[vodaPlaps]

The US Dominican Embassy / Consulate can provide translation services (English to Spanish) but they charge $70.00 US per document. I found a private translation service cheaper and probably faster also. My biggest issue was translating my Birth Certificate and Name change certificate - both are in German - I translated those into English and then the translation agency went from English to Spanish. I was able to convince a notary (you sign a certificate that the documents are true copies) that all my copies were original and they notarized without any major issues. Then everything had to be taken to the Pa. State Department for the apostile.....they won't apostile anything without it being notarized first (trust me on this).

I started this entire process here in Santo Domingo about the first of August, I qualify as a pensionado - since I was born in Germany with a different name the attorney wanted me to obtain my Naturalization Certificate from the US hence a quick trip back to the States..........but it didn't turn out that easy - half way through the process the attorney announced that the Chancellory was only accepting applications for those married to a Dominican now and I should obtain the visa while in the US. It took about two weeks from start to finish but now I have the Residence Visa in my passport which is good for two months.....next step....a letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Chancellory) and then go to Immigration for the Residency application itself.