Published on 1 February 2026

Dominican Republic: Family, marriage and partnerships

The FDFA provides wide-ranging, relevant information on family matters, marriage and partnerships to people planning to emigrate to the Dominican Republic.

Family reunification

Foreigners who obtain a residence visa (Visa de Residencia RS) have 60 days to apply for the visa at the appropriate Dominican embassy or consulate and may enter the territory of the Dominican Republic after obtaining the visa. Visa holders must apply to the General Directorate of Migration for temporary or permanent residence upon entering the territory of the Dominican Republic.

A visa granted to a foreign national does not guarantee unconditional entry to the country; it can be revoked by the immigration authorities if any of the grounds for inadmissibility or deportation set out in Act 285-04 apply.

Registering marriages and partnerships

Marriages contracted abroad under civil law are recognised in Switzerland and must be registered with the Swiss civil status authorities. Swiss nationals who get married abroad are required to register their marriage with the competent Swiss representation abroad. The documents must be submitted to the diplomatic representation together with an apostille. The latter will forward the declaration to Switzerland free of charge.

Find out what you need to do as early as possible

Before you get married, contact your Swiss representation to find out what you will need to do to make sure your marriage is recognised and registered in the civil status register without delay.

Partnerships

The Dominican Republic has passed a law allowing same-sex marriage. This law also grants validity to the marriage and obliges the state to recognise it if it was contracted abroad under the law of the domicile of at least one of the spouses.

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