Aerial view of Miches — the CONFOTUR-eligible coastal town where Vista Serena is located, bay and mountains

CONFOTUR Law Guide 2026: up to 15 years of tax exemptions for tourism projects in the Dominican Republic

Individual Deslinde titlesRegistered · Tribunal de Tierras
CONFOTUR · Law 158-01Eligible · up to 15 years of exemptions
Limestone bedrock certifiedIngeoCaribe · 3 boreholes · Dec. 2025
Miches, #29 of 52 Places to GoThe New York Times · 2026

⚖️ UP TO 15 YEARS OF EXEMPTIONS · DECREE 372-14 · INVEST IN MICHES BEFORE FOUR SEASONS (2027)

Vista Serena · Miches · Dominican Republic CONFOTUR Law Guide 2026

Decree 372-14 · 6-8 months process · Applied by co-founder François Bénard

CONFOTUR is Dominican Republic's Tourism Confidence Law — created to attract foreign investors with 15 years of full tax exemptions on certified tourism real estate. I'm François Bénard, co-founder of Vista Serena and Talipot Boutique Lodge in Miches. I've applied CONFOTUR myself on my own project. This guide shares the real workflow (Decree 372-14, 6-8 months in general), the exemptions (3% transfer, property tax for 15 years), and how a tourism project can apply for them on offers of 5,000 m² or more at Vista Serena in Miches.

Up to 15 yrs of exemptions

3% Transfer Tax Saved

6-8mo Months Process

372-14Decree (Law 158-01)

Apply Before Four Seasons Opens (2027)

Once Four Seasons Tropicalia opens in 2027, Miches land prices accelerate. CONFOTUR certification takes 6-8 months — start in 2026 to lock entry-level prices.

6-8 months window

You're a foreign investor seeking yield

CONFOTUR makes Dominican Republic the most fiscally efficient real estate market in the Caribbean. 15 yrs zero property tax + 0% income tax on rental from certified hotels + 3% transfer waived. Verify your project eligibility.

No property tax (IPI) for 15 years on certified land
3% transfer tax exemption at acquisition
0% income tax on rental from certified hotels (15 yrs)
Foreign investors have same rights as Dominicans

Apply CONFOTUR (Free Audit) →

You plan to build a hotel or ecolodge

CONFOTUR was designed for tourism projects: hotels, ecolodges, boutique resorts, villas-rental. The certification covers construction phase + 15 yrs operating. My Talipot Boutique Lodge project (9 bungalows in active construction) is CONFOTUR-eligible. Apply the same playbook.

Eligible projects: hotels · ecolodges · boutique resorts
15-year exemption covers construction + operation
Vista Serena offers of 5,000 m² or more for CONFOTUR projects
40+ years co-founder Caribbean experience — guided application

Plan Your CONFOTUR Project →

What is CONFOTUR Law? (Decree 372-14)

CONFOTUR (Consejo de Fomento al Turismo) is the Dominican Tourism Council established under Law 158-01 (passed 2001) and operationalized by Decree 372-14. Its mandate: attract private capital into Dominican tourism real estate by removing fiscal friction.

Mechanism: any tourism project (hotel, ecolodge, boutique resort, eco-luxury residences) located in a CONFOTUR-designated zone can apply for full fiscal exemptions for 15 years. The application is reviewed by the Ministry of Tourism (MITUR). Approval window: 6-8 months.

Miches — where Vista Serena and Talipot Boutique Lodge are located — is a designated CONFOTUR zone since 2014. Learn more about Vista Serena and its land for CONFOTUR projects.

How CONFOTUR Saves Real Money (3 Concrete Savings)

CONFOTUR is not a vague "tax incentive program." It is a precise legal mechanism with 3 measurable savings:

Transfer Tax Waived

Standard DR transfer tax at acquisition is 3% of property value. CONFOTUR exempts this entirely.

Property Tax (IPI) for 15 Years

Standard DR IPI is 1% per year on properties above RD$9,860,649 (~$167,000 USD). CONFOTUR exempts this for 15 years.

Income Tax on Rental (15 Years)

Rental income from CONFOTUR-certified hotels is exempt from income tax for 15 years. Talipot Boutique Lodge applies this on its 9-bungalow hotel operation.

CONFOTUR Eligibility: Who Qualifies?

CONFOTUR is project-specific (not applied automatically to all properties). To qualify:

✓ Property located in a CONFOTUR-designated tourism zone (Miches is one)
✓ Project use: tourism (hotel, ecolodge, boutique resort, rental residence)
✓ Minimum investment thresholds met (varies by zone — Miches: from $200k)
✓ Project plans approved by Ministry of Tourism (MITUR)
✓ Construction begins within 36 months of certification
✓ Architectural and environmental compliance verified

See available CONFOTUR-eligible lots.

Vista Serena: Land for CONFOTUR Projects

Vista Serena is a 9-hectare estate in Miches, Dominican Republic, designed from day 1 for CONFOTUR-eligible tourism projects. The estate is divided into 6 lots (A through F).

Lots B-E (ocean-view, 40-110 USD/m²; Lot A is reserved) and Lot F (interior, 50 USD/m²) are all located within the Miches CONFOTUR zone and pre-zoned for tourism use. Buyers can apply for CONFOTUR certification on their own project (villa, boutique hotel, ecolodge) with a streamlined application — much of the zoning and environmental work is already done.

My own Talipot Boutique Lodge (9 lodges under construction at Vista Serena) went through the CONFOTUR application: 10 months. The application process took 10 months end-to-end. See the Talipot CONFOTUR application workflow.

François Bénard — Co-founder applied CONFOTUR Law

"CONFOTUR is the most powerful fiscal tool in Caribbean real estate. I've applied it on my own Talipot Boutique Lodge project — the savings on construction alone justify the 10-month application timeline. If you're building a tourism project in Miches, you'd be leaving money on the table not applying."

— François Bénard, Co-Founder · Resident investor · Miches since 2011

Apply CONFOTUR on a Vista Serena Lot

You build your project (villa rental, boutique hotel, ecolodge), I guide your CONFOTUR application based on my Talipot experience. 6-8 months end-to-end. $40-110 USD/m² entry-level pricing for the most fiscally efficient real estate market in the Caribbean.

💬 Discuss My Project (WhatsApp)📄 Request CONFOTUR Audit

What investors ask about CONFOTUR Law

Q: Is CONFOTUR automatic for all DR real estate?: A: No. CONFOTUR is project-specific. You must apply through the Ministry of Tourism (MITUR), with project plans for a tourism use (hotel, ecolodge, rental residence). Approval window: 6-8 months. Decree 372-14 governs the process.
Q: How much can a foreign investor save with CONFOTUR?: A: For an approved tourism project, CONFOTUR can exempt the 3% transfer tax at acquisition, the property tax (IPI) for 15 years and income tax on rental from certified hotels; the amount depends on each project. Calculated on the typical Miches villa/boutique hotel scenario.
Q: Are Vista Serena lots CONFOTUR-eligible?: A: Offers of 5,000 m² or more at Vista Serena can host a CONFOTUR tourism project; prices range from 40 to 110 USD/m². See available lots →

Apply CONFOTUR with the Co-Founder Who Applied It

"I navigated the CONFOTUR application for Talipot Boutique Lodge — 10 months from architecture plans to certification. Let me share the workflow, the pitfalls, and the realistic timeline to help you secure up to 15 years of exemptions for your approved project." — François Bénard, Co-Founder

LinkedIn About Vista Serena Talipot Boutique Lodge

Get CONFOTUR Guidance 🗓️

✓ CO-FOUNDER APPLIED ✓ FREE FIRST AUDIT ✓ MICHES EXPERTISE SINCE 2011

CONFOTUR Law — Frequently Asked Questions

What is CONFOTUR exactly?

CONFOTUR (Consejo de Fomento al Turismo) is a fiscal incentive program established by Dominican Law 158-01 (2001) and operationalized by Decree 372-14. It grants 15-year tax exemptions on real estate developed for tourism use within designated zones (Miches is one). Administered by the Ministry of Tourism (MITUR).

How much tax do I save with CONFOTUR?

Three exemptions for an approved project: (1) the 3% transfer tax at acquisition; (2) 0% property tax (IPI) for 15 years — standard IPI is 1%/year on properties >RD$9,860,649 (~$167k USD); (3) 0% income tax on rental revenue from CONFOTUR-certified hotels for 15 years.

How long does CONFOTUR certification take?

Per Decree 372-14, the official certification timeline is 6 to 8 months end-to-end. This includes: architectural plans review, environmental compliance audit, zoning verification, and final MITUR approval.

Can foreign investors apply for CONFOTUR?

Yes — foreign investors have the same rights as Dominican citizens for real estate ownership and CONFOTUR application. There is no nationality restriction. The project itself (not the owner) qualifies for the exemption. See full buying process for foreign investors.

What types of projects qualify for CONFOTUR?

Tourism projects: hotels, ecolodges, boutique resorts, eco-luxury residences, rental villas, beach clubs, golf-integrated properties. Vista Serena lots (40-110 USD/m²) support all these uses. My own Talipot Boutique Lodge (9-bungalow boutique ecolodge) is CONFOTUR-eligible and in active construction.

What is the minimum investment for CONFOTUR?

Investment thresholds vary by zone and project type. In Miches, typical minimums start around $200,000 USD project value (land + construction). Vista Serena entry-level lot pricing (~$50 USD/m² interior) combined with a modest construction allows mid-range investors to qualify. Verify thresholds via official MITUR consultation.

François Bénard — Co-Founder Vista Serena, applied CONFOTUR on Talipot Boutique Lodge

Co-Founder · Based in Punta Cana · Applied CONFOTUR · 40 yrs Caribbean

I'm not just writing about CONFOTUR — I applied it myself on Talipot Boutique Lodge, my own 9-bungalow boutique project in Miches. The application took 10 months. Every clause on this page comes from my direct legal review with Dominican counsel.

LinkedIn About Vista Serena Talipot Boutique Lodge

Deepen Your CONFOTUR Research

⚠️ Legal Notice:
CONFOTUR Law benefits (15-year tax exemptions, 3% transfer tax waiver) are NOT automatic. They require formal project certification by the Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism (MITUR) per Decree 372-14, with a typical 6-8 months processing time. Tax thresholds, exemption durations, and eligibility criteria may evolve with Dominican legislation. Indicative figures cited (3% transfer, 1% IPI, RD$9,860,649 IPI threshold for 2024, ~$167k USD equivalent) reflect 2024-2026 rates and may change. Vista Serena lots adjacent prices (40-110 USD/m², ocean-view 40-110, interior 50) are indicative for 2026 and may evolve. Individual Deslinde titles are verified before any transfer. Brand mentions (Club Med, Four Seasons) refer to operational or publicly announced projects in the Miches region — not partnerships with Vista Serena, Talipot Boutique Lodge, or any CONFOTUR project mentioned. Information on this page is educational and does not constitute legal, tax, or financial advice. Consult a Dominican attorney and tax advisor for project-specific due diligence and CONFOTUR application.

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⚖️CONFOTUR Law Guide 2026: up to 15 years of tax exemptions for tourism projects in the Dominican Republic