North and Central America and Caribbean

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

• Health
• Natural disasters
• General
 

Travel Summary

• The hurricane season in the Dominican Republic normally runs from June to November.  See the Natural Disasters (Hurricanes) section of this advice and Tropical Cyclones for more details .
  

• 216,150 British nationals visited the Dominican Republic in 2008 (source the Dominican Central Bank). 77 British nationals required consular assistance in the Dominican Republic in the period 01 April 2008 – 31 March 2009 for the following types of incident; deaths (18 cases); hospitalisations (29 cases); and arrests, for a variety of offences (18 cases). During this period assistance was also requested with regard to lost or stolen passports (34 cases). Most visits to the Dominican Republic are trouble-free, but there are incidents of crime and violence. See the Crime section of this advice for more details.

• There have been a number of demonstrations across the country particularly in Santiago, Salcedo, Bonao and Santo Domingo.  Visitors to these areas should be aware of the potential for disruption to their travel plans and should ensure they follow the advice of local authorities.

• 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 advice for more details.
  
  

• 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.  You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake.  See the General (Insurance) section of this advice and Travel Insurance for more details.