Passport
/ Visa Requirements & other important information
for travel to Dominican Republic for your adult
vacations
International travel requirements
New federal law requires that travelers entering
or re-entering the United States on or after January
1, 2007, from any international country (now including
the Caribbean, Bermuda, Panama, Mexico, and Canada)
must present a government-issued passport to clear
U.S. Customs. This is a change from prior documentation
requirements. USA travelers for adult
vacations require a passport as
well as a return ticket.
Note
These nationals will also require Tourist Cards,
which may be purchased on arrival. In addition
to a valid visa, nationals of China (PR) require
an authorization from the Director of the Migration/Immigration
Department.
Passports
New federal law requires that travelers entering
or re-entering the United States on or after January
1, 2007 must present a government-issued passport
to clear U.S. Customs.
Passports valid for twice as long as the person
will remain in the Dominican Republic for their
adult vacations required
by all except:
(a) 1. nationals of Canada and the USA holding
appropriate ID such as a Birth Certificate or
a Driver’s Licence accompanied by a photo
ID document, provided travelling for business
or touristic purposes such as adult
vacations;
(b) 2. nationals of Belgium, France, Germany,
Luxembourg and The Netherlands holding a National
Identity Card at the discretion of immigration.
Visas
Required by all except:
(a) holders of a Tourist Card;
(b) nationals of Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Iceland,
Japan, Korea (Rep), Liechtenstein, Peru and Uruguay,
may enter the Dominican Republic for adult
vacations without a visa or Tourist Card.
Tourist Cards
Issued to travellers visiting the Dominican Republic
for touristic purposes such as adult
vacations for stays of up to two
weeks. Tourist Cards can be applied for in advance
at a cost of US$15, or can be issued on arrival
at a cost of US$10, though this can be a lengthy
process. Extensions of up to three months are
possible by visiting the Immigration Department
in Santo Domingo; failure to do so will result
in a surcharge at the airport upon departure from
their adult vacations.
Nationals of the following countries are eligible
for a Tourist Card for their adult vacations:
(a) 3. nationals of the countries mentioned in
the chart above (except nationals of Cyprus, Estonia,
Japan, Latvia, Malta and Slovak Republic, who
do need a visa);
(b) nationals of Andorra, Antigua & Barbuda,
Aruba, The Bahamas, Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil,
Costa Rica, Croatia, Curaçao, Dominica,
El Salvador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Guatemala,
Guyana, Honduras, Jamaica, Macedonia (Former Yugoslav
Republic of), Martinique, Mexico, Monaco, Norway,
Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Reunion, St Kitts &
Nevis, St Lucia, St Maarten, St Vincent &
the Grenadines, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro,
Surinam, Switzerland, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks
& Caicos Islands, US Virgin Islands and Venezuela.
Validity
30 days.Tourist visas and single-entry business
visas for your adult vacations
are valid for 60 days. Multiple-entry business
visas are valid for up to one year.
Applications to:
Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy); see
Contact Addresses section.Consulate (or Consular
section at Embassy); see Contact Addresses section.
Multiple entry visas can only be applied for once
in the Dominican Republic.
Application Requirements
(a) Photocopy of the photo page of the passport,
containing personal details of the applicant.
(b) Fee, payable by postal order or bank draft.
Applicant’s name and address must be written
on the back. (c) Stamped, self-addressed A5 envelope
for postal applications.
Note: Some foreign nationals
with permanent legal residency in countries such
as the UK need to get a verbal note from the Embassy
of the Dominican Republic, and may then be able
to travel visa-free. In the UK, the passport containing
the stamp of right to remain in the UK must be
presented along with $94 in person.(a) Passport,
valid for at least four months from the date of
application. (b) Completed application form. (c)
Four passport-size photos. (d) Fee (payable by
cash or postal order). (e) Three months of bank
account statements, plus any other proof of sufficient
funds. (f) Stamped, registered self-addressed
envelope for postal applications. (g) Employer's
or school's reference letter. Tourist: (a)-(g)
and, (h) Flight itinerary and reservation. Business:
(a)-(g) and, (h) Reference letter or letter of
invitation from a company in the Dominican Republic.
Student: (a)-(g) and, (h) Letter of request stating
applicant's name, nationality and place of residence.
(i) Acceptance letter from the university of centre
of learning. (j) Certificate of good conduct or
equivalent, issued no more than 30 days before
application. (k) Certificate from the health authority
of the applicant's country of residence.
Temporary Residence
Consult the Consulate or Consular section at the
Embassy; see Contact Addresses section.
Working Days Required
Seven.Two weeks. Approximately four weeks for
visas which have to be referred to the authorities
in the Dominican Republic, unless requested by
fax (the cost of which must be paid by the applicant).
In cases of emergency, documents may be processed
in one working day. There is a $187 fee for this
service.
Passport and Visa Information
Embassy and Consulate of the Dominican Republic
in the USA
1715 22nd Street, NW, Washington, DC 20008, USA
Tel: (202) 332 6280. Fax: (202) 265 8057.
Website: www.domrep.org
Dominican Republic Tourist Board in the USA
136 East 57th Street, Suite 803, New York, NY
10022, USA
Tel: (212) 588 1012. Fax: (212) 588 1015.
Website: www.dominicanrepublic.com
Dominican Republic Money & Banking
The official currency of the Dominican Republic
is the Dominican Peso. While it is true that many
services or businesses, including adult
vacations, catering to tourists
might accept US Dollars for payment (or might
even have some prices posted in US Dollars also),
you certainly will need to have Pesos when visiting
any stores in non-tourist areas or paying for
services outside of tourist areas as well. Do
not expect or assume that any merchant or business
will be able to provide changes in US Dollars
(or a currency other than Pesos) for any purchases
that you make.
Most major currencies can be easily exchanged
into Pesos at banks or money exchange booths,
called a Casa De Cambio (exchange house is the
literal translation). Most larger resorts and
hotels including adult vacations
might also offer money exchange at the main reception
or hospitality desk, but as a rule of thumb, you
should expect to obtain the worst exchange rates
at a hotel or other tourist business, and the
best exchange rate usually at a Casa De Cambio.
There are No Currency Exchange Controls in the
Dominican Republic and you may freely convert
(buy and sell) between the Dominican Peso and
other currencies. However, chances are you will
be able to convert Pesos into US Dollars or Euros
almost every where, but should you wish to convert
into other currencies - then it may require a
visit to Banco De Reservas, the nation wide banking
entity owned and operated by the Banco Central
(Government owned Central Bank).
The list of currencies easily exchanged into
Dominican Pesos by most money exchange counters
include the following: US Dollars, Canadian Dollars,
Euros, and UK Pound Sterling. Should you be coming
for your adult vacations
from a country that uses a currency not listed
here, our advice is to consider converting that
currency to US Dollars or Euros prior to visiting
the Dominican Republic (as finding a money exchange
desk to do the conversion to Pesos will be much
easier).
.
Credit Cards issued by a bank in your home country
(Visa, Master Card, American Express) are accepted
at most tourist establishments, restuarants and
shops including adult vacations.
Cellular/Mobile Phones
Cellular/mobile phones operate
in the Dominican Republic at 1900 MHZ frequency,
which is the North American standard. The rest
of the world, including Europe, generally operate
at 1800 MHZ frequency. If you would like to use
your cellular/mobile phone in the Dominican Republic
during your visit, please read the following:
Roaming
Before leaving your country make sure you ask
your telecommunications provider about your mobile/cellular
phone's roaming ability.
If you have GSM and your phone operates at 1900
MHZ frequency, your provider works with Orange
to provide you roaming coverage. Orange can be
contacted at www.orange.com.do
If you have a CDMA phone you will most probably
have to be set up with either Verizon, at www.verizon.net.do,
or Tricom, at www.tricom.net
Internet Information
In most tourism destinations and cities there
is an assortment of Internet cafes offering computer
use and Internet access. In addition, many of
the larger hotels/resorts offer Internet access
on site, including wireless, and some offer rooms
with high-speed DSL Internet connection for personal
laptops.
Traveling with your pet
Prior to your departure for your adult
vacations, and assuming you will
be traveling with your pet, you should obtain
a certificate of good health from a local vet
where you currently live and have that document
certified by the nearest Dominican Consulate in
your home country. While customs always has the
option of imposing quarantine, chances are, with
all your documents in order as indicated above,
you should be able to leave the airport or dock
for your adult vacations with your pet right beside
you.
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