🏖️ Dominican Republic

Official government travel advice

Advice changes quickly. Check it before you travel and again before you leave.

Costs

Prices here are about 39% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.

Practical information

Entry

Passport nationality determines the visa rules, which the official site below sets out. A visa from an embassy may be needed, depending on nationality; as reported, some travellers instead need a small tourist card, often covered by the airfare. Check the position with an embassy or with the Dominican foreign ministry before booking. Arriving passengers are asked as well to complete the 'e-ticket', an online form for entry and exit; your airline and the official immigration site explain how it applies to your trip. Pack a return ticket, hotel details, proof of funds and a passport with 6 months of validity.

Culture and practical - take note

Friendly, loud and musical describes Dominicans, with merengue and bachata heard everywhere. The language spoken is Spanish. Resorts make things easy, but beyond them valuables should be kept out of sight and only official taxis or apps used. Hurricane season covers roughly June to November, so buy travel insurance. Strong rip currents can occur on beaches. Stick to bottled water. Where service is not included, tip about 10%, with a little extra at resorts. Never ride a motorbike taxi without a helmet, and never buy or carry drugs. In churches, dress modestly. Outside Santo Domingo, halal food is limited.

Emergency

911 for all emergencies.

Good to know

Peso, cards and ATMs

The currency is the Dominican peso. Canadian advice reports that credit, debit and cash machine card fraud occur frequently, including tampered card readers. It advises watching closely when others handle your cards, covering the keypad when entering a PIN, using machines in public areas or inside a bank or business, and carrying only small amounts of cash.

Local laws and customs

Drugs, ID and detention

Canadian advice describes zero tolerance for illegal drugs in the Dominican Republic, with penalties possible even for small amounts and luggage searches or drug screening possible on departure. UK advice says drug cases can take years with detention likely. Authorities may ask for ID at any time. UK advice also says same-sex relations are legal but same-sex marriages are not recognised, and public affection may draw unwanted attention.

Taxis and scams

Authorised taxis and motoconchos

An authorised airport or hotel taxi service, or one from a registered provider, is what UK advice recommends, and it notes that many taxis are in poor condition. Canadian advice says taxis have no meters, so agree the fare before departure, and take taxis only from the official stands at the airport. Canada also says to avoid motorbike taxis, known as motoconchos.

Card skimming and online romance

Tampering with card readers, known as skimming, is a common scam according to Canadian advice, which says to shield the keypad when entering a PIN and check statements for unauthorised transactions. UK advice also warns of card cloning and suggests keeping your card in view or paying cash. Canadian advice further notes that romance scams through dating sites and social media have occurred.

Who can help

local government

Tourist Police (POLITUR), Dominican National Police

Helps with: The central office of the Dominican tourist police, listed in the National Police directory. Its tourist assistance and protection work covers visitors in tourist areas.

Who qualifies: Tourists and other visitors in the Dominican Republic.

Phone: (809) 222-2123

Email: [email protected]

Address: Ave. Gustavo Mejía Ricart esq. Teodoro Chasseriau, Santo Domingo, D.N.

Official website

Source · checked 2026-11-04

ngo

Cruz Roja Dominicana (Dominican Red Cross)

Helps with: The Dominican national Red Cross society, a non-profit. Its services include a blood bank, clinical laboratories, training, and ambulance transport. It also lists disaster response and pre-hospital care as areas of work.

Who qualifies: People in the Dominican Republic who need its health, ambulance or disaster services.

Phone: 809-334-4545

Address: C/ Juan E. Dunant No. 51, Ensanche Miraflores, Santo Domingo

Official website

Source · checked 2026-11-04

un agency

International Organization for Migration (IOM) Dominican Republic

Helps with: The UN migration agency, present in the Dominican Republic since 1968. It responds to the humanitarian needs of migrants, displaced people and returnees, and supports migration management.

Who qualifies: Migrants, displaced people and returnees in the Dominican Republic. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.

Phone: +1 809 688 81 74

Address: Av. César Nicolás Penson 102, Santo Domingo

Official website

Source · checked 2026-11-04

local government

Emergency number 911 (police, ambulance and fire)

Helps with: Reaches the police, ambulance and fire services in the Dominican Republic. UK government travel advice says 911 does not have full coverage across the country.

Who qualifies: Anyone in the country, including visitors, can call this number.

Phone: 911

Source · checked 2026-11-04

local government

Tourist police emergency line outside Santo Domingo

Helps with: Tourist police line for emergencies outside Santo Domingo, as given by UK government travel advice. That advice says the 911 number does not cover the whole country.

Who qualifies: Visitors who are outside Santo Domingo and need the tourist police in an emergency.

Phone: +1 809 200 3500

Source · checked 2026-11-04

Cities and places

Punta Cana Punta CanaAlong the Caribbean coast, this main beach resort area of the country is known for golf, all-inclusive hotels and white sand.Photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/uira/, CC BY-SA 2.0 Santo Domingo Santo DomingoIn the capital's UNESCO-listed Colonial Zone stand the Americas' oldest European-built cathedral and streets.Photo: Jose Juan C, Public domain Puerto Plata Puerto PlataBeaches, Victorian-style houses and a cable car that climbs Mount Isabel de Torres belong to this resort city on the north coast.Photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/scubabix/, CC BY 2.0 La Romana La RomanaSaona Island can be reached on boat trips from this city, which also has the village of Altos de Chavón and the Casa de Campo resort.Photo: Niedźwiadek78 (Michał Sulczyński), CC BY-SA 3.0 Santiago de los Caballeros Santiago de los CaballerosTobacco and cigar making are centred in this second city, which also has a lively food scene and a monument on a hill.Photo: derivative work: Fogster (talk) [2]: ChezSant, CC BY-SA 3.0 Samaná Peninsula Samaná PeninsulaHumpback whale watching in winter, quiet beaches and El Limón waterfall are the draws of this green peninsula.Photo: Danu Widjajanto, CC BY-SA 4.0

City selection based on: Dominican Ministry of Tourism / Central Bank arrivals by airport, Caribbean travel trade news.

Festivals and events

nature

Humpback whale season (Samana Bay)

around Jan-Mar 2027 · Samana

Samana Bay holds humpback whales in their thousands.

festival

Dominican Carnival

around Feb 2027 · Santo Domingo

In February, parades take place each Sunday.

nature

Humpback whale season (Samana Bay)

around Jan-Mar 2028 · Samana

Samana Bay holds humpback whales in their thousands.

festival

Dominican Carnival

around Feb 2028 · Santo Domingo

In February, parades take place each Sunday.