How to Buy Land in the Dominican Republic: Step-by-Step

Buying land in the Dominican Republic is straightforward when you understand the steps. For a simple coastal plot transaction, the process typically runs 6 to 12 weeks from initial offer to receiving your Certificado de Título. Here is every step explained in plain terms.

Before You Start: Get an RNC

Foreign buyers need a RNC (Registro Nacional del Contribuyente) — a Dominican tax identification number — to complete a property transaction. This is a simple administrative step handled by your attorney. You submit a copy of your passport and a completed form to the DGII (Dirección General de Impuestos Internos, the tax authority). Processing takes a few business days and is required before you can sign any official deed or pay transfer tax.

If you already have a Dominican residency card (cédula), that number serves the same purpose.

Step 1: Engage an Independent Attorney

The single most important thing you can do is hire your own independent Dominican real estate attorney (abogado de bienes raíces). Do not use an attorney recommended by the seller — find one independently. The attorney will:

• Perform title due diligence on the specific parcel.
• Obtain the Certificación del Estado Jurídico from the Jurisdicción Inmobiliaria — a formal certification of the legal status, liens, and encumbrances on the property.
• Verify the deslinde (cadastral survey) status.
• Confirm the plot sits outside the 60-meter maritime zone.
• Draft or review the Promesa de Venta (purchase agreement).
• Execute the final deed and manage title registration on your behalf.

Attorney fees for a standard land transaction typically run 1–1.5% of the purchase price, though this varies. Agree on the fee in writing before engaging.

Step 2: Certificación del Estado Jurídico

Before committing any money, your attorney requests a Certificación del Estado Jurídico from the Registro de Títulos (land registry). This document confirms:

• Who currently holds title to the parcel.
• Whether there are any mortgages, liens, attachments, or third-party rights registered against it.
• Whether the deslinde process has been completed and an individual title exists.

This step is non-negotiable. Never proceed to a purchase agreement without a clean certification in hand.

Step 3: Promesa de Venta (Purchase Agreement)

Once due diligence is satisfactory, you sign a Promesa de Venta — a binding purchase agreement notarized before a Dominican notary (notario público). Standard terms include:

• A 10% deposit of the agreed sale price, paid at signing.
• A defined closing timeline (typically 30–90 days).
• Conditions precedent (e.g., completion of deslinde if still in progress).
• Remedies if either party defaults.

The deposit is typically non-refundable if the buyer withdraws without legal cause. Conversely, if the seller fails to deliver, the buyer is typically entitled to double the deposit back (arras penitenciales).

Step 4: Deslinde Verification

If the parcel has not yet been through the formal deslinde (cadastral demarcation) process, your attorney will monitor its completion before closing. Deslinde has been mandatory for all new title issuances since Law 108-05 came into force in 2007. A parcel without completed deslinde cannot have an individual Certificado de Título issued — it may still be transactable under a constancia anotada (annotated certificate), but this is a less secure form of ownership.

For the plots at Río San Juan Coastal Land, confirm the deslinde status directly with us and have your attorney independently verify it via the Registro de Títulos.

Step 5: The Deed — Acto de Venta

The final transfer is executed by signing the acto de venta (deed of sale) before a Dominican notary. At closing:

• The full balance of the purchase price is transferred (typically by international wire or local bank transfer).
• The notary witnesses the signatures of buyer and seller (or their attorneys acting under power of attorney).
• The deed is authenticated and stamped.

You do not need to be physically present in the Dominican Republic for closing. Your attorney can act on your behalf under a poder notarial (notarized power of attorney). If you are outside the DR, the power of attorney must be apostilled in your home country and, if not in Spanish, officially translated.

Step 6: Transfer Tax (3%)

The Impuesto de Transferencia Inmobiliaria is 3% of the DGII assessed value of the property (not the negotiated sale price, though the two are often close for coastal land). This tax is paid to the DGII before the title can be registered. Your attorney handles the payment and filing.

Note: there is a legal exemption from this transfer tax for properties approved under CONFOTUR (Law 158-01 tourism incentive regime), but this applies only to projects that have received formal CONFOTUR approval — not to standalone raw land purchases.

Step 7: Registration at Registro de Títulos

With proof of transfer tax payment in hand, your attorney submits the executed deed to the Registro de Títulos (land registry) for the relevant jurisdiction. The registry:

• Cancels the seller's existing title.
• Issues a new Certificado de Título in the buyer's name.

Under the Torrens system, this new certificate is indefeasible — the state guarantees it. Registration typically takes 2–6 weeks depending on the registry's workload.

Step 8: Receive Your Certificado de Título

Once issued, the Certificado de Título is the definitive proof of ownership. Keep it in a safe place. A copy is also held in the registry. Your attorney will typically courier the original to you if you are abroad.

Typical Timeline

• Week 1–2: RNC application, attorney engagement, title certification request.
• Week 2–3: Certificación del Estado Jurídico received, due diligence completed.
• Week 3–4: Promesa de Venta signed, 10% deposit transferred.
• Week 4–8: Balance transfer, deed signing, transfer tax payment.
• Week 6–12: Title registration at Registro de Títulos, new Certificado de Título issued.

Internal Links

For more detail on specific legal aspects, see our guides on Deslinde and the Torrens Title System, Taxes and Closing Costs, and the 60-Meter Maritime Zone. To browse available parcels, visit our Plot Catalog or explore the Río San Juan location page.

Legal disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Dominican law and administrative procedures can change. We strongly recommend engaging an independent, licensed Dominican attorney before making any property purchase decision.