If you want to come to Dominican Republic as tourist you need to purchase a tourist card, may be included in your all-included package but if it’s not you have to pay US$10 at the airport, that card allows tourists to walk around freely in Dominican Republic for a maximum of 90 days, every time that you leave Dominican republic and get back you need to pay for that fee, this card is called Tourist Card, also they only accept cash, there are NO ATM’s near the migration office only outside so come with those US$10 or same amount in euros.
Currently, American residents (Canada, Puerto Rico, and United States) need only to present a valid passport, Air NEXUS Card, or U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document, also an Alien Registration Card could be considered as valid, click at New Requirements for American Travelers for more information (http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html ).
Dominican Republic Tourism Department also require a written authorization from a parent or legal guardian if you are planning to travel with a child under 13 years old, is mandatory to notify the Dominican Republic Consulate in the destination country, without this authorization you can’t fly with the child.
If you are coming from France you can stay in Dominican Republic up to 90 days (need to visit Immigration Department in Santo Domingo), what you need to enter is a Secure ID Card or a Valid Passport (Same for any people that comes from the European Union), you can bring to Dominican Republic all the things you want to satisfy your personal needs, but you have to pay a fee if you bring one of the following things:
- Automobiles, motorcycles, boats
- Machines, machinery spare parts
- Alcohol, wine, if are not considered for personal use
- Plants: you have to take care about this in Dominican Republic
- Cats, Dogs, Birds, and Snakes: Rabies vaccination certificate and health certificate needed, you can obtain that on your origin country, you don’t have to pay a fee for that, also Birds have to stay in quarantine for at least 10 days.
- Pornographic books and materials: importation prohibited.
- If you are coming from US remember that you cannot enter the country with more than 10,000 US$ Cash, same apply if you leaving Dominican Republic, otherwise you will have to declare your goods to your destination country.
- When I travel usually fly with some bottles of Brugal (Very Popular Dominican Republic Rum), you are allowed to fly with alcohol, wine or tobacco, but remember that’s only for personal use.
Visa Needs
Who needs a visa to travel to Dominican Republic? : All countries except for the following:
Nationals of the following countries are entitled to travel on Tourist cards if holding valid passports: Albania, Andorra, Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Curaçao, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Finland, France and French Overseas Territories, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Mexico, Monaco, The Netherlands, Norway, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, St Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines, San Marino, Slovak Rep, Slovenia, Spain, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, the UK, the USA (including Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands and Hawaii), Venezuela and Yugoslavia Fed Rep.
If you are nationals of Argentina, Ecuador, Iceland, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Liechtenstein and Uruguay you can stay as tourists for a maximum of 90 days and may enter without a visa or Tourist Card.
If you have any issue and you need help and you are a US Citizen the U.S. Embassy is located at the U.S. Consular Section at the corner of Calle César Nicolás Pensón and Avenida Máximo Gómez. Offices are open to the public on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., but U.S. citizens must arrive prior to 7:30 a.m. for assistance.
Leave a Reply