President Luis Abinader has granted Dominican nationality to 22 individuals through a special naturalization process since taking office six years ago, a practice authorized by a law originally enacted in 1948 by Ley 1683 and Rafael Leónidas Trujillo. This expedited path to citizenship is reserved for those deemed to have made significant social and economic contributions to the Dominican Republic.
Among those receiving the honor are entrepreneurs, intellectuals, clergy, politicians, artists, writers and even a former president, primarily from Spain, who have established strong ties to the country. The practice highlights the Dominican Republic’s efforts to recognize individuals who have invested in its cultural and economic landscape.
According to records from the Consultoría Jurídica del Poder Ejecutivo, President Luis Abinader has conferred this distinction on 22 people, exceeding the 18 naturalizations granted during the two terms of his predecessor, Danilo Medina.
Details regarding the merits of each recipient are contained within presidential decrees, which are not always widely publicized by the Palacio Nacional press office. This lack of transparency has drawn some scrutiny to the process.
The first individual to benefit from this expedited process under the Abinader administration was Spanish businessman José Bono Martínez, granted citizenship on October 2, 2020, through decree 517-20. Bono Martínez previously served as Spain’s Minister of Defense (2004-2006) and President of the Congress of Deputies between 2008 and 2011.
On March 30, 2021, decree 169-21 granted naturalization to French national Renaud Maurice Marie Anselin, who leads an organization dedicated to preserving the historical and cultural heritage of the Colonial Zone.
The practice similarly extends to those who have played a role in Dominican politics. On April 30, 2021, presidential order 278-21 facilitated the granting of Dominican identification to Colombian political strategist Mauricio De Vengoechea, who designed the campaign strategy for the Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) during the 2020 elections.
Recognition has also been given to figures in the arts and culture. On July 2, 2021, decree 399-21 conferred the honor upon Patricia Phelps de Cisneros, a renowned collector and promoter of Latin American art.
Phelps de Cisneros is the widow of Venezuelan businessman Gustavo Cisneros, who also received Dominican nationality through a privileged naturalization process via decree 9-10 issued by former President Leonel Fernández in January 2010.
On January 7, 2022, decree 1-22 granted citizenship to Spanish national José Vila del Castillo, who served as the first commissioner for the reform of the National Police between 2022 and 2024.
That same year, decree 42-22 was used to honor former Spanish Prime Minister Felipe González (in office 1982-1996), whom Abinader described as a “loyal friend” of the Dominican Republic.
González is among the few recipients to have received this honor in a public ceremony, held on February 2, 2022, at the National Palace, during a ceremony where the Spanish politician recalled his ties to the country, which began with his visit to the inauguration of President Antonio Guzmán in 1978.
On October 14, 2022, decree 574-22 was issued to grant citizenship to Puerto Rican state Senator Luis Sepúlveda, representing New York’s 32nd District.
Seis en el 2023, una más de lo establecido por la ley
Article 20 of Ley 1683 stipulates that privileged naturalization should not exceed five individuals per year. Although, records from the Consultoría Jurídica del Poder Ejecutivo show six cases in 2023.
On February 20, 2023, Abinader issued decree 573-22, granting citizenship to Cuban Jesuit priest Jorge William Hernández Díaz. On March 17 of that year, he signed decree 109-23 to benefit French businessman Michel Antoine Amorin.
Decree 116-23, issued on May 31, 2023, was granted to Spanish businessman José Joaquín Gutiérrez Tuñón, while decree 393-23, issued on September 14, went to Canadian priest Jean Armad Lacaille Turgeón, both linked to social activities in Miches, El Seibo province.
On December 29, 2023, decree 665-23 was issued to grant citizenship to Spanish theologian and philosopher Pedro Álvarez Pastor. Also on December 29, 2023, Abinader signed order 659-23 to honor Spanish writer Óscar Mateo Zazo Martín.
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En 2024
On January 18, 2024, the president granted Dominican nationality, through decree 19-24, to Cuban coach Yaseen Pérez Gómez, under the modality of privileged naturalization.
Pérez arrived in the Dominican Republic in 2013 and is the coach behind the success of Peravian runner Mariely Paulino.
Similarly, with decree 51-24, issued on January 31, 2024, the distinction was granted to Colombian national Luis Ernesto García Hernández. This privilege came six days after the head of state appointed him commissioner for the reform of the National Police.
Likewise, with decree 97-24, issued on May 3, 2024, the honor was granted to Spanish priest Manuel Hernández Jerez, who passed away in November 2025. Meanwhile, with decree 541-24, issued on September 23, it was granted to Russian pianist Daniil Trífonov.
On December 2, 2024, Abinader signed executive order 667-24 to grant the distinction to Puerto Rican businessman Fred Oscar Imbert, president of Grupo Raya, which operates the Wendy’s, Pizza Hut, and Chili’s franchises, as well as Grupo de Medios EB, in Punta Cana.
2025
With order 304-25, issued on June 9, 2025, citizenship was granted to Spanish national Ramón Ramos Urías, founder of Grupo Ramos, which operates the Sirena store, one of the largest of its kind.
On November 28, the head of state issued decrees 659-25 and 663-25 to grant privileged citizenship to Ecuadorian businessman George Edward Ghattas Nasrallah and French economist Henri Víctor Hebrard, respectively.
Meanwhile, on December 31, Abinader issued orders 711-25 and 723-25 to benefit Nicaraguan writer, economist, and politician Haroldo José Montealegre Lacayo, and Mexican archaeologist and anthropologist Eduardo Matos Moctezuma.
Matos Moctezuma led the excavation of the Templo Mayor project, an excavation that studied and preserved the remains of the main ceremonial temple of the ancient Mexica capital, Tenochtitlan, now in the historic center of Mexico City.
In the first months of 2026, no such citizenships have been recorded.
