The Embassy staff is quite small in numbers but covers a range of functions in 4 main areas of work: These are Political and public affairs, trade and investment, consular and visa and development.

 

The Ambassador and his deputy are also accredited to Haiti and between them and a colleague resident in Port au Prince carry out a number of duties there.  The office there is currently temporarily closed.

Responsible for day to day government to government relations. The Ambassador and his assistant are responsible for keeping the British Government informed about the Dominican Republic by maintaining contacts with a full range of opinion makers from all sectors of society. In addition they are the interlocutors with the Dominican government, official and non official bodies, academic, environmental and other organisations in supporting their development by exchanging information and where appropriate providing expertise for specific programmes such as prison reform. They also manage the Chevening Scholarship scheme.

Responsible for trade development and inward investment. The two staff provide support to UK firms wishing to trade and export their goods and services in the Dominican Republic.  They seek and support new inward investment to the United Kingdom.  They are also a free source of information to Dominican businesses wishes to buy products and services from the UK.

Visa and Consular staff offers practical advice, assistance and support to British nationals who are resident in or travel to the DR. They can issue emergency passports, register births and deaths, notarise documents and assist Britons detained or imprisoned (although they cannot get them out of jail), who have fallen ill or been the victim of a crime. The visa staff are responsible for entry clearance work on behalf of UK Visas and the OverseasTerritories in the Caribbean. 

The Embassy has a small programme budget for local development and co-operation projects.