Published on 1 February 2026

Dominican Republic: Employment

The labour market in the Dominican Republic is very volatile. Given the high unemployment rate, it is very difficult for foreigners to find work.

There are hardly any opportunities for a well-paid salaried position in the Dominican Republic. Work is severely underpaid by Swiss standards. A large part of the foreign labour force works for international companies. Most of the jobs are in the tourism sector. Knowledge of Spanish is a substantial advantage.

In general, there are many more jobseekers than the number of vacancies.

Work permit

Foreign nationals must have a valid work permit to work in the Dominican Republic.

In order to obtain a work permit, foreigners must have a temporary worker visa (Trabajador Temporaneo – VTT) or a residence visa, as well as other documents and certificates required by the Dominican migration ministry.

The procedure for obtaining the permit can be carried out online.

Finding a job

As the Dominican Republic has a very high unemployment rate, the labour market for foreigners is practically non-existent. The Swiss-Dominican Chamber of Commerce and Tourism publishes job advertisements and ‘job wanted’ notices.

Recognition of educational and professional qualifications

The Ministry of Education of the Dominican Republic is responsible for the recognition of foreign school qualifications and university degrees.

Self-employment and starting your own business

The Swiss-Dominican Chamber of Commerce and Tourism can provide information about how expatriates can become self-employed and open their own business.

---

All topics

Back to the overview