A 2007 resolution still in force, establishes that Dominican Consulates, without exception, must charge the price of each visa according to the scale of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MIREX): 40 US dollars for tourist visas, simple business visas and multiple dependencies; $50 for multiple residents and businesses and $60 for businesses for business purposes.

It should be remembered that a Dominican Consul manages his income in three ways: his basic salary, a "consular endowment" that the MIREX pays him for the administration of the consulate, and the money they keep for the services offered such such as visas or passport renewals. MIREX regulations provide that consulates remit to the institution the sum of 20 US dollars per month for each visa issued, and later they are authorized to retain the remaining money to "cover the administrative and operational expenses of the consular management".

However in reality there is a big difference between what these missions should charge and what they actually charge, as each consulate sets its prices at its discretion, usually above $100 per visa.

According to documents from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the consuls comply with the payment of the 20 dollars but the problem lies in the high sums which have been withheld because of the overpricing of the services they offer and in the secrecy surrounding the use which is made of this money…

Pricing differences :

To date, a Haitian who goes to the Dominican consulate in Anse-à-Pitre can be charged up to 200 US dollars for the entry permit to the Dominican Republic, while at the consulate located in Belladère, he can pay between 230 and 250 US dollars for the same service.

On the other hand, at the Dominican Consulate in Cap-Haitien, a general visa can cost 200 US dollars, while the price of a "VIP" is around 230 US dollars.

Through the Dominican Consulate in Ouanaminthe, traveling as a tourist costs a Haitian from 150 US dollars, and to work in the Dominican Republic you must pay at least 200 US dollars.

Compared to other missions, the Consulate located in Port-au-Prince is the one that charges the least, for the issuance of visas with 85 US dollars, according to one of its vice-consuls, but at the same time it is the one that issues the largest number of travel documents to foreigners...

SL/ HaitiLibre