Our target move date is February 15, 2027. We’ve chosen Santiago, narrowed down some areas we want to explore, and started getting our finances together. Most of our passports are ready.
That’s the honest starting point. A lot of the practical work is still ahead of us, and this checklist is how we’re organizing it.
What we’ve decided—and what’s ready
- We’ve chosen Santiago as our destination.
- We have an initial housing search area, with access to PUCMM’s Santiago campus in mind.
- We’ve outlined a working budget and already have some money saved.
- Most of our passports are ready; one child still needs a passport.
- We’ve set February 15, 2027, as our target departure date.
Those decisions give us a direction. We still need to turn them into bookings, completed paperwork, and a practical arrival plan.
Narrowing down where we want to live
We’re particularly interested in the east and southeast of Santiago and areas that would make getting to PUCMM manageable. Villa Olga and Los Jardines are also among the neighborhoods we want to investigate.
We haven’t chosen a building or a house yet. The next step is to connect with a local real estate agent and identify four or five properties or residential communities we can visit during our first couple of weeks there.
We want to arrive with a useful shortlist, then see how each place fits our budget, school plans, and daily routines.
Passports, documents, and the residency process
The remaining passport is one of our first tasks. We also need to organize our birth certificates and confirm the required apostilles and Spanish translations for the applications we’ll be making.
I plan to pursue the pensionado residency route. Before applying, I need to confirm my eligibility, the requirements for any family members included, and which documents must be prepared or signed while we’re still in the United States.
We also need to distinguish the consular residence visa from the residency application in the Dominican Republic. The Dominican immigration authority lists a valid consular residence visa as a requirement for the pensionado residency process.
Our goal is to complete the steps required before departure and understand the steps that remain after arrival. Getting the application started is one milestone; having everything approved is another.
- Obtain the remaining passport and review everyone’s passport validity.
- Confirm the document requirements for each family member.
- Arrange the required apostilles and accepted Spanish translations.
- Confirm the pensionado route and the applicable consular process.
- Identify any signatures, appointments, or original documents needed before leaving the United States.
- Keep the original documents organized and make secure backup copies.
Finances, belongings, and the travel plan
We’ve started saving and have a working budget. We still need to keep building that cushion and account for the costs of getting there and setting up a home.
Our belongings plan is straightforward: take our personal items and remote-work and filming equipment, sell most of the household furniture, and store the larger things we’re keeping in the United States.
Flights aren’t booked yet. As we work through the checklist, we also need to confirm temporary accommodation for the arrival period and transportation for the housing visits.
- Keep saving and refine the moving and arrival budget.
- Sell the household items we’re leaving behind.
- Arrange storage for the boats, vehicles, and U.S. work equipment we’re keeping.
- Finalize what we’re packing.
- Book flights and confirm baggage allowances for our belongings and equipment.
- Confirm our initial accommodation and arrival transportation.
Education and health before departure
For me, we need to investigate university options and confirm whether my chosen program can be supported by my VA education benefits. For the kids, we want local bilingual schools where they can learn the language and become part of the culture.
We also want to review any prescription needs and collect the records we’ll need for continuity of care. We’ll confirm any medical paperwork or examinations required by the immigration process separately.
- Contact prospective bilingual schools about enrollment, costs, and required records.
- Confirm university admission and applicable VA education requirements.
- Gather school, vaccination, and relevant medical records.
- Review prescription arrangements and healthcare coverage for the transition.
- Confirm any immigration-related medical requirements.
What we want settled before we leave
Before departure, we want our passports ready, the required U.S.-side paperwork handled, our belongings sold or stored, and a clear plan for the first few weeks.
We also want a real estate agent lined up and a shortlist of places to visit. That gives us something practical to work from when we land.
We’re still early in the process. Having a date and a destination makes the plan feel real; working through this checklist is how we’ll get ready to go.
This is our family’s working checklist. We’ll update it as we confirm requirements and complete the next steps.
More from our move: why we chose Santiago and what we’re taking and leaving behind.
Official planning reference: pensionado residency requirements from the Dominican immigration authority.
Be wild at last.
—Michael
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