Are you interested in joining the ranks of nearly 20,000 American veterans living in the Dominican Republic? Does the idea of nearly 3000 hours of sunshine a year resonate with you? What about access to quality healthcare, provided through your VA benefits? With more and more veterans choosing to make the move to live in the DR, it’s easy to see why. But with its growing popularity comes several common misconceptions.

Join us here at Casa Linda as we debunk a few of these myths and explore the reality of daily life for veterans living in the Dominican Republic. Let’s dive in, below!

#1: “You Don’t Need to Learn Any Spanish”

Spanish is the national language of the Dominican Republic, with over 90% of the country’s population speaking it. As a veteran living in the Dominican Republic, you may have a more challenging time in areas with large local populations, like Santo Domingo. But if you’re living in areas with large tourist and expat populations, like Punta Cana or Cabarete, you can easily get around without much Spanish knowledge.

That said, even learning a few Spanish phrases will help you get around more easily. Fortunately, one of the best ways to learn any language is by immersing yourself in the culture, something already done for veterans living in the Dominican Republic.

#2: “You Lose All Your Benefits When Abroad”

While veterans living in the Dominican Republic may lose access to some benefits, most remain fully accessible for veterans soaking up the sun abroad.

For example, some benefits like VA Home Loans and any state-specific perks require U.S.-based systems, and aren’t available abroad. But many other essential benefits like pensions, disability compensations, education benefits, the Foreign Medical Program (FMP) remain available. To learn more about the full list of benefits that would be available abroad, contact the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs.

#3: “Veterans Can’t Access Quality Healthcare”

Healthcare is on the minds of many veterans, and understandably so. Veterans come from all walks of life, and often handle ongoing challenges, even decades after service. That’s why many are pleasantly surprised to learn that the Dominican Republic offers robust, specialized veteran health services.

Veterans living in the Dominican Republic can go to several dedicated health centres for their medical needs. One of the most widely recommended is Juvante Veterans Health Center. With locations in both the Dominican Republic and Colombia, this specialized veterans centre provides care and expertise to expats throughout Latin America. Juvante offers a wide range of completely free services to retired veterans living in the Dominican Republic. From physiotherapy to mental health services and dentistry, Juvante provides comprehensive care.

For a full list of services, visit Juvante’s site. Then, check out our YouTube video to learn more.

#4: “Owning Property as a Veteran Is Too Complex”

The Dominican Republic warmly welcomes expats to share its tropical backyard! There are zero restrictions on buying a home for foreigners. Veterans living in the Dominican Republic can enjoy the same property rights as locals.

There are also various unique ways for veterans to own a home! The Dominican Republic’s affordable cost of living allows veterans to seamlessly become homeowners, even if not residing in the DR full-time! Some communities, like Casa Linda, also offer alternative home ownership options like Co-Ownership. Become a fully-titled co-owner of five properties, and enjoy flexible stays in the heart of the Caribbean!

Where Paradise Meets Daily Life

Dreaming of warm, balmy nights and endless rays of sunshine in your very own Dominican villa? At Casa Linda, we’re here to help make these dreams a reality. As one of the leading housing developers on the Dominican Republic’s north coast, we’re proud to have built a vibrant veteran community for over 40 years. Send our team a message to learn more about our many home options for veterans living in the Dominican Republic.