Entry/Exit Requirements

If you are traveling by air outside of the United States, you are required to present a passport to re-enter the United States. U.S. citizens traveling by sea must now have either a U.S. passport, passport card, or other WHTI-compliant travel document. “Enhanced driver’s licenses” or “enhanced ID cards” offered by many states are not accepted by Dominican authorities for ferry travel from Puerto Rico.

We strongly recommend that all U.S. citizens have a valid U.S. passport in their possession prior to their arrival in the Dominican Republic.  Attempting to enter on expired or invalid documents will result in deportation and a direct return to the United States.  Sea travelers should also check with their cruise line and countries of destination for any foreign entry requirements.

For information concerning entry and exit requirements, travelers may contact the Embassy of the Dominican Republic at 1715 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20008, tel. (202) 332-6280. There are also Dominican consulates in Boston, MA; Chicago, IL; Glendale, CA; Mayaguez, Puerto Rico; Miami, FL, New Orleans, LA; New York, NY, and San Juan, Puerto Rico. Visit the Embassy of the Dominican Republic in the United States for more information.

Visitors who do not obtain a Dominican visa prior to entry must purchase a tourist card upon arrival to enter the country. Tourist cards cost 10 USD, which must be paid in U.S. currency.  Tourist cards may be purchased at the Dominican Embassy in Washington or Dominican consulates prior to arrival, as well as at Dominican airports at the time of entry. Tourist cards normally permit a legal stay of up to 60 days. Visitors who would like to extend their time in the Dominican Republic should visit the Migration Department in Santo Domingo and request an extension.  Failure to request an extension will subject the visitor to a surcharge at the airport upon departure.  The surcharge, assessed on a sliding scale, ranges from 30 USD for one month to as high as 500 USD for five years. 

Travel of children and exit requirements: Strict exit requirements apply to minors under 18 years of age (of any nationality) who are residents in the Dominican Republic.  Minor children traveling alone, without one parent, or with anyone other than the parent(s), must present written authorization from a parent or legal guardian. This authorization must be in Spanish, and it must be notarized at a Dominican consulate in the United States, or notarized and then certified at the Dominican Attorney General’s office (Procuraduria de la Republica) if done in the Dominican Republic.  More information, including current fee information, can be found at the Immigration Office's website.

Though not a requirement for non-resident minors (in the Dominican Republic), we recommend that any minor traveling to the Dominican Republic without one or both parents have a notarized document from the absent parent(s).  In addition to clarifying the reason for travel, this will facilitate departure from the Dominican Republic. Regulations governing the travel of children in the Dominican Republic can be found in Spanish on the Dirección General de Migración web site.

The U.S. Department of State is unaware of any HIV/AIDS entry restrictions for visitors to or foreign residents of the Dominican Republic.

Importation of firearms into the Dominican Republic is generally prohibited. For further information, the Ministry of the Armed Forces is located at Avenida 27 de Febrero esquina Av. Heroes de Luperón, in front of Plaza de la Bandera, Santo Domingo. The phone number is 809 530-5149.

Information about dual nationality or the prevention of international child abduction can be found on our website.  For further information about customs regulations, please read our Customs Information page.