A new immigration statute was signed into law on August 15, 2004 by former President Hipolito Mejia. The new statute will substitute the current Law #95 dating from 1939. The most important novelties are the following:

1. The children of nonresident foreigners born in the Dominican Republic will not be Dominican nationals.

2. There will be two types of residencies: Temporary Residency and Permanent Residency, depending on whether the intention of the applicant is to live permanently or just for a certain time in the Dominican Republic. Permanent residents will have the right to live indefinitely in the Dominican Republic. Temporary residents will be able to stay in the country for up to a year but may renew their residency annually while finalize their intended mission in the DR.

3. Employers must make sure that their foreign employees have the documentation necessary to work legally in the Dominican Republic. Noncompliance will be sanctioned with a fine of 35 minimum salaries and the employer will also have to bear the cost of deportation.

4. The Immigration Department will renew current residencies as they expire based on the new categories.

5. The Executive will prepare an enabling regulation for the application of the statute within 180 days, meaning that the law will not come into effect until said Regulation is enacted.