The tropical climate, inexpensive properties and holiday lifestyle is bringing more and more expats to the Dominican Republic. Expats usually find jobs in the Free Zone factories and the embassies. Some expats choose to retire in the Dominican Republic. If you’re moving to this beachy place be prepared for a slower pace of life and a more relaxed attitude from just about everyone. We’ve got some great tips and advice on settling into your new expatriate life.
- Expat Clubs
- Schools
- Local News Sources
- Country Information
- Resident and Work visa information
- How to get a driving license
- Where to live and about the accomodation types
- Healthcare information including Hospitals and Insurance
Expat Clubs
There are no expat meet up clubs as such in Dominican Republic and most expats communicate online through websites such as ExpatWoman.com.
International Schools
American School of Santo Domingo
The American School of Santo Domingo is a dual-program, college preparatory school with a U.S. curriculum offered in English as well as the Dominican Baccalaureate offered in Spanish. Learners graduating from the ASSD will be prepared to enter colleges in the Dominican Republic, the United States and elsewhere.
Curriculum: American, Dominican Baccalaureate
Address: Calle C #7, Cuesta Hermosa III, Arroyo Hondo, Santo Domingo
Tel: +809 567 6824
Email: [email protected]
FB: www.facebook.com/americanschoolofsantodomingo
Website: www.assd.edu.do
Carol Morgan School
Today the Carol Morgan School is a co-educational day school with an American college-preparatory curriculum and an enrollment of approximately 1,100 students from over 30 countries. The school is located on a lush fifteen-acre campus in a residential suburb of Santo Domingo. Facilities include 120 classrooms, a gymnasium, weight room, covered outdoor basketball/volleyball courts, and several athletic fields. In addition, the campus has separate administration, elementary, middle and secondary school buildings.
Curriculum: American
Address: Av. Sarasota esq. Nuñez de Cáceres, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Tel: +809 947 1026
Website: www.cms.edu.do
International School of Sosúa
International School of Sosúa website. ISS is an accredited private, co-educational day school from Pre K- Grade 12.
Curriculum: American, Dominican Republic Ministry of Education
Address: La Mulata 1, El Batey, Sosúa, Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
Tel: +809 571 3271
Fax: 809 571 1904
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.issosua.com
Lycée Francais de Saint Domingue
French High School in Santo Domingo.
Curriculum: French
Address: Rafael Damirón Esq. Jimenez Moya, Centro de los Heroes, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Tel: +849 622 7020
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.lfsd.edu.do
The Community for Learning
The Community for Learning is a bilingual elementary and secondary school.
Curriculum:
Address: Carretera La Isabela #101, La Meseta de Arroyo Hondo, Santo Domingo,Dominican Republic
Tel: +809 563 2708
Email: [email protected]
FB: www.facebook.com/pages/The-Community-for-Learning/170192306422798
Website: www.tcforlearning.edu.do
Local News in English
Dominican Republic News & Travel Information Service
DR1 is an English language news site that delivers local news, travel, business and other relevant information and happenings.
Website: www.dr1.com
DominicanToday.com
The Dominican Republic News Source in English.
Website: www.dominicantoday.com
Country Information
Location: Caribbean
Capital City: Santo Domingo
Other Important Cities:
Currency: Spanish
Language: Dominican Republic Peso
Calling Code: +809
Internet TLD: .do
Electricity: The country runs on 110V 60Hz. There are three private companies known that provides electricity in different parts of the country.
Edenorte
Address: Juan Pablo Duarte Avenue # 74, Santiago, Dominican Republic
Tel: +809 241 9090, Ext: 2701-2738
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.edenorte.com.do
Edesur
Address: Calle Carlos Sánchez y Sánchez, esquina Ave. Tiradentes. Torre Serrano. Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Tel: +809 683 9292
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.edesur.com.do/index.php
AES Dominicana
Address: Acrópolis Tower, 23th floor, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Tel: +809 955 2223
Email: [email protected]
Website: aesdominicana.com.do
Emergency Numbers:
Ambulance: 911
Fire: 911
Police: 911
Country Information
en.wikipedia.org
Country Study
lcweb2.loc.gov/frd
National Hurricane Center
www.nhc.noaa.gov
Weather portal for the region.
Embassy Information
embassy.goabroad.com/embassies-of/dominican-republic
Residents Visa and Work Permit information
Nationals from most countries may enter and stay for a limited period Dominican Republic visa free using a valid passport. However upon arrival, a Tourist Card must be purchased; this is applicable to certain nationals. For a list of countries where this exemption apply please visit Dominican Republic’s Ministry of Tourism site.
For information about the tourist card visit www.dgii.gov.do/tarjetaTuristica/EN/about/Paginas/default.aspx
Nationals from countries where a visa is required must apply at the Dominican Republic embassy or consulate in their home or host country.
Accommodation
Santo Domingo is the place to be in Dominican Republic. Heritage and modernity fused together, the city displays a duality of past and present, from cobble stone roads to contemporary hotels. Despite the ambience of Santo Domingo, accommodations like apartments here are cheap. Santiago de Los Caballeros up north is another city with cheaper options, although the scenery is not as lively as other places.
Punta Cana and Puerto Plata are where expats in gated communities live. Properties are expensive as these areas are resort towns.
Word-of-mouth via informal agents called corredores are good sources budget listings. They can be found in social areas like coffee shops. Official corredores will likely to have more expensive listings, as with advertisements on newspapers and classifieds. Searching through an Internet database will likely to yield holiday packages.
A more pro-active approach is going round the city looking for the sign ‘se alquila’ or to let, and a phone number which is normally the landlord’s.
Driving License
UK and US driving license are valid in the Dominican Republic. Other foreigners must possess an international driving license, which they can use for up to three months. For more about driving in Dominican Republic please visit: www.adcidl.com/Driving-in-the-Dominican-Republic.html
Healthcare
Medical facilities in the major cities like Santo Domingo are adequate. Emergency services outside of the capital wanes. ProMed is the nationwide ambulance service operating in the Santo Domingo.
The public healthcare system are in three categories. The first is the socialized system that caters to the poor. The second one, for those who earn less than RD$4,000/-, however this only covers the employee. The third is fee-for-service in private hospitals and clinics.
A private comprehensive insurance is advised as the public healthcare system will not be sufficient. Make sure your insurance provider can either cover all or most of the cost of the treatment or reimburse you after.
Insurance Companies
MSH International ASFE
For twenty years, ASFE has designed and managed international healthcare insurance solutions for all mobile individuals: Expatriates living abroad alone or with their families, students, interns and young people with "Working Holiday Visas", self-employed persons or company employees and seniors.
Address: 16, rue Monceau, 75008 Paris, France
Tel. +33 1 44 20 48 77
Fax +33 1 44 20 48 80
Website: www.asfe-expat.com/index.php?a=en&b=Fiches-Pays&c=DO
Hospitals
Hospiten Santo Domingo
The Grupo Hospiten (HOSPITEN Group) is an international network of private hospitals, with over 1,000 beds, committed to providing high-level healthcare services. We see over 1.000.000 patients every year. The result of our commitment can be seen in our twelve hospital centres located in major cities and tourist centres in countries such as Spain, the Dominican Republic, Mexico and Jamaica
Address: Alma Mater, Esquina Bolivar, s/n, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Tel: +809 541 30 00
Fax: +809 920 03 55
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.hospiten.com/en/hospitales-y-centros/republica-dominicana/hospiten-santo-domingo
Clinica Abreu
Address: Calle Arzobispo Portes No. 853, Ciudad Nueva, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Tel: +809 688 4411 Ext.: 0
Email: [email protected]
Website (Spanish): clinicaabreu.com.do
Clinica Corazones Unidos
Address: Calle Fantino Falco # 21, Ensanche Naco, Santo Domingo, República Dominicana
Tel: +809 567 4421
Fax: +809 566 5732
Website (Spanish): corazonesunidos.com.do
Centro De Otorrinolaringologia Y Especialidades
Address: 27 De Febrero & Fdco. Henriquez, Carnival, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Tel: +809 682 0151
Centro Medico UCE University Hospital
Address: Ave. Maximo Gomez & Pedro H. Urena, Gasque Areas, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Tel: +809 688 7924, + 809 221 0171
Centro Cardio Renal Dr. Yunen
Address: Alma Mater esquina Bolivar, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Tel: +809 541 3000
Fax: +809 920 0355
Centro De Medicina Avanzada
Address: Avenida Abraham Lincoln 953, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Tel: +809 227 2235
