Any foreign person who is in the Dominican Republic and has a well-founded fear of suffering harm to his or her life, integrity, or personal safety in his or her country of origin, has the right to file an application for refugee status before the Dominican asylum system. This request must be submitted within 15 days of entry into the country.

• The National Office for Refugees (ONR) is in charge of receiving applications for refugee status. All possible documents supporting the application must be submitted to the ONR. The UNHCR may provide free legal advice on the presentation of the refugee status application and accompany you in this process, but it is the National Commission for Refugees (CONARE) the inter-institutional authority responsible for determining who benefits from refugee status. It must evaluate objectively and without discrimination the applications and give a positive or negative response.

Conditions:

1) To be present in the Dominican Republic: one can inform at airports, ports and borders to the authorities about the will to apply for refugee status. This request must be made within 15 days from entry into the country. 

2) Have the following documents:  

• Passport, or national identity card. If they do not have a document, they can make an affidavit before the National Office for Refugees (ONR). 
• Medical certificate, which accredits if the applicant has any infectious disease.
• Four (4) passport type photographs of the front and two (2) profile photographs.
• Written testimony, explaining why he/she cannot return to his/her country; and
• Any relevant documentation you have available to support the application (photos, certificates, videos, reports, etc.).

3) You must call the National Office for Refugees (ONR), to coordinate the appointment at the telephone numbers: 809-508-2555 Ext.2055/WhatsApp 829-423-4345. If it is not possible to make an appointment via telephone, you can go directly to the ONR, located at Malecón Center, 662 George Washington Avenue, First Floor, and bring the documents mentioned in number 2, above).

4) Complete a form at the ONR: by submitting this form along with the required documents, the application for refugee status is formalized.

5) Interview with the ONR:

Applicants for refugee status attend an interview in which you will be asked about the events that led you to flee your country. All the information you share in the interview is confidential and what you say in the interview will not be shared with outsiders, nor with authorities in your country of origin or the country where you were persecuted.  It is very important that in the interview the applicant discusses in a comprehensive and orderly manner all the facts that led him/her to leave his/her country and explains his/her fears of returning to his/her country. At the end of the interview, the applicant must sign a transcript of the interview to attest that he/she gave his/her account. 

6) Proof of application for refugee status: 

A certificate will be issued that allows applicants to remain in Dominican territory until a final decision is made on the application. This certificate guarantees their regular stay in the country on a temporary basis while the authorities analyze their case. This document protects the applicant from deportation to the country where his life is in danger. It is free of charge and will be issued to all persons, including children. It is mandatory to always carry it, and to renew it at ONR every 30 days.
ONR will forward the application with the information gathered in the interview to CONARE for evaluation and decision purposes.

It is important to highlight that the refugee applicant carrying this document is not authorized to perform any paid work.

7) Decision or Reply: 

The National Commission for Refugees (Conare) will evaluate your application and issue a positive or negative solution. This could be:

• Positive: If your status is approved you will be officially recognized as a refugee and will be granted a residence permit valid for one (1) year which can be renewed. The spouse and children under 18 years of age will also receive a residence permit.
• Negative: If your status is not approved, you may file an appeal within seven (7) days. 

Additional

• It is important to note that the refugee applicant carrying this document is not authorized to perform any paid work.
• THIS SERVICE IS FREE OF CHARGE. NO PAYMENT OR SERVICE MUST BE PAID TO THE NRO, CONARE, UNHCR or their partners at any time during the application process.

Assistance to Venezuelans

The  Heartland Alliance International (HAI) and the Instituto Dominicano de Desarrollo Integral (IDDI) carry out assistance programs for Venezuelan nationals. You can apply for them through the contact numbers available.

• Humanitarian Assistance (basic needs, food) 849-457-4610
• Emergency rental and housing support 849-457-4610
• Multipurpose cash (CBI) 849-457-4610
• Legal 849-405-4610
• Psychological 849-458-4610
• Health 809-723-5807

More details here.

More information here.