Dominican Republic: Citizenship by Descent

All children of Dominican nationals are Dominican, regardless of where born. Parent, grandparent, and great-grandparent lineage recognized. Nationality passes automatically by blood.

Important clarification: The 2010 constitutional change and the 2013 Constitutional Court ruling affected BIRTHRIGHT citizenship (jus soli) for people born ON Dominican soil to irregular migrant parents, primarily targeting Haitian-descent residents. This does NOT affect citizenship by descent (jus sanguinis) for children born abroad to Dominican citizens abroad.

• –The 2010/2013 confusion: Many people conflate the 2010 constitutional change with a general restriction on Dominican citizenship. It ONLY affected birthright citizenship for people born in the DR to irregular migrant parents. Descent-based claims (jus sanguinis) for children of Dominican citizens born anywhere in the world are unaffected.
• –Dual citizenship: Fully permitted.
• –No residency required.