) is the investigative division of the JCE (Dominican Central Electoral Board) that handles cases requiring additional review. They verify family relationships, interview Dominican relatives, and ensure documentation authenticity.
Which cases go to the Inspectorate:
- Guaranteed: Your parent has no cédula or only old cédula
- Possible: Incomplete documentation or unclear family connections
- Possible: Significant discrepancies in documents
What the Inspectorate process involves:
- Assignment of an inspector (this alone can take several weeks)
- They generally work very slowly
- They'll want to interview your relatives who live in the Dominican Republic
- Extended timeline (several months total, potentially 3–6 months or longer)
If your case is likely to be headed to the Inspectorate, please start gathering names and contact details for Dominican relatives willing to talk to an inspector. We'll need these once they assign someone to your case.
Next Steps: Cédula & Passport
- Where to apply: In person at the Junta Central Electoral (JCE) in the Dominican Republic or at a Dominican consulate abroad.
- Order of steps: Apply for your cédula first, then your passport.
- What you'll need: Your Dominican long-form birth certificate (original), photo of your parent's cédula, valid photo ID/passport of yours, and applicable fees. Photos and fingerprints are taken on site.
- Timing: Processing varies by office and season.
If you're in the Dominican Republic, our team can accompany you to the JCE to help navigate the process.
Questions about keeping your current nationality? Learn how Dominican dual citizenship works →
Your Dominican Parent's Cédula ID Card
Almost all Dominican adults have a national ID card called a cédula. When available, we must include a photo/scan of BOTH sides of your Dominican parent's most recently issued cédula when we lodge the transcription request.
Cédula History:
- Up to 1997: "Old" cédulas were made of beige-colored card and were roughly the size of a bank account book
- Since approximately 1998: "New" cédulas are made of plastic and are the size of a credit card. The serial number format is 000-0000000-0. All current cédulas show a 2024 expiry date and remain valid until the new cédula design is introduced.
- April 2026 onwards: The newest, more secure cédula design will begin rolling out to the general public.
Why BOTH Sides of the Most Recent Cédula Matter
You must provide clear photos of BOTH the front AND back of the cédula. Even an expired new-format cédula is acceptable if you have both sides photographed. However, if you only have a photo of the front, this can lead to delays or Inspectorate referral.
We understand this can be challenging for clients who have no contact with their Dominican parent. If this is impossible, we'll work with you to present your case with the documentation you can provide.
Complete FAQ: Documentation & Process Technical Questions
What is the Dominican citizenship transcription process?
Birth transcription is the process of registering your foreign birth in the Dominican civil registry. When you were born abroad to a Dominican parent, your birth was recorded only in your country of birth. Transcription creates an official Dominican birth record, which is the legal foundation for your Dominican citizenship.
What version of my foreign birth certificate is required?
The long-form/extended birth certificate is required and must be legalized with an apostille from the country of birth. The date of issue is irrelevant.
Do I need a certified Spanish translation?
Yes, non-Spanish documents must be translated by a certified legal translator and legalized in the DR. We include translation/legalization in our service when needed.
What documents are needed from my Dominican parent?
Ideally: clear photos of both sides of the parent's most recently issued plastic cédula, and the parent's Dominican birth certificate. We can obtain Dominican records if you don't have them.
What is the Inspectorate and why should I avoid it?
The Inspectorate (Inspectoría) is a department that reviews cases with incomplete documentation. Cases without current plastic cédula get guaranteed referral to this department, experiencing significantly longer processing times (several months) and requiring in-person interviews.
Why must it be the "most recent" cédula?
JCE verifies the current cédula record. If you submit an older, superseded cédula while a newer one exists, the file can be delayed or require additional documentation.
My Dominican parent is deceased—what is required?
An original long-form death certificate with apostille, plus any available Dominican IDs or birth records. We can help locate Dominican documents if missing.
Can I apply if my Dominican parent is deceased but my grandparent was Dominican?
Yes! We can work with the Transcription Department to have your parent declared Dominican posthumously. Once this is completed, you can then apply for your own citizenship by descent.
Do I need my parents' marriage certificate?
Not always. It may be required if your Dominican mother changed her surname due to marriage before your birth, or to establish marital status/legitimation. We will advise and obtain it if needed.
What if names or dates don't match across documents?
We examine discrepancies and resolve them via record corrections or sworn statements. Dominican parents often have 2-3 given names and 2 surnames—it's acceptable if your foreign document shows only the first of each. However, significant discrepancies may require correction.
I changed my name legally—do I need to update my birth certificate?
Yes. Your apostilled birth certificate and your current photo ID must show the same name. If you have legally changed your name since birth, you'll need to first update your birth certificate in your country of birth to reflect your current legal name.
Can I get Dominican citizenship through my mother if she never married my father?
Yes. Dominican law allows citizenship transmission from both mothers and fathers equally, regardless of marital status.
What if my birth certificate shows my parent was born in 'Santo Domingo' but their Dominican documents show a different city?
This is acceptable. It's common for foreigners to refer to the entire Dominican Republic as "Santo Domingo." The Transcription Department recognizes this practice.
My Dominican father appears as Steven on my US birth certificate but as Esteban on his Dominican documents. Is this a problem?
Yes. To the Transcription Department, Steven and Esteban are two distinct names. You'll need either: 1) documentation of an official name change from Esteban to Steven, or 2) to correct the error on your birth certificate.
I have no contact with my Dominican parent—can I still apply?
Yes. The Transcription Department understands that many applicants are estranged from their Dominican parent. We'll work with you to gather documentation from other sources such as mutual relatives or Dominican government records.
Both my parents are Dominican but I can only contact one—what should I do?
If you have no contact with one parent and cannot obtain their documentation, the Transcription Department will take this into consideration. We'll work with you to provide as complete information as possible for the parent you can access.
Can I claim citizenship if my Dominican parent renounced their citizenship?
This requires careful case-by-case evaluation. Children born before a parent's renunciation typically retain eligibility, while those born after may face restrictions.
How long does the Dominican citizenship by descent process take?
Timeline depends entirely on your parent's cédula status:
- With current plastic cédula (Standard Service $495): 5-6 weeks
- Without current cédula or old cédula only (Complex Service $795): 3-6 months or longer (guaranteed Inspectorate referral)
Are photocopies or scans acceptable?
We can pre-review scans, but JCE requires original civil records (birth/death/marriage) with apostille/legalizations for filing.
I was born in the United States—how do I get the apostille?
The apostille must be issued by the Secretary of State of the state where you were born. It does not arrive automatically—you must request it specifically.
Can you obtain missing Dominican records for me?
Yes. We routinely retrieve Dominican birth, marriage, divorce, and death certificates. We'll confirm feasibility and quote any retrieval costs (US$295) in advance.