Trip to the Dominican Republic: visa-free travel rules and the procedure for obtaining a tourist visa
Table of contents
- Who is eligible to visit the Dominican Republic without a visa?
- List of documents for visa-free travel to the Dominican Republic
- Who needs a tourist visa to enter the Dominican Republic?
- How to apply for a tourist visa to the Dominican Republic?
- A package of documents for obtaining a Dominican tourist visa
- The term of a visa to the Dominican Republic
- The cost of a visa to the Dominican Republic
- Can I extend my Dominican Republic visa?
- Electronic ticket for entry and exit from the Dominican Republic
- Customs regulations of the Dominican Republic
- Why should a tourist visit the Dominican Republic?
The Dominican Republic is a popular tourist destination, which is why millions of travelers visit this jewel of the Caribbean every year. Find out which rules for entering the country are relevant in 2024 and which of the foreigners need a tourist visa to travel to the country
The Dominican Republic is a country in South America that attracts tourists with its warm ocean, snow-white beaches and delicious cuisine. It also has fantastic nature and rich culture. Before planning a trip to this paradise island, you should familiarize yourself with the visa requirements. Who can travel to the country without a visa, and who needs to take care of an entry permit, we tell below.
Who is eligible to visit the Dominican Republic without a visa?
Foreign citizens from more than 100 countries can enter the Dominican Republic without a visa, including citizens of the United States of America, Canada, Great Britain, the European Union, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Mexico, most countries of South America and Central America, as well as Japan, Israel, etc.
Holders of a valid multiple entry visa or residence permit in the USA, Canada, UK or EU countries also do not need a visa to enter the Dominican Republic.
On the basis of the visa-free regime, a foreigner can stay in the Dominican Republic exclusively for the purpose of tourism. But stay in the country for 30 to 90 days (depending on citizenship).
List of documents for visa-free travel to the Dominican Republic
In general, for visa-free entry to the Dominican Republic, a foreigner must have only a foreign passport with a validity period of at least 6 months from the date of entry.
However, to confirm visa-free travel, it is also necessary to provide:
- Tickets to and from the Dominican Republic.
- Confirmation of residence in the country (booking a villa, hotel, etc.).
- A sufficient amount of funds for staying in the country (the availability of money can be confirmed by providing a statement from a card account, a salary certificate, etc.).
Who needs a tourist visa to enter the Dominican Republic?
Before traveling to the Dominican Republic, visitors must obtain a visa from one of the country's diplomatic missions if they are citizens of one of the following countries:
Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Colombia, Comoros Islands, Congo, DR Congo, Ivory Coast, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal , Niger, Nigeria, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Palestinian Territories, Philippines, Rwanda, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan , Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
How to apply for a tourist visa to the Dominican Republic?
The procedure for obtaining a tourist visa to the Dominican Republic consists of the following stages:
1. Make an appointment at the nearest embassy or consulate of the Dominican Republic in your country of residence.
2. Fill out the application form for a tourist visa to the Dominican Republic.
3. Collect the necessary package of documents (detailed below) and submit it to the nearest Dominican Republic embassy or consulate in your country.
4. Wait for the embassy's response - You will receive an email or SMS from the embassy/consulate to which you submitted your documents. Usually, application processing takes 10-15 days.
A package of documents for obtaining a Dominican tourist visa
To obtain a tourist visa to the Dominican Republic, the package of documents must include:
- Valid foreign passport (at least 6 months after application).
- Visa application form.
- One passport size photograph taken at least within the last six months.
- Medical insurance.
- Proof of residence – lease agreement, hotel reservation, invitation letter, etc.
- A certificate of no criminal record is a document issued by the police of your country. He must confirm that you do not pose a threat to the Dominican Republic.
- The flight itinerary is a document that describes the flight process, including the date and time of the flight, the name of the airline, the return ticket, etc.
- Marriage certificate (if married), birth certificate (if you have a child), tenancy agreement or joint bank account (if you live with a partner), etc.
In order to safely move, travel or work in a new country, you will need health insurance. You can issue an extended policy on our website using the link.
The term of a visa to the Dominican Republic
There are two types of visas in the Dominican Republic:
- Short-term visa - allows you to stay in the country for three months. With a short-term visa, you cannot apply for a residence permit.
- A long-term visa allows you to stay in the Dominican Republic for one year. If you want to stay longer than one year, you can apply for a residence permit.
A short-term visa is usually issued for tourist purposes. The procedure for obtaining a residence permit in the Dominican Republic is in this article.
The cost of a visa to the Dominican Republic
The cost of obtaining a visa to the Dominican Republic is USD 150. After paying at the embassy/consulate, be sure to attach the payment receipt to your visa application.
Can I extend my Dominican Republic visa?
Travelers can renew their Dominican Republic visa at the General Department of Migration of the Dominican Republic in Santo Domingo. Overstaying in the Dominican Republic will result in airport fines upon departure from the Dominican Republic.
Electronic ticket for entry and exit from the Dominican Republic
In addition to complying with visa regulations, all foreign and Dominican passengers entering or departing the Dominican Republic on commercial flights must complete a free electronic entry and exit form before traveling to the country. You can do this on the profile website using the link.
The ticket no longer needs to be filled out 72 hours before the trip. It can be completed as soon as you receive the flight information, even months in advance. However, it is important to arrive at the airline's check-in desk with a completed electronic ticket.
Customs regulations of the Dominican Republic
Foreigners have the right to import the following items into the Dominican Republic:
- A maximum of 20 packs of cigarettes, 25 cigars or 200 grams of tobacco.
- Up to three (3) liters of wine, beer, rum, whiskey or liquor in total.
- Gifts worth up to USD 500 (once every three months).
- Medicines for personal use. For medicinal products containing psychotropic substances, it is necessary to provide a prescription for their use.
Why should a tourist visit the Dominican Republic?
1. Some of the best beaches - the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, wide white beaches with palm trees, the gentle sun - all this is like paradise, and from here you do not want to return to reality.
2. Beach season all year round - the air temperature in the Dominican Republic stays at about the same level all year round - in winter it is about +27 +29°C, and in summer it is +30 +33°C. The water is constantly heated to +28 +30°C.
3. Most of the hotels work according to the "all inclusive" system, this allows you to orientate yourself about the budget of the trip even at the stage of its planning.
4. Delicious cuisine - fresh seafood, sweet fruits and bananas fried in batter will not leave anyone indifferent.
5. Entertainment - the Dominican Republic has a very beautiful underwater world: such activities as snorkeling and diving are popular. Beautiful coral reefs, fish, as if painted by an emotional artist, transparent water. Some tourists come specifically for surfing, because in the north of the country there are beaches where the waves rage all year round.
6. Rich nightlife – casinos, clubs, beach parties.
7. Rich history - Santo Domingo is the first city of America, because when Christopher Columbus made his first (and second and third) voyage, he sailed to the Dominican Republic.
We will remind you! Due to its rich cultural heritage, stunning nature and colorful cuisine, South America attracts millions of tourists from all over the world. However, safety is the most important criterion when choosing a travel destination. We talked about the safest countries in South America earlier.
Igor Usyk - Head of Migration department at VisitWorld
To ensure a safe move to a new country, I advise you to consult a specialist. My colleagues, qualified specialists with a legal education, will help you avoid unpleasant situations during migration.
Products from Visit World for a comfortable trip:
Checklist for obtaining a visa and necessary documents for the Dominican Republic;
Legal advice on immigration to the Dominican Republic;
Travel insurance for foreigners in the Dominican Republic;
Medical insurance all over the world.
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