Dominican Republic Entry Requirements & E-Ticket (2026)

The Dominican Republic is one of the easiest countries in the Caribbean to enter. For most travelers there is no visa to apply for and no paper forms at the airport. You need a valid passport and the free online E-Ticket. This guide explains exactly what is required in 2026: visa rules by nationality, passport validity, the E-Ticket step by step, the tourist card, customs, and what to expect when you land.

Entry Requirements at a Glance

• Visa: Not required for tourism stays of up to 30 days for US, Canadian, British, EU and roughly 100 other nationalities.
• E-Ticket: Mandatory for every traveler and completely free. You complete it once for arrival and again for departure at the official portal, eticket.migracion.gob.do.
• Passport: US citizens need a passport valid for at least 6 months. British and Canadian tourists need a passport valid for the duration of their stay, in effect through 31 December 2026.
• Tourist card: A US$10 tourist card is required, but for air travelers it is already built into the airline ticket price.
• At immigration: Be ready to show proof of onward or return travel and the address where you are staying.

Do You Need a Visa for the Dominican Republic?

For most visitors, no. Citizens of around 100 countries can enter for tourism for up to 30 days with just a passport and the E-Ticket, with no visa application required.

No Visa Required (30-Day Tourist Stay)

• Americas: United States, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador and most of Latin America.
• Europe: All EU and EEA countries, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Norway and Iceland.
• Asia-Pacific and other: Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Israel and many more.

Visa Required

Citizens of some countries, including China, India, Cuba and Haiti, need a tourist visa from a Dominican consulate before traveling. These lists change, so always confirm your own status with the nearest Dominican consulate or embassy before booking.

Passport Requirements

Passport validity rules depend on your nationality, and this is where many travelers get confused:

• US citizens: Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from your date of arrival.
• British citizens: Through 31 December 2026, you can enter and leave for tourism as long as your passport is valid for the duration of your visit. The 6-month rule does not apply to UK tourists during this period.
• Canadian citizens: Through 31 December 2026, tourists may enter with a passport valid for the length of their stay. For non-tourism travel, the standard rule of 6 months beyond arrival applies.

Whatever your nationality, your passport should be undamaged and have a blank page for the entry stamp. Airlines check validity at check-in and can deny boarding, so if yours is close to expiry, renew it before you book. When in doubt, six months of validity beyond your trip is always the safest standard.

The Dominican Republic E-Ticket (Step by Step)

The E-Ticket is a single digital form that combines the immigration, customs and public-health declarations the DR used to collect on paper. It is required by law for every passenger, Dominican or foreign, both entering and leaving the country, and it is issued by the Dirección General de Migración.

It is completely free. The only official website is eticket.migracion.gob.do. Several look-alike sites charge US$20 to US$50 to "process" the form, but you never need to pay anyone to complete the E-Ticket.

When to Complete the E-Ticket

You can fill it in any time up to 7 days before you travel, so there is no need to wait until you reach the airport. You complete a separate form for arrival and for departure, so a round trip means two submissions and two QR codes.

How to Complete It

1. Go to eticket.migracion.gob.do and choose the option to enter the Dominican Republic.
2. Enter your personal details exactly as they appear on your passport: full name, nationality, passport number and date of birth.
3. Add your flight information: airline, flight number and the airport you depart from.
4. Give the address where you will stay, such as your hotel name and address or your rental address. Immigration needs a real physical address, not just a city.
5. Complete the customs declaration (cash of US$10,000 or more, and any food, plant or animal products). Answer honestly, because inspections do happen.
6. Submit the form and you will receive a QR code by email.
7. Save the QR code to your phone or print it. You may be asked for it at check-in, and it is scanned when you arrive.

Common E-Ticket Mistakes to Avoid

• Paying a third-party site. The official form is free; only use eticket.migracion.gob.do.
• Forgetting the exit form. You need a new E-Ticket to leave, not just to arrive.
• A vague address. "A hotel in Punta Cana" is not enough; use the actual property name and address.
• Leaving it to the airport. Some airports have kiosks, but lines are long. Complete it before you fly.

E-Ticket for US, Canadian & British Travelers

The E-Ticket itself is identical for everyone: same free portal, same questions, same QR code. Only the visa and passport rules differ.

E-Ticket for US Citizens

US citizens complete the free E-Ticket at eticket.migracion.gob.do, carry a passport valid for at least 6 months, and need no visa for stays up to 30 days. The US$10 tourist card is already included in the airfare.

E-Ticket for Canadian Citizens

Canadians use the same form. Through 31 December 2026, Canadian tourists may enter with a passport valid only for the length of their stay. No visa is needed for up to 30 days, and the E-Ticket does not replace the tourist card, which is built into the air ticket.

E-Ticket for British (UK) Citizens

British passport holders complete the identical E-Ticket and, through 31 December 2026, need a passport valid only for the duration of their visit. No visa is required for up to 30 days. Remember the matching exit form before you fly home.

Tourist Card & Entry Fees

Every tourist technically needs a tarjeta de turista (tourist card), which costs US$10 and allows a stay of up to 30 days. The important point for 2026: if you arrive by air, this fee is already included in your airline ticket, so you do not pay anything separately at the airport.

If you arrive by cruise ship, the fee is normally handled by the cruise line. If you arrive overland from Haiti, you pay at the border crossing. Note that the E-Ticket and the tourist card are two different things: completing the free E-Ticket does not remove the tourist-card requirement, but for air travelers the card is simply pre-paid.

What You May Need to Show at Immigration

Entry is usually quick, but border officers can ask any visitor to show that they are a genuine tourist. Have these ready:

• A return or onward ticket showing that you intend to leave.
• Proof of funds to cover your stay; a card or some cash is normally enough.
• Your accommodation address, the same one you put on the E-Ticket.

You are rarely asked for all of these at once, but travelers on one-way tickets are the most likely to be questioned, so carry the details just in case.

What Happens at the Airport

Here is the typical arrival flow at any major Dominican airport. See our guide to the DR's airports (PUJ, SDQ, POP and AZS) for terminal-specific detail.

1. Follow the signs to Immigration

Walk toward "Inmigración" or "Llegadas" (Arrivals). The distance varies by airport; at PUJ it can be a 10-minute walk through open-air corridors.

2. Immigration

Join the "Non-Residents / Extranjeros" line with your passport and E-Ticket QR code ready. The officer scans your code, stamps your passport and may ask one or two questions about the purpose of your trip and where you are staying. It takes under two minutes per person; total waits run from 10 to 40 minutes depending on how many flights land together.

3. Baggage Claim

Collect your luggage; carts are free at most DR airports. If a bag is missing, file a claim with your airline before you leave the hall.

4. Customs

Most passengers are waved through. Random or flagged bags are X-rayed or opened, which is routine.

5. Arrivals Hall

You will be met by taxi drivers, hotel shuttles and SIM-card sellers. Have your transfer details ready so you are not steered to the wrong driver.

Customs Allowances & Restrictions

You must declare cash of US$10,000 or more (or the equivalent) on both entry and exit; this is asked directly on the E-Ticket. Beyond that, travelers receive a personal duty-free allowance that covers personal effects such as a laptop, camera, phone and clothing, plus reasonable personal-use quantities of items like alcohol and tobacco.

Exact duty-free quantities are set and periodically updated by the Dirección General de Aduanas (Dominican Customs), so if you plan to bring larger amounts, check the current limits with them first.

Controlled or prohibited: fresh fruit, vegetables, unprocessed meat and certain plants are restricted for agricultural reasons; illegal drugs carry severe penalties; and firearms require prior authorization. If you are unsure about an item, declare it.

Extending Your Stay (Up to 120 Days)

A standard tourist entry is good for 30 days, but you have options to stay longer:

• Apply for an extension. Through the Dirección General de Migración (DGM) you can extend a tourist stay up to a total of 120 days. Apply before your initial period runs out.
• Or pay the overstay surcharge on exit. If you simply stay longer, you pay a surcharge at the airport when you leave. It is calculated on a sliding scale based on how long you overstayed, and the amounts are updated periodically, so check the current figure with the DGM at migracion.gob.do.
• Longer-term moves. Digital nomads, retirees and others planning months or years should look into temporary or permanent residency, which involves document legalization, a medical check and government fees.

Departure: Exit E-Ticket & Duty-Free

1. Complete a new exit E-Ticket at eticket.migracion.gob.do and choose the option to leave the Dominican Republic. This produces a second QR code.
2. Departure tax is already included in your airline ticket, so there is no separate payment.
3. Arrive early, about 3 hours before international flights, since DR airports get busy at peak times.
4. Duty-free souvenirs. Rum, cigars, larimar and amber are popular buys; US travelers can usually bring home up to US$800 of goods duty-free, so confirm the current US customs allowance before you shop.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do US citizens need a visa for the Dominican Republic?

No. US citizens can visit for up to 30 days with a valid passport and a completed E-Ticket. No visa application is needed.

Is the Dominican Republic E-Ticket free?

Yes. The official E-Ticket at eticket.migracion.gob.do is completely free. Any site that charges a fee to "process" it is unofficial.

How do I fill out the Dominican Republic E-Ticket?

Go to eticket.migracion.gob.do up to 7 days before your flight, choose the arrival form, and enter your personal, flight and accommodation details along with the customs declaration. Submit it and save the QR code to your phone. It takes about 5 to 10 minutes.

Do Canadians and British travelers need an E-Ticket?

Yes. The E-Ticket is mandatory for every traveler regardless of nationality, including Canadian and British citizens, on both entry and exit. The form is the same for everyone.

How long before my flight should I complete the E-Ticket?

You can complete it any time up to 7 days before you travel. Do it before you leave home so you are not relying on airport Wi-Fi or kiosks.

Do I need a separate E-Ticket to leave the Dominican Republic?

Yes. Entry and exit are two separate forms with two separate QR codes. Fill in the departure form before you fly home.

What happens if I arrive without an E-Ticket?

Most airports have kiosks and Wi-Fi where you can complete the form on arrival, but the lines can be long. It is much faster to do it in advance.

How long can I stay in the Dominican Republic without a visa?

Up to 30 days as a tourist. You can extend your stay up to a total of 120 days through the migration department, or pay an overstay surcharge when you leave.

Does my passport need to be valid for 6 months?

It depends on your nationality. US citizens need 6 months of validity. Through 31 December 2026, British and Canadian tourists only need a passport valid for the duration of their stay. Six months is always the safest margin.

Is there still a US$10 tourist card fee?

Yes, but for air travelers it is already included in the airline ticket price, so you do not pay it separately at the airport.

Can I enter the Dominican Republic with a passport card instead of a passport book?

No. A US passport card is not valid for air travel. You need a full passport book to fly to the Dominican Republic.

Official Sources

Entry rules can change, so confirm the latest details through official channels before you travel:

• E-Ticket portal: eticket.migracion.gob.do
• Dirección General de Migración: migracion.gob.do
• US travelers: travel.state.gov
• UK travelers: gov.uk foreign travel advice
• Canadian travelers: travel.gc.ca

New to the country? Start with our first-time visitor's guide and money and tipping guide to plan the rest of your trip.

Last reviewed: June 2026.