Caribbean · UN member
Dominican Republic: Travel Guide & Requirements
· República Dominicana
The Dominican Republic is a country in Caribbean with its capital in Santo Domingo. It has a population of 11.5 million (#84 in the world) and covers 48,670 km². The official language is Spanish. The currency is the Dominican peso (DOP, $).
Where is the Dominican Republic? Map of the Dominican Republic
Caribbean, eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Haiti.
- Region
- Caribbean
- Coordinates
- 19° N, 70.6667° W
- Neighbours
- 1 — see list
- Coastline
- 1,288 km
- Dominican Republic
- Neighbours
- Capital
- Largest cities
Map of the Dominican Republic showing Santo Domingo (capital) and the largest cities: Santiago de los Caballeros, San Pedro de Macorís, San Francisco de Macorís, Salvaleón de Higüey, Santa Cruz de Barahona, San Juan de la Maguana, Baní and Azua.
Travel requirements
What you need to travel to the Dominican Republic
- Passport
The UK government says that up to 31 December 2026 British passport holders can enter and leave the Dominican Republic for tourism as long as their passport remains valid for the duration of their visit, and that the ru…
- Visa or eTA
Depends on your passport: of 198 passports, 111 need no visa, 87 need a visa from an embassy. Check yours or see The Dominican Republic entry requirements for every passport.
- Return or onward ticket
The UK government says you may be refused entry if you do not have proof of onward or return travel when you arrive in the country.
- Proof of funds
No official source we could read publishes a minimum amount.
- Travel insurance
No official requirement. Canada's travel advice says medical facilities may require payment up front, and that private hospitals and doctors could request to see proof of your insurance before admitting you as a patient.
- Vaccinations
WHO's yellow fever list (International Travel and Health, Annex 1) shows the Dominican Republic requiring proof of yellow fever vaccination from travellers aged 1 year and over arriving from countries determined by WHO …
- Arrival card
The Dirección General de Migración says every passenger entering or leaving the Dominican Republic must truthfully complete the digital e-Ticket for the Dirección General de Migración and the Dirección General de Aduana…
- Customs allowance
The Dirección General de Aduanas says no tax is charged for carrying money, but that if you enter or leave with more than US$10,000 or the equivalent in Dominican pesos or another foreign currency, or in bearer securiti…
- Travel advice
Some caution needed — US and UK advice.
Entry rules: TravelRequirements.info — Entry Requirements Dataset (CC BY 4.0), each rule cited to an official government source. Always confirm with the airline and the official source before you travel.
Before you go
10 things to know before you travel to the Dominican Republic
- Safety: the Dominican Republic is generally safe for travellers, but some caution is needed: the US State Department rates the Dominican Republic Level 2 (“Exercise Increased Caution”), and the UK Foreign Office has no warnings against travel there.
- Best time to go: December to April — when daytime highs in Santo Domingo are around 29–31°C.
- Money: the Dominican peso (DOP) — 1 US dollar is about 61.1821 DOP.
- Plugs: type A, B and C, 120 V, 60 Hz — low-voltage country: devices made only for 220–240 V need a voltage converter. Phone and laptop chargers (100–240 V) only need a plug adapter.
- Emergency numbers: Police 911, Ambulance 911, Fire 911.
- Language: Spanish is official.
- Driving: on the right — speed limits are 35 km/h in built-up areas and 60 km/h outside built-up areas.
- Time zone: UTC-4 in Santo Domingo.
- Capital: Santo Domingo. About 11.5 million people live in the Dominican Republic.
- Outdoors: 15 national parks.
Key facts
Dominican Republic at a glance
Languages spoken: Spanish (official)
Geography & history
About the Dominican Republic
The Taino -- indigenous inhabitants of Hispaniola prior to the arrival of Europeans -- divided the island now known as the Dominican Republic and Haiti into five chiefdoms and territories. Christopher COLUMBUS explored and claimed the island on his first voyage in 1492; it became a springboard for Spanish conquest of the Caribbean and the American mainland. In 1697, Spain recognized French dominion over the western third of the island, which in 1804 became Haiti. The remainder of the island, by then known as Santo Domingo, sought to gain its own independence in 1821, but the Haitians conquered and ruled it for 22 years; it finally attained independence as the Dominican Republic in 1844. In …
Read the full history
The Taino -- indigenous inhabitants of Hispaniola prior to the arrival of Europeans -- divided the island now known as the Dominican Republic and Haiti into five chiefdoms and territories. Christopher COLUMBUS explored and claimed the island on his first voyage in 1492; it became a springboard for Spanish conquest of the Caribbean and the American mainland. In 1697, Spain recognized French dominion over the western third of the island, which in 1804 became Haiti. The remainder of the island, by then known as Santo Domingo, sought to gain its own independence in 1821, but the Haitians conquered and ruled it for 22 years; it finally attained independence as the Dominican Republic in 1844. In 1861, the Dominicans voluntarily returned to the Spanish Empire, but two years later, they launched a war that restored independence in 1865. A legacy of unsettled and mostly non-representative rule followed, capped by the dictatorship of Rafael Leonidas TRUJILLO from 1930 to 1961. Juan BOSCH was elected president in 1962 but was deposed in a military coup in 1963. In 1965, the US led an intervention in the midst of a civil war sparked by an uprising to restore BOSCH. In 1966, Joaquin BALAGUER defeated BOSCH in the presidential election. BALAGUER maintained a tight grip on power for most of the next 30 years, until international reaction to flawed elections forced him to curtail his term in 1996. Since then, regular competitive elections have been held.
Location
Caribbean, eastern two-thirds of the island of Hispaniola, between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, east of Haiti
Climate
tropical maritime; little seasonal temperature variation; seasonal variation in rainfall
Terrain
rugged highlands and mountains interspersed with fertile valleys
Highest point
Pico Duarte 3,098 m
Natural resources
nickel, bauxite, gold, silver, arable land
Natural hazards
lies in the middle of the hurricane belt and subject to severe storms from June to October; occasional flooding; periodic droughts
National symbols
palmchat (bird)
Driving
Speed limits & road rules in the Dominican Republic
The default speed limits in the Dominican Republic are 35 km/h in built-up areas and 60 km/h outside built-up areas. The legal alcohol limit for drivers is 0.5‰. Posted signs always take priority over these defaults.
- 3535 km/hBuilt-up areasTowns and cities
- 6060 km/hOutside built-up areasCountry roads
- International Driving PermitRecognised: 1949 GenevaCarry the IDP together with your national licence
- Driving sideDrive on the rightOvertake on the left
- Alcohol limit0.5‰ blood alcohol (0.05% BAC)Zero tolerance for young / novice drivers
- Seat beltsRequired by law
- Child seatsRequired by law
- Motorcycle helmetsRequired for riders
- Road deaths (2021)27.4 per 100,000 peopleHigher than most countries (median 12.4)
Speed limits: OpenStreetMap wiki — Default speed limits (CC BY-SA 2.0). Road-safety laws: WHO Global Health Observatory. Compare speed limits and alcohol limits by country. Defaults for cars; local signs, weather and vehicle type can lower them.
Safety
Is the Dominican Republic safe to visit?
the Dominican Republic is generally safe for travellers, but some caution is needed: the US State Department rates the Dominican Republic Level 2 (“Exercise Increased Caution”), and the UK Foreign Office has no warnings against travel there.
US State Department
UK Foreign Office (FCDO)Latest update: Updated information about outdoor activities and adventure tourism (‘Safety and security’ page).
Updated 7 Aug 2026 · Full travel advice
Sources: US Department of State travel advisories (public domain) and UK FCDO foreign travel advice (contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0). Checked daily. Advice can change quickly — always read the official page before you travel.
Weather
Best time to visit the Dominican Republic
The best time to visit the Dominican Republic is December to April, when daytime highs in Santo Domingo are around 29–31°C. May to November are also a good time to go. August is the warmest month (31°C by day), February the coldest (21°C at night), and May the wettest with about 68 mm of rain.
- Jan29°C21°C
- Feb29°C21°C
- Mar30°C21°C
- Apr31°C22°C
- May30°C23°C
- Jun31°C24°C
- Jul31°C24°C
- Aug31°C25°C
- Sep31°C24°C
- Oct30°C24°C
- Nov30°C23°C
- Dec29°C22°C
Best time Good Less ideal
Before you go
Plugs, voltage & emergency numbers in the Dominican Republic
Plugs & sockets
- Type Atwo flat parallel pins
- Type Btwo flat parallel pins and a round earth pin
- Type C (Europlug)two round pins
120 V, 60 Hz · Low-voltage country: devices made only for 220–240 V need a voltage converter. Phone and laptop chargers (100–240 V) only need a plug adapter.
Emergency numbers
Save the local numbers before you travel — 112 or 911 may not connect here. All countries →
Sources: Wikipedia — Mains electricity by country and List of emergency telephone numbers (CC BY-SA 4.0).
National parks
15 national parks in the Dominican Republic
- 5,054 km² protected
- oldest from 1956
Largest: Jaragua National Park · Cotubanamá National Park · José Armando Bermúdez National Park
Currency · 26 October 2026
Dominican peso exchange rates today
The Dominican Republic uses the Dominican peso (DOP, $). One US dollar buys 61.1821 DOP; over the last 30 days the DOP has lost 2.8% against the dollar.
What other currencies cost in DOP
Currency converter
Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0), 26 Oct 2026. Banks and exchange offices add a margin.
World rankings
Where the Dominican Republic ranks
How the Dominican Republic compares with the rest of the world — open any card for the full ranking.
Airports
Airports in the Dominican Republic
41 airports and airfields — 4 large, 6 medium and 22 small, plus 8 heliports. 8 have scheduled passenger flights.
Borders
Neighbouring countries
The Dominican Republic borders 1 country along 376 km of land borders. Coastline: 1,288 km.
Military
Dominican armed forces
The Dominican Republic ranks #118 of 145 in the Global Firepower military strength ranking, with a defence budget of $1.0 billion (2025).
People
Population & society
Religion
Largest cities: Santo Domingo (3.5 million)
Economy
Economy
Main industries
tourism, sugar processing, gold mining, textiles, cement, tobacco, electrical components, medical devices
Export partners
USA 52%, Switzerland 7%, Haiti 6%, China 5%, India 3% (2023)
Top exports
medical instruments, tobacco, gold, garments, power equipment (2023)
Travel tools
Handy before every trip to the Dominican Republic
Next public holiday
Constitution Day — Friday, 6 November 2026. Then Christmas Day (25 Dec).
Dominican passport
Ranked #141: 31 countries visa-free, 37 with visa on arrival, 3 with an eTA and 39 with an eVisa.
Dominican passport photo
Exact size, head position and background for the Dominican Republic's passport and visa photos — make one free with AI checks.
Calling the Dominican Republic
Dial +1-809, 1-829, 1-849 before the local number. Internet domain .do.
Climate footprint
33.1 million tonnes of CO₂ in 2024 — 2.90 t per person.
Entry requirements
Visa rules for every passport visiting the Dominican Republic: visa-free stays, eVisas, visas on arrival and documents to bring.
News
Latest travel news about the Dominican Republic
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Frequently asked questions about the Dominican Republic
What do I need to travel to the Dominican Republic?
How long must my passport be valid for the Dominican Republic?
Where is the Dominican Republic?
What is the Dominican Republic known for?
What is the capital of the Dominican Republic?
What language is spoken in the Dominican Republic?
What currency does the Dominican Republic use?
What is the calling code of the Dominican Republic?
Which countries border the Dominican Republic?
How strong is the Dominican passport?
What is the speed limit in the Dominican Republic?
Is the Dominican Republic safe to visit?
When is the best time to visit the Dominican Republic?
What plug type does the Dominican Republic use?
How many airports does the Dominican Republic have?
Sources: CIA World Factbook (public domain); World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0); names, languages and currencies: mledoze/countries (ODbL); flag: flag-icons (MIT); coat of arms: Wikimedia Commons (file page); exchange rates: Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0); airports: OurAirports.