Can you bring your household goods to Dominican Republic duty-free?

Some laws let people who return or move to Dominican Republic bring their household goods without paying import duties and taxes. Whether you qualify depends on who you are and your situation. This check tells you what we found in the official texts, what is missing, and what to prepare.

• Dominicans returning — personal and household effects (Ley 146-00 art. 6, art. 13 lit. d of Ley 14-93)Dominicans who lived abroad for two consecutive years and come back to settle for good can bring their personal and household effects without paying the import duty, once per person. The ITBIS and the ISC are exempt through the Código Tributario. The law sets no value or weight limit. Cars, new goods in commercial quantities and the Christmas gift allowance follow other rules. The DGA service fees and the Agriculture inspection at the port still apply. Our team handles the exoneration paperwork.
• Foreigners who come to reside — personal and household effects (Ley 146-00 art. 6, art. 13 lit. d of Ley 14-93)Foreigners who come to reside in the Dominican Republic can bring their personal and household effects without paying the import duty, once per person; the ITBIS and the ISC are exempt through the Código Tributario. The law says "residir definitivamente" and the DGA sheet says "permiso de residencia": whether a temporary resident qualifies is not confirmed and our team confirms it for your category. There is no value or weight limit in the law. The DGA service fees and the Agriculture inspection at the port still apply.
• Foreign pensioners — Ley 171-07 art. 11 (Ley 14-93 franchise)Pensioners whose residence by investment has been approved by the migration authority can bring their personal and household effects (and used trade or professional equipment) without paying the import duty, under the same franchise as other residents. The income needed is US$1,500 a month, plus US$250 for each dependent in the application. The benefit is personal: it does not extend to the spouse or dependents, and the goods cannot be sold without paying the taxes. The law names only the duty: whether the ITBIS and the ISC are also waived is not stated, so the estimate shows both figures. Our team handles the exoneration paperwork.
• Foreign rentistas — Ley 171-07 art. 11 (Ley 14-93 franchise)Rentistas whose residence by investment has been approved by the migration authority can bring their personal and household effects (and used trade or professional equipment) without paying the import duty, under the same franchise as other residents. The income needed is US$2,000 a month, plus US$250 for each dependent in the application. The benefit is personal: it does not extend to the spouse or dependents, and the goods cannot be sold without paying the taxes. The law names only the duty: whether the ITBIS and the ISC are also waived is not stated, so the estimate shows both figures. Our team handles the exoneration paperwork.
• Diplomatic missions and international agencies — Ley 146-00 art. 6 (art. 13 lit. b of Ley 14-93)The law exempts from the import duty the imports of diplomatic missions of foreign governments accredited in the country on a reciprocity basis, and of international official agencies and their authorised foreign technical staff; the Código Tributario exempts the ITBIS and the ISC on the same franchised imports. The procedure, the documents, the quantities and the time limits were not obtained, so no amount, quota or deadline is shown: our team confirms the requirements for your case before you ship.

1. Say who is moving.
2. Answer only the questions that apply to you: the result updates after every answer.
3. Get the documents and deadlines, and send or save the summary.