Dominican Free Zone Installation Permit: The 8 Requirements Every Applicant Must File

Before a single machine is installed or a lease signed, every company seeking Dominican free zone status must clear one gate: the installation permit from the National Free Zones Council (CNZFE). The Council requires applicants to appoint a Dominican law firm as legal representative to file and follow the application, a rule that reflects how much of the process turns on local procedure rather than business merit.

The core filing package under Law 8-90 consists of eight elements: a formal letter to the CNZFE requesting authorization to operate under the free zone regime; the installation request form for an industrial or services free zone; the lease agreement, or letter of intent, with the park where the company will operate; the company’s final or preliminary incorporation documents, disclosing shareholders, their nationality and their contributions; proof of payment of the applicable fee; samples of the product to be manufactured, where applicable; a solvency letter or equivalent document identifying the investor; and the contact details of the firm and person responsible for the filing.

The list looks administrative. In practice, two items generate most delays. The shareholder disclosure must be consistent with the company’s corporate documents and with anti-money-laundering expectations, discrepancies between declared ownership and registry records trigger requests for clarification that can stall a file for weeks. And the lease or letter of intent must match the operational description in the application; a services company describing light manufacturing, or vice versa, invites objections.

The CNZFE’s regulations and best-practice guidelines add requirements of form and substance beyond the checklist, which is precisely why the Council insists on legal representation. An application drafted to anticipate the evaluator’s questions moves through the system measurably faster than one that merely satisfies the list.

Timing matters more than it used to. With the free zone sector positioned as the Dominican Republic’s nearshoring platform, application volume has grown, and the June 2026 fiscal reform has placed incentive regimes under closer government review. Companies planning market entry should treat the installation permit not as paperwork but as the legal foundation of their entire tax position.

Our firm prepares and files free zone installation applications end to end, from structuring the local entity to negotiating the park lease and managing the CNZFE process. Contact us before you commit to a park or a timeline.

Do you want more information about our services to obtain a Dominican Free Zone Installation Permit? Contact Us.

ABOUT US: Arthur & Castillo assists free zone enterprises in the industrial manufacturing, logistics and technology services sectors to establish and expand their business in the Dominican Republic, obtain free zone & logistic center authorizations, execute contracts and manage relations with government agencies and institutions.

Our free zones consultants assist in the preparation of free zone operation permit applications, review and negotiation of leases, commercial terms and conditions, purchase and supply agreements, purchasing & developing real estate, tax free equipment & machinery and advising on applicable free zones and logistics centers matters, including, corporate, customs, labor, tax, social security laws, among others.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Felipe Castillo is a Partner leading the Foreign Investment, Real Estate & Tourism areas at Arthur & Castillo Advisers and Consultants in the Dominican Republic. He specializes in foreign investment, real estate and international business (Master in International Business, Entrepreneurship and Finance Studies from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. & Masters in International E- Business in Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona) with more than 20 years of experience in Foreign Investment, Free Trade Zones, International Business and Cross Border Real Estate practice. He is a Certified Business Bankruptcy Expert and English and Spanish Interpreter.

Email: fcastillo@aclaw.com

Disclaimer: This publication is not intended to provide advice or suggest a guaranteed outcome as individual situations will differ and the situation may have changed since publication. For specific advice on the information provided and related topics, please contact the author.

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