Before I arrive?
What paper work do I need?
Papers required to enter the Dominican Republic
A passport or equivalent national identity document and a visa is required of foreigners traveling to the DR. Citizens of some countries, listed below, do not need a visa. All non-resident travelers need to show a round trip ticket as proof of their departure.
Traveling without a passport
The DR has signed an agreement with the US and Canada that allows their nationals to enter without a passport or visa by purchasing a US$10 tourist card. You will need to present proof of citizenship - either an original birth certificate or certified copies with raised seal, an expired passport (if photograph still clearly resembles the bearer), US naturalization certificate or a signed US voter registration card.
Aliens who are permanent US residents must have their US alien registration card to return to the US. A drivers license will not suffice as identification.
You will also need a photo ID, such as a driver's license, that matches the name on your citizenship document. If you have changed your name because of marriage, you should bring certified proof of your marriage.
Why get a passport anyway?
A passport is the preferred document for international travel to the DR. In these days of enhanced security considerations, travelers are highly recommended to go abroad with passports as their identification document. Note you will need a passport to cash travelers checks, rent a car, to make large credit card purchases, and sometimes even as a security deposit for equipment such as golf clubs. Carry your passport when you go into the city, in case you want to make a large credit card purchase or change a travelers check. Otherwise keep it locked in your safe and carry the Xerox copy. If you do carry your passport on your travels, it is always a good practice to keep a copy of it in a safe place. This will expedite replacement should it get lost.
Entry without visa or tourist card
Argentina, Chile, South Korea, Ecuador, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Peru, Liechtenstein and Uruguay.
List of those who can enter by buying a tourist card
The US$10 tourist card can be purchased at airports of entry. The card may be purchased prior to arrival at full-service consulates, embassies, tour operators or airlines abroad (the Admiral Club of American Airlines in San Juan may be able to sell you one, for example). A surcharge in addition to the US$10 may be charged when buying the card abroad, though.
The tourist card is one piece form in Spanish and English with a perforated
bottom part that you keep, the top part you hand in before leaving
immigration. Click on the links to see what it looks like Part
1 Part 2
Nationals from the following countries may enter the DR with a passport and tourist card – no visa required: Albania, Andorra, Antigua, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Bermuda, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Curaçao, Denmark, Dominica, Finland, France (includes Guadeloupe, Guyana, Germany, Greece, Guyana, Holland, Hungary, Italy, Jamaica, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Martinique, Mexico, Monaco, Northern Ireland, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Reunion, Rumania, Russia, San Marino, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Marteen, St. Martin, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Slovenia, Spain, Surinam, Sweden, Switzerland, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos Islands, Ukraine, United Kingdom, the United States of America (including Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands), Venezuela and Yugoslavia.
All legal residents in the United States, Holland, Italy, Canada, Venezuela, Germany, Portugal, Spain, France, Greece, Great Britain, Ireland, Denmark, regardless of their nationality, may enter the country as long as they bear an up to date passport or national identity papers and have purchased a tourist card.
Tourist cards permit a legal stay of no more than 90 days. An immigration inspector will usually give you 30 days or 60 days upon stamping your passport. Keep the tourist card in a safe place, as you will need it when leaving the country.
If you plan to buy your tourist card at a Dominican airport, we recommend you bring exact change in US$ and a pen to fill out the cards. You may have to wait in a long line to buy the card but take comfort from the knowledge that you would likely have to wait for your luggage to be unloaded from the airplane anyway.
To request a visa
In case you need a visa and there is no Dominican consulate in your country, you should request one from the nearest consulate or Dominican Embassy.
Extending your stay
If you decide to extend your stay here, you need to visit the Migration Department in Santo Domingo to request an extension. Or you will simply be fined about US$10 at the airport upon departure.
Diplomat and government officers travel
Countries with which the Dominican Republic has agreements for diplomats and government officers to travel without visa are:
Argentina, Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, and Uruguay.
Traveling with children
If you will be traveling to or from the DR with a child who does not have your same surname or if you cannot prove you are the parent or the legal guardian, you will need special documentation. You should contact the nearest Dominican consulate for information on the paperwork required. These include a notarized statement from the absent parent or parents giving permission for the child to leave the country of residence with you.
Note the Dominican Republic has firm rules in place to prevent international abductions of children by adults who do not have legal custody. Do not assume that if the child has a passport that everything is fine. If there is a difference in surnames, you should travel with a birth certificate that confirms the parentage or guardianship.
Currency To Bring
What’s the best currency to bring?
You will find it’s most convenient to bring US dollars. You will get a better rate if you exchange your foreign currency abroad. This is so because the dollar is an extremely competitive currency here, not so European and Asian currencies that are in less demand. Most stores and restaurants in tourist areas will accept US$ as well as the local currency, the Dominican peso – shown as RD$. As of the end of February, the Euro is expected to circulate as freely as the dollar, increasing its demand and exchange price locally, versus the 11 European currencies in the past.
Should I cash my Canadian dollars into US dollars?
Yes, if you want to get the maximum exchange rate. You could lose around 10% if you don't.
The US dollar is currently trading at close to 27 pesos = US$1. The Central Bank posts Monday to Friday the average of transaction rates used by authorized currency dealers (exchange houses and commercial banks).
What about other currencies?
If your original currency is not the US dollar, you would be best off changing your currency into US$ cash or American Express traveler’s checks in US dollars before leaving home. Otherwise, you may be penalized with a loss of more than 15%. There are no service fees for exchanging money in the DR but you will simply get a poorer rate than if you changed money at home.
If you have not had time to change your money abroad, you can do so in Dominican banks. Currencies of the United States, Canada and the European Union are exchanged by most banks and in most large hotels. The better rate for foreign exchange can be had at exchange houses rather than banks and hotels.
How much cash should I bring?
When traveling, avoid carrying a lot of cash, especially in the big cities. This is valid anywhere in the world and is why it’s best to use travelers checks and credit cards.
The amount of cash you bring will depend on what you plan to purchase. You may need ready cash for minor expenses and to purchase souvenirs from small vendors. Most other purchases can be made with credit cards or travel checks. There also is a large network of automatic teller machines in many bank branches and public places throughout the nation, especially in tourist destinations. You can withdraw money from your account at home or get a cash advance on your credit card, but remember, it will only be dispensed in Dominican pesos.
Also remember that the money change facilities in most resort areas will not give you dollars for your travelers checks… only pesos. Therefore, bring some US cash with you.
You will need to keep aside US$10 in cash for your departure tax (unless your tour operator has included it in the package price.)
For immediate funds upon arrival in the DR, you can change some money at the airport Banco de Reservas booth, open 24 hours.
Keeping in Touch
Are you calling from your hotel?
If so, make sure you let the front desk know when you check in that you’d like an open international line, assuming they’ll have your credit card
already.
Check with your local carrier to see if they offer local access numbers for you to call to gain access to your calling card number.
Are you out and about?
Calling centers are located in all tourist areas and offer some of the cheapest rates you’ll find. Codetel and Tricom have calling centers
everywhere and you’re likely to find many other smaller (private) ones in the major tourist areas. Many have Internet access available as well, but
not all. Typically a call to the United States is around $US 0.25 – 0.35 per
minute. Simply find an open booth, follow the instructions and when finished just go to the cashier and let them know what booth you were in.
Oftentimes these centers will also double as “cambios” offering an alternative to change to local currency, often times at very competitive
rates. Shop around.
Cellular: With today’s cellular technology and popularity, you may want to
call your provider to see what they offer and if you have a phone that is compatible with the analog system of 800 Mhz AMPS/NAMPS. If so, you can use
it to make outgoing calls. If you’re on the Sprint system in the United States you’ll pick up the Codetel system in the DR and be charged around
US$1.25/minute. Depending on how long you’ll be here, and how much you plan
to use your phone, this may be the simplest option of all. Call Sprint before you leave to get the exact rate.
You can also get your mobile phone activated to function in the DR. Both Codetel and Tricom offer this service at a cost. First call your local
provider to find out if you can use your phone ‘as is’ first. If you can use your phone without local activation, balance those rates against what it
will cost to activate here in the DR. Also, consider how much you plan to
use your phone while here, as that will ultimately determine the most fiscally wise course of action.
Calling cards: Another cheap calling option, and convenient! Sold in various denominations at just about every corner store (colmados), gas
stations, and also at Codetel or Tricom phone centers. Just follow the instructions on the back of the card. Calls to the USA cost about
US$0.85/minute.
Cellular Rentals: You can also rent cellular phones through Codetel at the
airport or at the main office in Santo Domingo. A credit card is required. Rentals cost about US$1.25/day and includes a power charger and your own
private number. Local calls are billed at US$1/minute and US$0.50/minute - plus long-distance charges - for international calls. Incoming calls are
billed at US$1/minute. Call 800-353-8271 or 809-220-1111 to reserve your phone to get the most recent rate information.
Other options: If you plan on traveling here often, you may consider buying
a cell phone and using the calling card option. One of the best deals with a DR cell phone is that you don’t get charged for incoming calls. If you
buy a calling card, call your party in Canada (for example), have them buy a cheap calling card and call you back. It will cost you a minute on your
card, and they only pay around US$0.10/minute. Can’t really beat that.
What not to do: Try to avoid using your credit card to make long distance
calls. This is often the most expensive option.
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