North and Central America and Caribbean

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

• Health
• Natural disasters
• General
 

• 170,065 British nationals visited the Dominican Republic in 2011 (source the Dominican Central Bank). Most visits are trouble-free, but there are incidents of crime and violence. See Safety and Security -  Crime and General - Consular Assistance Statistics.
  
  

• 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 Local Laws and Customs.
  

• Cholera is present in the Dominican Republic, with over 300 deaths since the outbreak in neighbouring Haiti in October 2010. The number of cases has decreased, but you should continue to eat only well prepared food and drink only bottled water. Maintaining personal hygiene is also essential.
  

• In January two moderate earthquakes of 5.2 and 5.0 magnitudes on the Richter scale were recorded in the Dominican Republic. Although these were moderate in intensity and very limited structural damage was reported, travellers should be aware of what to do if caught up in such an event. See Natural Disasters - Earthquakes.
  

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

• 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.
  

• You should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling.  See General - Insurance.

Safety and Security - Terrorism
There is a low threat from terrorism. 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. See our Terrorism Abroad page.

Safety and Security - Crime
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 should not try to resist.  You should also 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.

Be particularly alert if you travel from the airport ‘Las Americas’ in Santo Domingo at night. There have been several reports of passengers being stopped and robbed and/or assaulted en route to their final destination. Most attacks have occurred early in the morning or late at night.
 
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.

See our Victims of Crime page.

Safety and Security - 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.

Do not participate in any water activities under the influence of alcohol or other substances.

Safety and Security - 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.

Safety and Security - Local Travel - 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. This is not a common occurrence, but you should exercise caution if forced to stop whilst travelling on isolated stretches of road. There have been reports of cars being forced to stop and their drivers/passengers robbed on the roads in the west of the country, between Azua and the Haitian border. There have also been reports of people throwing rocks at cars to force them to stop with a view to robbing them on the main Autopista Duarte.

Although most roads are reasonably good, the standard of driving is extremely erratic and often dangerous. 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. Unlit  vehicles – especially motorbikes – are common. 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 or Punta Cana.

See our Driving Abroad page.

Safety and Security - 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

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. Possession of even small quantities of illegal drugs can lead to imprisonment. Arrests of British nationals for being in possession of drugs when leaving the Dominican Republic have sharply increased since 2006. All sentences are served in the Dominican Republic where prison conditions are harsh. You should pack your own luggage yourself and do not carry anything through customs for anyone else.

The DNCD (Dominican Drug Enforcement Agency) has increased its 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.

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 in London, 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.

Entry Requirements - Passport Validity
You must hold a valid passport to enter the Dominican Republic. Your passport must be valid for a minimum period of twice the length of your stay from the date of entry into Dominican Republic.

Entry Requirements - 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. 
 

Entry Requirements - Travelling with children
According to the Dominican Republic authorities, 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 must 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.  

Entry 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.

Cholera is present in the Dominican Republic, with over 300 deaths since the outbreak in neighbouring Haiti  in October 2010. The majority of the cases are in the two largest cities, Santo Domingo and Santiago, with the others in the large urban areas. The local authorities are taking pro-active measures to contain the spread of cholera and the number of cases is decreasing. You should eat and drink only well-prepared and properly stored food and bottled water whilst in the Dominican Republic. Personal hygiene is of utmost importance in avoiding infections such as cholera - e.g. regular washing of hands before meals. This is especially true if visiting the border areas. For further information visit the NathNac website.

Public medical facilities, especially near the border with Haiti, have been under extreme pressure since the earthquake on 12 January 2010.

For anything other than primary care 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. Private medical facilities in Dominican Republic offer reasonable to very good standards of services. 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 in the Dominican Republic and there have been occasional outbreaks, mainly in the border regions with Haiti. Rabies is also present, with 170 cases of the disease being reported in animals in2010.

Dengue fever is common across the Caribbean and can occur throughout the year. Dengue is a mosquito-borne infection that can cause a feverish illness associated with headache, muscle aches and pains, and rash. Some cases of dengue are severe. Dengue can be prevented by avoiding being bitten by the disease-carrying mosquitoes that feed predominately during daylight hours. For more information on prevention, see the National Travel Health Network and Centre website. 

In the 2010 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 54,000 adults aged 15 or over in Dominican Republic were living with HIV; the prevalence percentage was estimated at around 0.9% of the adult population compared to the prevalence percentage in adults in the UK of around 0.2%. You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. For more information on how to do this see HIV and AIDS.

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.

See our Travel Health page and the UK Department of Health website.

Natural Disasters - Hurricanes
The hurricane season in the Dominican Republic normally runs from June to November. You can monitor weather updates and track the progress of storms on the website of the US National Hurricane Centre for updates.

The hurricane season in the Caribbean frequently coincides with heavy rains, which may cause flash floods and landslides. If you are caught up in a hurricane it is important that you follow the advice of the local authorities and your tour operator. See also our Tropical Cyclones page for advice on what to do if you are caught up in a storm.

Natural Disasters - Earthquakes
In January 2012 two moderate earthquakes of 5.2 and 5.0 magnitudes on the Richter scale were recorded in the Dominican Republic. To protect yourself during an earthquake, you should DROP to the ground; take COVER; and HOLD ON until the shaking stops. If you are inside a building do not exit until you are sure it is safe to do so. If you are outside, move away from buildings, streetlights and electricity wires. After the earthquake do not run as there may be aftershocks of debris in your path. If you become trapped, tap on a pipe or wall so rescuers can find you. Only yell as a last resort as this may cause you to inhale dust. In the event of an earthquake, the Dominican Government authorities, firefighters and police will be responsible for providing assistance to foreigners.  

General - Insurance
You should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. Check for any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake.

See our Travel Insurance page.

If things do go wrong when you are overseas see our When Things Go Wrong page.

General - Purchasing Property
You should consult Dominican lawyers with relevant experience before purchasing any property.

General - 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.

General - 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.

General - Local tour companies
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.

General - 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.

General - Consular Assistance Statistics
170,065 British nationals visited the Dominican Republic in 2011 (source the Dominican Central Bank). Most visits are trouble-free. 58 British nationals required consular assistance in Dominican Republic in the period 1 April 2010 - 31 March 2011 for the following types of incidents: 16 deaths; 26 hospitalisations; 5 arrests for a variety of offences.

General - Honorary Consulates
In addition to the British Embassy in Santo Domingo, the UK has  Honorary Consulates in Puerto Plata and in Punta Cana.