Travelling & Living Overseas

North and Central America and Caribbean

Dominican Republic Flag of Dominican Republic

Still current at: 08 October 2008
Updated: 09 September 2008


This advice has been reviewed and reissued with an amendment to the Summary,  Natural Disasters and Air Travel sections.  The overall level of the advice has not changed.
(see travel advice legal disclaimer)                     

Travel advice for this country

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Travel Summary

  • A series of hurricanes and tropical storms have affected parts of the country in recent weeks, resulting in localised flooding and some associated deaths.  The main tourist areas, including Puerto Plata, remain unaffected.  You should monitor local weather advisories and contact local authorities or your tour representative to check onward travel plans. 

  • 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. 

  • In 2007 226,749 British Nationals visited the Dominican Republic (source the Dominican Central Bank).  Most visits to the Dominican Republic are trouble-free.  See the Crime section of this advice for more information.

  • 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 strongly 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.

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 Terrorism Abroad.
 
Crime
 
Whilst violent crime against tourists is rare, a resident British national was shot and injured during an attempted robbery at his home in the Sosua area on 28 July 2008.

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.
 
For more general information see Victims of Crime Abroad.
  
Political Situation

The security situation in Dominican Republic is stable. Demonstrations and protests occur occasionally. As a precaution, you should avoid any demonstrations or large gatherings of people.  Political demonstrations do not generally occur in areas frequented by tourists and are generally not targeted at foreigners.

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.
 
Due to the unpredictable security situation in neighbouring Haiti, we advise against all but essential travel there (for further information see Haiti Travel Advice).
 
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.

Although roads are reasonably good, the standard of driving is erratic. Drivers weave from lane to lane and seldom signal. 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. 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 strongly advised to contact the British Embassy in Santo Domingo or Honorary Consulate in Puerto Plata.

For more general information see Driving Abroad.

Air Travel
 
If travelling to Haiti please note that the Government of Haiti's National Office of Civil Aviation (OFNAC) has grounded all national operations of Caribintair Airlines due to safety concerns with its Cessna Caravan fleet.  The route between Port-au-Prince and Santo Domingo is operated by Caribair a separate, Santo Domingo based company, using Jetstream 31 aircraft.   Since September 2007 the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not allowed its staff to use Caribintair for any official journeys, but does allow use of Caribair and Volair (the two companies operating the Port au Prince/Santo Domingo route).  You should take this into consideration when making travel plans.

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.
 
Tourism police, known as Politur, who usually speak reasonable English, are available to assist tourists.
 
Homosexuality is widely accepted in the Dominican Republic.

For more general information for different types of travellers see Travel Advice Relevant to You.

Entry requirements

Visas
 
All visitors require a tourist card, which can be obtained before travel through 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: www.dominicanembassy.org.uk.  
 
Departure tax
 
If you intend to stay for up to two weeks 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.  If you intend to stay for more than two weeks, departure tax varies depending on length of stay and on nationality.
 
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 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

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.  In 2007 there was a marked increase in the number of reported cases of dengue across the region. The highest number of cases in Dominican Republic usually occur in the hot season from May to November.  

In August 2007 there was an outbreak of gastro-intestinal illness at a hotel in the resort of Rio San Juan, on the north coast. The situation has now been resolved to the satisfaction of UK tour operators who travel to the region. To reduce the likelihood of contracting gastro-intestinal illness, you should not drink tap water or buy food from street vendors.  

In the 2006 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 61,000 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 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

For more general health information see Travel Health.

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 Tropical Cyclones for more detailed information about what to do if you are caught up in a hurricane. 

A series of hurricanes and tropical storms have affected parts of the country in recent weeks, resulting in localised flooding and some associated deaths.  The main tourist areas, including Puerto Plata, remain unaffected.  You should monitor local weather advisories and contact local authorities or your tour representative to check onward travel plans.

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.

Earthquakes

Earthquakes are a potential threat and tremors are felt occasionally.  On 22 September 2003, a strong tremor occurred centred 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 strongly 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 Travel Insurance.

If things do go wrong when you are oversees then this is How We Can Help.

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.  More information about registering with LOCATE can be found here.

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.

Travel advice for this country

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See Also

Useful Links

 

contacts

Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo, British Embassy

Address:

British Embassy
Ave 27 de Febrero No 233
Edificio Corominas Pepin
Santo Domingo

Telephone:

Telephone: (001) (809) 472 7111 Embassy
(001) (809) 472 7575   Consular
(001) (809) 472 7054  Trade  

(001)  (829) 726 0753 Emergencies outside office hours (mobile)  

Email:    brit.emb.sadom@codetel.net.do

Fax:

Facsimile:     (001) (809) 472 7190  
(001) (809)  472 7574 Consular

E-mail:  brit.emb.sadom@codetel.net.do

Email: brit.emb.sadom@codetel.net.do

Office hours:

GMT:
Mon-Thurs: 1200-2030
Fri: 1200-1700

Local Time:
Mon-Thurs: 0800-1630
Fri: 0800-1300

Website: http://www.britishembassy.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1168350332874


 

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NB: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not assume any responsibility, including legal responsibility, in respect of any omission or statement contained in FCO Travel Advice. To see our full disclaimer visit the How We Advise page.

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