Everything you need to know about a Dominican Republic visa

UK nationals with a valid British citizen passport do not need a visa to enter the Dominican Republic for tourism purposes. 

Currently, you do not even need to pay the previously required tourism entry tax or obtain a tourist card after arrival. The tax is calculated within your ticket price.

Once you arrive at the airport, immigration authorities will check your passport and generally grant you a stay of up to 30 days. However, if you wish to extend your stay, you can get another 60 days extension by applying through local immigration authorities. However, you need to pay a certain extension fee while exiting the country.

In order to gain a visa-free entry, you will require an identification document, usually a six-months valid passport. Additionally, you will need to carry a copy of the passport, entry stamp and evidence of onward/return travel at all times during your stay in the nation.

Once you land in the airport, you will also be requested to give your fingerprints and you require to have a photograph taken.

Tourist Visa Requirements for Foreigners

As we already mentioned, United Kingdom nationals do not need a tourist visa to enter the Dominican Republic. You also fall under the visa-free regime if you have a valid US, Canadian, or UN visa.

All other categories of travelers need a tourist visa to travel to the Dominican Republic and must apply for a visa in-person through theEmbassy of the Dominican Consulate in the UK.

The documents required to lodge a tourist visa application are as follows:

• A duly filled and signed visa application form
• A passport, in original, which has a minimum validity of six months
• One clear, passport-size photo
• Documents that prove your financial stability such as a bank letter of your savings account, checking account or bank certificates
• Labor Certification, which specifies the date on which you joined your organization, employment status, compensation, ownership of properties, business, farm or land, or vehicle registration (if applicable)
• A copy of the National Identity Document, Residence Card, or visa stamp from the nation of residence
• A copy of hotel bookings
• A copy of the flight tickets
• The required visa fee of £200.00 payable in cash, postal order or banker’s draft

Other Visa Types

For all other travel purposes, excluding tourism, UK nationals need a visa to enter the Dominican Republic. These visa types are:

• Business visa
• Student visa
• Residence visa

Business Visa

A business visa, also called a working visa is required by UK citizens planning to travel to the Dominican Republic for conducting long-term business activities or purposes that include monetary transactions.

It is valid for up to one year, is available in multiple entries, and allows a stay of up to 30 days per visit.

Required documents:

For a business visa, you will need a passport, application form, and photograph, the details of which are already specified under the tourist visa section.

Additionally, you will need:

• A contract or work letter from the sponsoring company in the Dominican Republic
• A birth certificate, apostilled from the Foreign Office
• Certificate containing your university degree and your CV
• Certificate of Labour from the Ministry of Labour of the Dominican Republic, which includes Resolution No. 135, issued by the Dominican company
• Certificate of good conduct, apostilled by the Foreign Office
• A Letter of Guarantee from a national or organization in the Dominican Republic, legalised by the Attorney General
• A health certificate letter from a doctor or GP
• Recent bank statements from the bank account of the individual funding the journey
• A letter containing all the details of your visa request
• The required visa fee of £450.00, payable in cash, postal order or banker’s draft

Student Visa

A multiple-entry student visa, which is valid for upto one year, is required by UK citizens wanting to carry out academic-related activities in the Dominican Republic.

The necessary documentation needed is:

• A completed visa application form, accompanied by a six-month valid passport and a photo
• Letter of acceptance from a registered and recognised academic institute in the Dominican Republic
• An apostilled certificate of good conduct
• A letter from a doctor specifying that the applicant is in sound health
• Evidence of sufficient funds
• Visa fee of £300.00, paid either in cash, postal order or banker’s draft

Residence Visa

A single entry residence visa is a temporary entry visa that is valid for up to 60 days. You will need it to enter the Dominican Republic if you plan to permanently stay in the country.

After arrival, you should submit your application for a permanent residency visa at the Migration Directorate of the Dominican Republic.

Documentation requirements:

• A residence visa application form, coupled with your original passport and a photo
• An apostilled certificate of good conduct
• An apostilled birth certificate
• A comprehensive medical certificate from an authorized medical practitioner
• Proof of sufficient funds
• Letter of Guarantee from a citizen or company in the Dominican Republic, legalised by the Attorney General
• Letter of application, detailing the purpose of seeking permanent residency, which can be a marriage to a Dominican citizen (accompanied by a marriage certificate), ownership of Dominican properties (accompanied by deeds and other docs), employment in a Dominican company (coupled with contract letter and Certificate of Labour), retirement (coupled with a pension statement and monthly incomes from pension)
• Visa fee, which is £450.00 payable via cash, postal order or banker’s draft

NOTE: All apostilled documents through the UK Foreign Office must be translated into Spanish. Postal applications should contain a self-addressed return envelope.

Traveling to the Dominican Republic with children

Minors, aged below 18 years, are not required to carry written authorisation from their parents if they enter and exit the nation with the same person or people.

Travelers aged between 13 to 18 years and traveling alone or in a group with no adults accompanying them do not need to present parental authorisation if they arrive and leave with the same group.

In all other cases, minors will be asked to produce a sworn affidavit issued by a solicitor and containing the signature of the child’s parents or legal guardian(s) authorising their travel.

This document needs to be legalised by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the Embassy of the Dominican Republic.