• The Dominican Republic allows U.S. citizens entry for thirty days without a visa.dominican republic flag button image by Andrey Zyk from Fotolia.com
  
  A visa is a document that is stamped, glued or electronically issued on a passport that allows visitors to legally stay in the country they are visiting for a specific time. Visas are issued by the embassy, consulate or at the border. A green card or permanent residency status allows individuals to legally live and work in the country for a specified period of time.
  
  

VISA

• U.S. citizens are not required to obtain a tourist visa to stay in the Dominican Republic for up to thirty days. However, they can purchase a tourist card and stay up to sixty days in the country. U.S. citizens can purchase a tourist card for $10 at the Dominican Consulate or Embassy in Washington D.C. or upon entry. Visitors who plan to stay longer than sixty days must file for an extension with the Migration Department in Santo Domingo. Failure to request an extension will result in a fine at the airport upon departure. Visitors must have a current passport with some unused pages for stamping entry and exit from the county. Their passports must be valid for at least three months from their departure date from the Dominican Republic.
  
  

Provisional Residency

• Before applying for a permanent residency, individuals must apply for a legal provisional residency. Applicants must take a general medical examination with a doctor at the Department of Immigration. Medical examination includes AIDS, illegal drugs and tuberculosis testing. Applicants must submit certified copies of a birth certificate, police clearance from the local police station, a background check from the national police and proof of funds of at least RD 500,000 pesos or about US$17,000. Upon approval, the residency card is valid for one year and applicants can live and work in the Dominican Republic legally.
  
  

Permanent Residency or Green Card

• After one year, applicants can renew and change their provisional residency status to permanent residency status by applying at the immigration department. Applicants must take another medical exam and submit the same paper work for the provisional residency. Upon approval, the permanent residency card will allow the applicant to legally live and work for at least two years. She can then apply for citizenship at a later date.