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Dominican Certification Service: Official Civil Registry Documents > Citizenship & nationality > Citizenship by parents > Dominican Citizenship by Descent – Process & Documentation

Documents Required for Dominican Birth Transcription

Your practical guide to the paperwork, apostilles, translations, and parent IDs you need for Dominican citizenship by descent

Dominican citizenship by descent begins with birth transcription, where your foreign birth certificate is registered in the Dominican civil registry. The process may look simple on paper, but in practice, missing apostilles, outdated cédulas, or name differences can delay or even block approval.

With us, you can complete the entire process from the comfort of your own home — no consulate visits required! We review your case, resolve document issues, and deliver your new Dominican birth certificate straight to your door.

Service Costs: Birth Transcription US$495 (compulsory) • Parent record search & cédula certification US$195 (if needed) • Original certificates: cost varies by case

Facsimile of a Dominican birth certificate and apostille

Official Core Documents Required

According to the Junta Central Electoral website, the documents to present for transcription are:

Required Documentation Checklist

  • Your original, up-to-date long-form birth certificate with apostille
  • Original Spanish translation of the birth certificate, legalized (we can get this for you)
  • Photo or scan of the Dominican parent's ID card (cédula) or Dominican passport, up-to-date and in good image quality
  • Your Dominican parent's birth certificate
  • Photo or scan of your passport or other current foreign ID (if you are over 15 years old)
But it's not really that simple! Let's break down what you really need to know.

Looking for the big picture? Start with the overview of Dominican citizenship by descent. If you're ready, go straight to the free eligibility assessment.

Complete Documentation Matters

In an ideal application, we receive all three core documents: (1) your apostilled birth certificate, (2) clear photos of both sides of your Dominican parent's most recent cédula, and (3) your Dominican parent's Dominican birth certificate.

When documentation is incomplete or missing, your case has a significantly higher probability of being referred to the Inspectorate department (Inspectoría). This means:

  • Considerably longer processing time
  • You will typically be required to attend an in-person interview
  • Additional scrutiny of your application

We strongly recommend working with us to obtain all necessary documentation upfront to avoid these delays and complications.

If both of your parents are Dominican, then documents for each parent are required. The JCE does not allow us to choose only one parent's documentation — both must be provided.

We also understand that many of our clients are no longer in touch with their Dominican parent. In fact, some are estranged and don't know how to reach him or her, which can make gathering the required paperwork more challenging. If you have no contact with your Dominican parent and cannot obtain their recent cédula, the Transcription Department will take this lack of relationship into consideration when reviewing your case. Let us know your situation — we can advise you on possible solutions.

Your Birth Certificate

Your birth certificate should be recent, it should be the long-form/complete/full/comprehensive version, and it must have an apostille from your country of birth.

For US-Born Applicants

If you were born in the US, the State where you were born must apostille your birth certificate. When you order your birth certificate, it won't automatically come with an apostille so you must specifically request it. Often US birth certificates are shipped with 2 or 3 adjoining documents such as legalizations, but these are not an apostille. An apostille is easily identifiable because it normally has the word "APOSTILLE" in large letters at the top of the page. If in doubt, ask us.

What to Watch Out For:

  • Name variations: Dominican parents often have 2-3 given names and 2 surnames. It's normal and acceptable if your foreign birth certificate shows only your parent's first given name and first surname. However, significant discrepancies or completely different names may require correction or documentation.
  • Spelling variations: Minor spelling differences (such as Ylda vs. Hilda) may be acceptable in some circumstances, though it's always best when names match exactly. We'll review your specific situation and advise if corrections are needed.
  • If your mother is Dominican and her surname changed from her maiden name to your father's surname before you were born, we'll need an original long-form version of your parents' marriage certificate with apostille

Please share photos of all your documentation from the beginning so we can review and provide guidance on whether any corrections or additional documents will be needed.

Your Dominican Parent's Cédula ID Cards

Almost all Dominican adults have a national ID card called a cédula. It is essential that we include a photo/scan of your Dominican parent's most recent cédula when we lodge the transcription request.

Cédula History:

  • Up to mid-1990s: "Old" cédulas were made of beige-colored card and were roughly the size of a bank account book
  • Since approximately 1996: "New" cédulas are made of plastic and are the size of a credit card. All current cédulas show a 2024 expiry date and remain valid until the new cédula design is introduced in early 2026.

Once you've reviewed the requirements, submit our citizenship assessment form so we can confirm your eligibility.

Common Rejection Reason

If you provide us with a photo of your Dominican parent's old cédula, and the inspectors at the Junta check in the system and see that your parent had/has a more recently issued new cédula, then our request will be rejected.

If you have no contact with your Dominican parent: We understand that obtaining a recent cédula photo can be impossible in cases of estrangement. The Transcription Department does take the lack of relationship between parent and child into consideration when reviewing applications. However, having all complete documentation significantly improves your chances of a smooth, faster approval process.

Getting their hands on the most recent cédula of their parent can be very challenging for many of our clients who have no contact with their Dominican parent, so many ask mutual relatives for help to obtain photos of the front and back of the cédula. If you are estranged from your parent and cannot obtain their cédula, the Transcription Department will take this lack of relationship into consideration. However, providing complete documentation significantly improves the likelihood of smooth and timely approval.

If you're new to the topic, start with our overview of Dominican citizenship by descent.

Frequently Asked Questions About Documentation for Birth Transcription

What version of my foreign birth certificate is required?
The long-form/extended birth certificate is required, issued recently, and legalized with an apostille from the country of birth.
How recent must my birth certificate or apostille be?
A recent issuance (often within 6–12 months) is recommended. If yours is older, we will confirm acceptability or advise re-issuance.
Do I need a certified Spanish translation?
Yes, non-Spanish documents must be translated by a certified legal translator and legalized in the DR. We include translation/legalization in our service when needed.
What documents are needed from my Dominican parent?
Ideally: a clear photo/scan of the parent's latest cédula (front and back), and your parent's Dominican birth certificate. We can obtain Dominican records if you don't have them. Note: When any required documents are missing, there is a high probability your case will be referred to the Inspectorate department, which means significantly longer processing time and typically an in-person interview.
What is the Inspectorate and why should I avoid it?
The Inspectoría (Inspectorate) is a special review department that handles cases with incomplete documentation or discrepancies. Cases referred to the Inspectorate face considerably longer processing times and normally require an in-person interview with the applicant. This is why we strongly recommend providing all required documentation from the start.
Why must it be the "most recent" cédula?
JCE verifies the current cédula record. If you submit an older, superseded cédula while a newer one exists, the file can be rejected. We check and guide you to avoid this issue. If you have no contact with your parent and cannot obtain their recent cédula, inform us—the Transcription Department does take such circumstances into consideration.
My Dominican parent is deceased—what is required?
An original long-form death certificate with apostille, plus any available Dominican IDs or birth records. We can help locate Dominican documents if missing.
Do I need my parents' marriage certificate?
Not always. It may be required if your Dominican mother changed her surname due to marriage before your birth, or to establish marital status/legitimation. We will advise and obtain it if needed (with apostille/translation if foreign).
What if names or dates don't match across documents?
We examine discrepancies and advise on the best approach. Dominican parents often have 2-3 given names and 2 surnames, so it's normal if your foreign birth certificate only shows the first given name and first surname. Minor spelling variations (like Ylda vs. Hilda) may also be acceptable in some circumstances. However, significant differences may require record corrections or sworn statements. Provide all documents early so we can spot issues in advance and guide you on the best path forward.
My Dominican father appears as Steven on my US birth certificate but appears as Esteban on his Dominican birth certificate and cédula. I'm guessing that this isn't a problem, is it? After all Esteban and Steven are the same name.
This type of discrepancy requires careful review. While Steven and Esteban are linguistically related, to the Transcription Department they are technically different names. However, depending on your specific case and other documentation provided, this may or may not require correction. There are several possible solutions:

1) If your father officially changed his name from Esteban to Steven, you'd need to provide that documentation.

2) If it was an error on your birth certificate, you may need to get it corrected from Steven to Esteban. In some States this is relatively simple.

3) In certain circumstances, with complete supporting documentation from both sides, the discrepancy may be acceptable.

Send us photos of all your documents so we can review your specific situation and provide the best guidance.
My dad appears as Nicolás on his Dominican documents but Nicholas (with an H) on my NY birth certificate. It's just a minor difference, it won't matter, right?
Minor spelling variations like this may be acceptable in some circumstances, particularly when all other documentation is complete and in order. However, it's always best when names match exactly. We'll review your complete documentation and advise whether a correction is necessary or if we can proceed as-is. The decision often depends on the overall strength of your application and supporting documents.
Can I claim citizenship if my Dominican parent renounced their citizenship?
No. If your parent formally renounced their Dominican citizenship, you are not eligible to claim citizenship by descent because they are no longer legally Dominican. However, if your parent simply lives abroad and hasn't renewed their cédula or used their Dominican documents in many years, that does not constitute renunciation and you remain eligible.
Are photocopies or scans acceptable?
We can pre-review scans, but JCE requires original civil records (birth/death/marriage) with apostille/legalizations for filing. We'll share our shipping address for originals.
I was born in the United States—how do I get the apostille?
The apostille must be issued by the Secretary of State of the state where you were born. It does not arrive automatically with the certificate—you must request the apostille specifically. Ask us if you're unsure what you received.
Do I need a police certificate (papel de buena conducta)?
No. A police certificate is generally not required for birth transcription. If any follow-up step requires it, we'll advise you case-by-case.
Are foreign divorce or name-change orders relevant?
Sometimes. If a parent's legal name changed (marriage, divorce, court order) or they use multiple surnames, we may need those decrees with apostille and translation to align records for JCE review.
Do I need to include my own passport or ID?
If you're 15+, include a clear photo/scan of your current foreign ID or passport to confirm identity along with your apostilled birth certificate and translation.
Can you obtain missing Dominican records for me?
Yes. We routinely retrieve Dominican birth, marriage, divorce, and death certificates and can search historical archives when required. We'll confirm feasibility and quote any retrieval costs in advance. Obtaining all necessary records upfront helps avoid your case being referred to the Inspectorate.
What documents are required if I wish to get dual nationality for my young child?
  1. Original apostilled birth certificate.
  2. Spanish translation with the corresponding legalization.
  3. Parents' documents: copy of Dominican cédula (ID card) or copy of Dominican passport, both up to date, plus the Dominican parent's birth certificate.
  4. Copy of the foreign passport or valid foreign ID of the child, which will be required once the child is over 15 years old.


This page last updated on 19th October 2025