The Dominican Republic occupies the eastern part of the island of Haiti, washed by the Caribbean Sea and the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The country’s economy is actively developing, the main export products are sugar, tobacco and coffee, gold, silver and coal are mined, foreign investments are attracted, in particular, in the field of textiles, electronics and pharmaceuticals. Traditionally, the area of ​​tourism has been of great importance, and in recent years, the information technology sector.

White sandy beaches, a comfortable tropical climate and amazingly clear sea provide an influx to the Dominican Republic of a huge number of tourists and foreigners who plan to stay in this country forever, especially among citizens of retirement age.

Foreign investors and labor migrants do not stand aside. For example, work in the Dominican Republic for Russians and Ukrainians in 2017 will be found in the tourism industry, IT specialists, managers, teachers and owners of other professions that are in short supply for the country are also required.

Features of labor migration to the Dominican Republic

The population of the Dominican Republic in 2017 is about 10.6 million people. Every year, thousands of immigrants from the USA, Europe and South American regions arrive in the country, which creates additional competition in the local labor market.

The total labor force of the Dominican Republic is more than 5 million. At the same time, the unemployment rate is not lower than 14%, which, along with poverty, income inequality and a fairly large sector of the shadow economy, is one of the main problems of the country.

The official language of the Dominican Republic is Spanish. For successful employment and rapid social adaptation, Spanish skills are vital. English is used much less frequently, mainly by employees of international companies and in the field of large business.

There is practically no work in the Dominican Republic without knowledge of the language. Even jobs in the tourism sector aimed at interacting with Russian citizens require a minimum of basic spoken Spanish and good English, and even better, advanced knowledge of several foreign languages.

Usually, for labor migration to the Dominican Republic, foreigners, including Russians, must first find an employer and conclude an employment contract. Checks legitimacy hiring a foreign specialist and issues a work permit by the relevant department of the Ministry of Labor of the Dominican Republic.

Further, at the Consulate of the Dominican Republic in your country, a work visa (Visa de Negocios con Fines Laborales) is issued, which is valid for up to one year and allows you to officially work in the Dominican territory. Also, a work visa gives a foreigner additional rights, for example, it makes it possible to open an account in a local bank and obtain a driver’s license. The document is being extended in the Department of Immigration of the Dominican Republic (Dirección General de Migración).

Documents for a work visa to the Dominican Republic

Application for a visa (questionnaire).
Color photo on a white background (2×2 inches).
Valid foreign passport.
Copy of civil passport or residence permit, in case of stay in another country.
Medical insurance.
Certificate of no criminal record from the country of residence at the time of application.
Copies of previous visas to the Dominican Republic.
An official letter of invitation from the employer with the personal data of the employee, working conditions and information about the vacancy.
In each individual case, the Dominican Consulate staff may require additional information. Documents must be notarized and translated into Spanish. For the successful processing of a work visa, you need to interact as much as possible with the employer and the diplomatic department of the Dominican Republic.

How to find a job in the Dominican Republic. Job search.

A decent job in the Dominican Republic and a successful job search are directly related to the education, qualifications, experience and language skills of a foreign job seeker. Take the trouble to write a competent resume and cover letter tailored for local employers.

If the position requires Spanish, show your resume to a native speaker. In the professional environment of the country, quite a lot of slang expressions are used, which can play into the hands in finding a job. Visit the Dominican Republic as a tourist, especially since citizens of Russia and Ukraine do not need a visa. A special tourist card is issued directly at the airport, the cost is $10.

Most often, vacancies in the Dominican Republic are occupied by foreign employees of international corporations in as a result of transfers to branches and representative offices. This is the easiest way to find a job in the Dominican Republic. Apply with a job offer to large companies directly.

When choosing a region, first of all, aim at the capital of the Dominican Republic – Santo Domingo – the economic and business center of the country, as well as the provinces – Puerto Plata and La Altagracia, where vacancies in the tourism sector are offered. Actively use social networks and forums, register in a professional social network

If you cannot find a job in the Dominican Republic on your own, contact a local or international recruitment agency. Read ads in famous Dominican newspapers like Listin Diario and don’t give up. The result is sure to come.

Salary and vacancies in the Dominican Republic in 2017

Approximately 65% ​​of the Dominican Republic’s workforce is employed in the service sector. It creates the largest number of vacancies, including for foreigners. The tourism sector is developing especially dynamically. The industry employs 21% of Dominicans and 14% in agriculture, mostly local residents work on sugar cane plantations.

The income of Dominicans is quite low, especially when compared with the developed countries of Western Europe. The average salary in the Dominican Republic in 2017 does not exceed 9-14 thousand local pesos or 200-300 dollars per month. Doctors receive the most – up to $1,500, finance and accounting professionals – up to $800-1,000, and civil servants in law enforcement and security – up to $500-600.

Jobs in the Dominican Republic for Russians and Ukrainians in 2017 are available in the field of tourism (guides, instructors) and information technology. There are vacancies in international companies, builders, call center operators and English teachers are less often required. In the latter case, an appropriate certificate is required. Knowledge of Spanish can significantly diversify the list of professions that foreigners can count on.

Sometimes Russian citizens find unskilled jobs in the Dominican Republic, such as nannies, shop assistants, waiters, cleaners, loaders, and so on. As a rule, such work is paid quite low and carried out semi-legally. It is strongly discouraged to resort to this form of employment. Qualified foreign specialists can find work in the Dominican Republic with wages up to $1,000 per month or more, if you’re lucky.