Visa requirements
Most visitors from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, the European Union and many countries in the Americas do not need a visa; check your passport’s rule.
Arriving in the Dominican Republic: entry, SIM cards and transport
Check visa and passport rules, the travel form, mobile service and airport routes.
Information from official sources, checked on the dates shown. It may change; confirm each detail with its source before travelling.
Names and logos identify their owners and do not imply sponsorship.
Visa, passport, e-ticket and customs.
Visa requirements
The general rule requires a passport valid for at least six months and a return ticket.
Entry requirement
Until December 31, 2026, visitors from the EU, UK, Canada, U.S., Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Colombia and Ecuador may use passports valid through their stay and departure.
Departure and accommodation
The e-ticket is free and required for commercial flights; complete it before reaching the airline counter.
Departure and accommodation
The tourism guide asks for a permanent address in the country and proof of funds for the visit.
Length of stay
Stays over 30 days incur an additional fee based on trip length. The 20 US dollars departure tax is included in the airfare.
Customs and baggage
The tourist allowance permits up to 20 cigarette packs or 25 cigars, and up to 3 litres of alcohol.
Customs and baggage
The official guide allows gifts worth up to USD 500 once every three months.
Customs and baggage
Personal-use medicines are permitted; some medicines require a prescription.
Source: es.godominicanrepublic.com · Checked on 11 Nov
Prepaid SIM and eSIM by operator.
Claro
SIM cardThe SIM card costs 100 Dominican pesos and the published first top-up is 50. Dominican pesos
Source: www.claro.com.do · Checked on 11 Nov
Altice
SIM cardAltice advertises a free SIM for number transfers. We did not find the SIM price for a new line or the first package price.
Source: altice.com.do · Checked on 11 Nov
Viva
SIM cardViva lists its SIM-to-go at 150, Dominican pesos including 100 Dominican pesos in balance.
Source: viva.com.do · Checked on 11 Nov
Claro
eSIMClaro says eSIM is available for prepaid plans and charges no extra fee for the change.
Source: www.claro.com.do · Checked on 11 Nov
Viva
eSIMViva lists prepaid eSIM; when checked, the store showed activation as out of stock.
Source: tiendavirtual.viva.com.do · Checked on 11 Nov
Transport from Santo Domingo, Punta Cana and Santiago.
Las Américas International Airport, José Francisco Peña GómezSDQ
Santo Domingo / Punta Caucedo
Authorized taxi
Request it at the stand by the main entrance on the first level. SICHALA provides the service; we do not have the fare for that trip in the information checked.
Source: aeropuertolasamericas.com · Checked on 11 Nov
Car rental
The airport lists car-rental services; no public-transport fare is listed.
Source: aeropuertolasamericas.com · Checked on 11 Nov
Punta Cana International AirportPUJ
Punta Cana
Authorized taxi
200 US dollarsThe airport links a long-distance fare sheet with an amount for Santo Domingo for 1–4 passengers, but it does not state a current validity period.
Source: www.puntacanainternationalairport.com · Checked on 11 Nov
Ride-hailing pickup
The airport lists Uber Select and Uber X, with pickup zones at both terminals; the page marks the exact location as pending.
Source: www.puntacanainternationalairport.com · Checked on 11 Nov
Public transport
The airport links to APTRA public transport; the linked page did not open, and no fare or route was confirmed.
Source: www.puntacanainternationalairport.com · Checked on 11 Nov
Cibao International AirportSTI
Santiago de los Caballeros
Authorized taxi
8,600 Dominican pesosThe airport fare sheet lists this trip for 1–4 passengers; the service contact appears on the same page.
Source: aeropuertocibao.com.do · Checked on 11 Nov
Car rental
The airport lists car-rental companies; prices depend on vehicle and date.
Source: aeropuertocibao.com.do · Checked on 11 Nov
Dominican peso, exchange, cards and tax.
Currency and cash
The national currency is the Dominican peso.
Source: bancentral.gov.do · Checked on 11 Nov
Currency and cash
The Central Bank lists Dominican banknotes of 50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000 and 2,000 Dominican pesos.
Source: bancentral.gov.do · Checked on 11 Nov
Exchange rate
The Central Bank series publishes average dollar buying and selling rates. The panel checked lists 60.4617 Dominican pesos buy and 60.7601 Dominican pesos sell on November 6, 2026.
Source: www.bancentral.gov.do · Checked on 11 Nov
Card payments
The official guide confirms card use but does not promise acceptance at every business; carry cash for small expenses.
Source: es.godominicanrepublic.com · Checked on 11 Nov
ATMs and fees
The official tourism guide says some ATMs accept North American bank cards and dispense Dominican pesos; we do not have a withdrawal fee in the information checked.
Source: es.godominicanrepublic.com · Checked on 11 Nov
Taxes
The tourism guide says restaurant bills include 18% ITBIS and a 10% service charge.
Source: es.godominicanrepublic.com · Checked on 11 Nov
Tipping
The guide says it is customary to leave an additional 10% tip after the service charge.
Source: es.godominicanrepublic.com · Checked on 11 Nov
Exchange rate
U.S. dollars and euros can be exchanged at banks or authorized exchange offices across the country.
Source: es.godominicanrepublic.com · Checked on 11 Nov
City fares in Santo Domingo and Santiago.
Santo Domingo
OMSA published an integrated fare for the 27 de Febrero corridor. We could not find where to reload the payment method on the source page checked.
Source: presidencia.gob.do · Checked on 11 Nov
Santiago de los Caballeros
OMSA lists a single fare on buses added to Santiago’s integrated system.
Source: omsa.gob.do · Checked on 11 Nov
Emergency services, tourist police and consumer support.
Emergency services, police, ambulance and fire service
Source: www.presidencia.gob.do · Checked on 11 Nov
Tourist Police (POLITUR), toll-free line
Source: politur.gob.do · Checked on 11 Nov
Tourist Police (POLITUR), office
Source: politur.gob.do · Checked on 11 Nov
Pro Consumidor consumer protection agency
Source: proconsumidor.gob.do · Checked on 11 Nov
Intercity routes from Santo Domingo.
Santiago de los Caballeros
From Santo Domingo
The Duarte Highway and intercity buses connect the two cities; the official guide gives a journey of about two hours but no distance in kilometres.
Source: es.godominicanrepublic.com · Checked on 11 Nov
Punta Cana / Bávaro
From Santo Domingo · 195 km
The Coral Highway connects the capital with the Punta Cana area.
Source: es.godominicanrepublic.com · Checked on 11 Nov
La Romana
From Santo Domingo
The Coral Highway connects Santo Domingo with La Romana; the official guide gives a journey under an hour but no distance in kilometres.
Source: es.godominicanrepublic · Checked on 11 Nov
Samaná
From Santo Domingo · 170 km
Caribe Tours serves this route from Santo Domingo.
Source: es.godominicanrepublic.com · Checked on 11 Nov
Puerto Plata
From Santo Domingo
Metro Tours and Caribe Tours connect Santo Domingo with Puerto Plata; we found no official distance in kilometres.
Source: es.godominicanrepublic.com · Checked on 11 Nov
Barahona
From Santo Domingo
Caribe Tours lists service to Barahona; we found no official distance in kilometres.
Source: es.godominicanrepublic.com · Checked on 11 Nov