North and Central America and Caribbean

• Travel Summary
• Safety and security
• Local laws and customs
• Entry requirements

• Health
• Natural disasters
• General
 

Travel Summary

• An earthquake measuring 7.1 on the Richter scale hit neighbouring Haiti on 12 January 2010. Mass casualties and extensive damage to infrastructure there meant parts of the Dominican Republic has since acted as an international hub for the international aid and recovery effort. We recommend against all but essential travel to Haiti.
  Although strong tremors were felt throughout the Dominican Republic there were no reports of casualties or serioius damage.
  
• 185,424 British nationals visited the Dominican Republic in 2009 (source the Dominican Central Bank). Most visits to the Dominican Republic are trouble-free, but there are incidents of crime and violence. See the Crime section of this Travel Advice.
  
  

• Arrests of British nationals for attempting to traffic drugs have increased markedly.  Penalties for possession, distribution or manufacture of drugs are severe and can lead to imprisonment.  See the Local Laws and Customs section of this Travel Advice.
  
  

• Credit card cloning and fraud are common.  It is safer to use cash.
  
  

• The hurricane season in the Dominican Republic normally runs from June to November.  See the Natural Disasters (Hurricanes) section of this Travel Advice.
  
  

• There is a low threat from terrorism in Dominican Republic. But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
  
  
  
• We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling.  See the General (Insurance) section of this Travel Advice .

Safety and security

Terrorism

 
There is a low threat from terrorism in Dominican Republic. But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.  For more general information see our Terrorism Abroad page.
 

Crime

 
Around 200,000 British tourists visit the Dominican Republic each year and the vast majority of visits are trouble-free. The Dominican Republic is friendly and welcoming, however, there are frequent incidents of violent crime, including murder. These tend to occur within the local community but can sometimes affect tourists and residents. There have been occasional incidents of serious attacks on foreign visitors, as well as more opportunist crime including burglaries, breaking into cars and pick pocketing.  By remaining alert to the threat you can reduce the risk of becoming a victim.

You should take particular care if you are passing through isolated tourist areas on foot or on tourist scooters, especially at night. If attacked, you are advised not to resist.  You should take precautions to reduce the risk of being targeted.  If you leave your hotel complex, do not wear expensive jewellery or carry large amounts of cash or expensive items such as cameras.  Keep your valuables, including your passport in hotel safety deposit boxes.  Be particularly careful after dark and avoid quiet, poorly lit areas.
 
Take a copy of the photo-page of your passport and relevant visa stamp in case your documents are stolen. You should always carry proof of your identity.
 
If you lose your passport or it is stolen, you should get a police report before contacting the British Embassy.

You should exercise caution in hotel casinos where games of progressive keno are offered, especially when requested to provide credit card information.  Large amounts of money can be lost rapidly and we are aware of a number of cases where British nationals have lost large sums of money playing these games.

The Tourist Police (POLITUR) can provide assistance to tourists.  They can be contacted on the free telephone number 1-809-200-3500.
 For more general information see our Victims of Crime page.

Water safety

Hotels and resorts may not have lifeguards present at swimming pools and on beaches and appropriate safety and rescue equipment may not be available.

Unpredictable sea conditions could exist especially during the tropical storm season (see the Natural Disasters section of this advice for more details).  Swimmers should keep informed of local water conditions and warning systems and follow instructions accordingly.

Avoid participating in any water activities under the influence of alcohol or other substances.
  

Political Situation

Political demonstrations can occur across the country sometimes leading to violence..  Demonstrations do not usually occur near tourist areas and foreigners are not normally targeted.  You should avoid all demonstrations or large gatherings of people and monitor local news reports.

Dominican Republic Country Profile

Local Travel

Taxis are cheap and reasonably reliable. But there have been reported cases of theft in taxis, so keep valuables and cash well hidden. Tourist taxis are safer and more reliable, but also more expensive. Public transport is not recommended, but private companies operate good bus services between cities.
 

Road Travel

 
It is easy to hire a car in the Dominican Republic, with many international franchises available. UK driving licences are accepted for visits not exceeding three months.

Military road blocks are common - especially in the areas near the Haitian border. They often appear very informal though the soldiers do wear army uniform and carry weapons.  There was an incident on 26 February on the road near Barahona in which a group of criminals, posing as an official road-block, stopped and robbed passers-by.  This is not a common occurrence, but travellers should exercise caution if forced to stop whilst travelling on isolated stretches of road.

Although most roads are reasonably good, the standard of driving is erratic.  Drivers weave from lane to lane and seldom signal.  Motorways are poorly lit and lanes are badly marked.  Many vehicles are in a very poor state, often as a result of numerous collisions.  Motorcyclists are numerous and a real danger.  Road accidents are common, especially at holiday periods such as Christmas when drink-driving related incidents are common.  If you are involved in any accident you are liable to be detained by police until the circumstances of the accident have been investigated.   It is worth bearing in mind that police tend to favour the motorcyclist in the event of an accident between a motorcycle and another vehicle.  If you are detained as a result of a road accident, you are advised to contact the British Embassy in Santo Domingo or Honorary Consulate in Puerto Plata.

For more general information see our Driving Abroad page.

Local laws and customs

You should never become involved with drugs of any kind in the Dominican Republic.  There are severe penalties for all drug offences.  If you are found guilty of being in possession of drugs you are likely to receive a long prison sentence plus a hefty fine.  Arrests of British Nationals for being in possession of drugs when leaving the Dominican Republic have sharply increased since 2006.  Possession of even small quantities of illegal drugs can lead to imprisonment.  All sentences are served in the Dominican Republic where prison conditions are harsh. You should pack all your own luggage yourself and do not carry anything through customs for anyone else.

The DNCD (Dominican Drug Enforcement Agency) has stepped up their efforts to clamp down on drugs with several recent examples of successful operations. Seizures at ports and airports around the Dominican Republic have increased and included a high number of foreigners, including British nationals, detected by sniffer dog units.
 
Homosexuality is widely accepted in the Dominican Republic.

For more general information for different types of travellers see our Your trip page.

Entry requirements

Visas

 All visitors require a tourist card, which can be obtained before travel from the Embassy of the Dominican Republic , or on arrival at the airport at a cost of US$10 or equivalent. The Embassy website provides more information.

Tourist cards are initially valid for a 30-day stay but can be extended locally by paying for an extension when departing the country.
 

Passport validity

Visitors should ensure they have a valid passport for twice the length of the duration of their stay.

Departure tax

  Departure tax is US$20.  Scheduled airlines sometimes include this charge in the price of the ticket so you should check with your tour operator or travel provider about this.  

Travelling with children

  Following further clarification from the Dominican Republic authorities, we understand that visitors under 18 travelling to the Dominican Republic do not require written authorisation from their parents as long as they enter and leave with the same person/people.  If visitors between the ages of 13 and 18 are travelling alone, or with a group with no one over 18, then similarly parental authorisation is not required as long as the composition of the party is the same on entry and exit.  If visitors under 18 do not intend to leave the Dominican Republic with the same person/people that they entered with, then they are required to carry a sworn affidavit drawn up by a solicitor and signed by their parents/legal guardian authorising that.  This affidavit needs to be legalised by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the Dominican Republic Embassy.  You should contact the Dominican Republic Embassy if you have any queries about these requirements.  

Imports

  Meat and dairy products from EU countries are currently banned from personal import. Such items are liable to be removed from luggage and destroyed by airport officials.

Health

You should be aware that Dominican medical facilities, especially near the border with Haiti, have been under extreme pressure since the earthquake on 12 January.

Private medical facilities in Dominican Republic offer reasonable to very good standards of services.  However, other than primary care in public hospitals the public health service is not deemed to be adequate so you need fully comprehensive travel insurance in case you need to be medically evacuated in an emergency. Dentistry is adequate.  A good range of across the counter medicines is available, including some normally only available on prescription in the UK (usually generic brands).

Malaria is present within the Dominican Republic and there have been occasional outbreaks, mainly in the border regions with Haiti.  Rabies is also present, with 39 cases of the disease being reported in animals in 2007, and 95 cases in 2008.

Dengue Fever is common to Latin America and the Caribbean and can occur throughout the year.  There has been a marked increase in the number of reported cases of dengue in the Dominican Republic, including a number of deaths.   The highest number of cases in the Dominican Republic usually occurs in the hot season from May to November.  Dengue Fever is a viral disease spread to humans by mosquitoes.  Protective measures against mosquito bites are recommended.  There is no vaccine to prevent Dengue Fever, which has severe flu-like symptoms and can sometimes be fatal (Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever).  If you do fall ill you should seek immediate medical advice. 

In the 2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 59,000 adults aged 15 or over in Dominican Republic were living with HIV; the prevalence rate was estimated at around 1.1% of the adult population. This compares to the prevalence rate in adults in the UK of around 0.2%.  You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. For more general information on how to do this see our HIV and AIDS page.

You should seek medical advice before travelling to Dominican Republic and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date.  For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit the websites of the  NaTHNaC and NHS Scotland's Fit For Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

For more general health information see our Travel Health, Swine Flu pages and the UK Department of Health website.

Natural disasters

Hurricanes

The hurricane season in the Dominican Republic normally runs from June to November.  You should monitor local and international weather updates from the World Meteorological Organisation. You can also access the National Hurricane Centre for updates. You should also see our Tropical Cyclones page. 

The hurricane season in the Caribbean frequently coincides with heavy rains, which may cause flash floods and landslides.  You should monitor local and international weather updates from World Meteorological Organisation contact local authorities or your tour representative to check onward travel plans.

Earthquakes

Earthquakes are a potential threat and tremors are felt occasionally. The 12 January earthquake in Haiti was felt in the Dominican Republic, but no injuries or major damage were reported.  In December 2008, an earthquake measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale was recorded 62km from Santo Domingo, though no damage or injuries were reported on this occasion either.  Previously, in September 2003, a strong tremor occurred close to the major tourist areas of Puerto Plata, Sosua and Cabarete on the North coast.   No injuries to tourists were reported but some hotels suffered structural damage.

General

Insurance

We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake.   For more general information see our Travel Insurance page.

Here's how we can help if things go wrong.

Purchasing Property

You should consult Dominican lawyers with relevant experience before purchasing any property.

Money

The currency is the Dominican peso.  American dollar and Travellers’ cheques are easily exchanged.  Currency should be exchanged only at banks or official exchange offices (casas de cambio).  UK credit cards and debit cards will function in ATMs, but you need to contact your bank in advance to ensure that transactions are not blocked.   Exercise caution and be aware of your surroundings when using an ATM card.  Credit card cloning and identity theft are common when using cards in shops and restaurants.  It is much safer to use cash.

Registration

Register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency.

Local tour companies

It is important to be aware that most local tour companies offering excursions, water sports, jeep and quad bike rental, horse riding etc do not provide insurance cover, so you must check the terms and conditions of your travel insurance policy before undertaking any such activities.

Safety precautions

You should also make sure that adequate safety precautions have been taken by the organisers, for example whether crash helmets and or life jackets are supplied. If in doubt you should seek the advice of your tour operator.

Honorary Consulate

In addition to the British Embassy in Santo Domingo, the UK has an Honorary Consulate in Puerto Plata.