Emergency services
Call 911.
Police
Tourist police (POLITUR) can help tourists and they patrol key tourist areas.
Call POLITUR on 911.
We advise:
Exercise a high degree of caution in the Dominican Republic due to high levels of violent crime.
Call 911.
Tourist police (POLITUR) can help tourists and they patrol key tourist areas.
Call POLITUR on 911.
We advise:
Exercise a high degree of caution in the Dominican Republic due to high levels of violent crime.
Exercise a high degree of caution in the Dominican Republic.
Exercise a high degree of caution in the Dominican Republic due to high levels of violent crime.
Full travel advice: Safety
Full travel advice: Health
Full travel advice: Local laws
Full travel advice: Travel
Full travel advice: Local contacts
Crime rates are high in the Dominican Republic.
Violent crime happens in tourist areas. Victims have been injured when resisting.
Women are particularly at risk of aggressive sexual behaviour and sexual assault.
Be careful at bars and entertainment venues. People have reported being robbed and assaulted after their drinks were spiked.
To reduce your risk of violent crime:
If you're a victim of violent crime, especially sexual assault, seek immediate medical help. The risk of HIV/AIDS infection is high.
More information:
Avoid using ATMs on the street due to the high risk of robbery.
Credit card and ATM fraud are common, particularly in Santo Domingo and resort areas.
To protect your money:
Travellers have been robbed in taxis and private cars to and from Las Americas International Airport. Armed robbers force the vehicle to stop on the side of the road.
To stay safe on the roads:
Pickpockets and bag-snatchers are common in major cities. Travellers are often the target in busy areas such as airports and bus terminals.
Travellers have also reported thefts at resorts, on beaches, in hotel rooms and from hotel room safes.
To protect yourself from petty crime:
Political demonstrations happen across the country but are most common in and around the cities of:
Public protests and events that draw large groups of people can turn violent. Demonstrations can affect traffic and essential services.
To protect yourself from periods of unrest:
More information:
Many beaches have strong and dangerous rips.
Check the conditions with your hotel or authorities before entering the water.
Lifeguards aren't present at some hotels, resorts and public beaches.
Dominican Republic experiences natural disasters and severe weather, such as:
Severe weather can disrupt essential services and infrastructure, such as water and electricity.
To protect yourself in case of a natural disaster:
More information:
The hurricane season is from June to November. The direction and strength of hurricanes can change at any time.
Tropical storms or hurricanes can happen at any time of year.
The wet season is from May to November. Heavy rainfalls can cause landslides and mudslides. These can have a devastating effect on infrastructure and essential services.
If there's a hurricane or severe storm:
Severe weather may also affect:
Contact your airline or travel agency for information.
To protect yourself if a hurricane is approaching:
If you're travelling to the Dominican Republic during hurricane season or after a natural disaster, monitor weather reports.
More information:
The Dominican Republic is in an earthquake zone. Earthquakes and tsunamis may happen.
Dominican Republic's susceptibility to earthquakes makes destructive tsunamis more likely than in other oceanic regions.
Don't wait for official warnings, such as alarms or sirens. Move to higher ground or as far inland as you can. Once there, monitor local media.
More information:
Get comprehensive travel insurance before you leave.
Your policy needs to cover all overseas medical costs, including medical evacuation. The Australian Government won't pay for these costs.
If you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel. This applies to everyone, no matter how healthy and fit you are.
If you're not insured, you may have to pay many 1000s of dollars up-front for medical care.
Confirm:
Consider your physical and mental health before you travel, especially if you have an existing medical condition.
See your doctor or travel clinic to:
Do this at least 8 weeks before you leave.
If you have immediate concerns for your welfare or the welfare of someone you know, call the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 or contact your nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate to discuss counselling hotlines and services available in your location.
More information:
Not all medication available over the counter or by prescription in Australia is available in other countries. Some may even be considered illegal or a controlled substance, even if prescribed by an Australian doctor.
Check if your medication is legal in the Dominican Republic. Take enough legal medication for your trip.
Keep medication in their original packaging with a clear label.
Carry a copy of your prescription or a letter from your doctor stating:
If needed, get DFAT to authenticate medical documents before you depart.
More information:
COVID-19 remains a risk in the Dominican Republic.
For information on The Dominican Republic’s COVID-19 vaccination program, refer to the Ministry of Health (Spanish). The Australian Government cannot provide advice on the safety, quality and efficacy of vaccines that have been approved for use outside of Australia's regulatory process.
More information:
The rate of HIV/AIDS infection is high. Take precautions if you take part in activities that put you at risk of infection.
Cholera is present. It causes diarrhoea and vomiting. It can be fatal if left untreated.
Maintain good food hygiene to minimise your risk of getting cholera.
Waterborne, foodborne and other infectious diseases are common. These include:
Serious outbreaks sometimes occur.
To protect yourself from illness:
Get urgent medical attention if you suspect food poisoning or have a fever or diarrhoea.
More information:
Illnesses spread by insects are common, especially during the hot months from May to November.
Disease risks include:
Zika virus is widespread. If you're pregnant, the Australian Department of Health recommends that you:
Malaria is less common, but has been reported in the western area bordering Haiti, at some beach resorts, and adventure sports areas.
To protect yourself against disease:
Consider taking medication to prevent malaria.
Get medical advice if you have a fever, muscle pain, rash or severe headache.
There's a high risk of rabies in the Dominican Republic. Avoid direct contact with all animals, especially:
Get urgent medical attention if you're bitten or scratched.
Toxins occur naturally in shellfish. In concentrated amounts, these toxins are poisonous for humans:
Outbreaks of ciguatera poisoning have occurred on many Caribbean islands.
Get urgent medical attention if you suspect poisoning.
More information:
Medical facilities in major cities are reasonable. In other areas, the standard of facilities is lower, with little English spoken. Blood supplies are often limited.
Medical care can be expensive. Before receiving treatment, you may be asked to either:
If you become seriously ill or injured, you may need to be evacuated to a place with better facilities. Medical evacuation can be very expensive.
You're subject to all local laws and penalties, including those that may appear harsh by Australian standards. Research local laws before travelling.
If you're arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you under our Consular Services Charter. But we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail.
Penalties for drug offences are severe. This includes long prison sentences in local jails under harsh conditions.
If you're found driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, authorities will arrest and possibly detain you.
Border officials may screen you for drugs, including on departure.
More information:
Some Australian criminal laws still apply when you're overseas. If you break these laws, you may face prosecution in Australia.
More information:
The Dominican Republic recognises dual nationality.
If you're a dual national, this limits the consular services we can give if you're arrested or detained. Authorities may not advise us if you're charged with a crime.
Always travel on your Australian passport.
More information:
Every country or territory decides who can enter or leave through its borders. For specific information about the evidence you'll need to enter a foreign destination, check with the nearest embassy, consulate or immigration department of the destination you're entering.
You must buy a tourist card on arrival. It's valid for 30 days. For longer visits, you must pay an extra fee at the airport on departure.
Rules affecting travellers can change at short notice.
You don't need to present a COVID-19 Vaccination Card or undertake COVID-19 (PCR or antigen) tests to enter the Dominican Republic. However you may be subject to random testing operations. If you show your vaccination card, you'll be exempt from random testing.
To enter, you must complete the electronic entry and exit form, which combines the Traveller’s Health Affidavit, Customs Declaration, and International Embarkation/Disembarkation forms.
If you’re travelling through the US, you must meet US entry or transit requirements. Contact your nearest US embassy or US consulate before you travel.
More information:
If you're travelling via Canada, you'll need an eTA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) for Canada.
Find out more before you travel. Check your requirements with the High Commission of Canada.
More information:
Contact the Consulate of the Dominican Republic for details about visas, currency, customs and quarantine rules.
Strict exit requirements apply to children aged under 18 years who travel:
Ask about the regulations before you travel. Contact the Consulate of the Dominican Republic.
More information:
A departure tax applies for visits of up to 2 weeks.
It might be included in the price of your airline ticket. Confirm with your travel agent or airline.
You'll need to pay extra departure tax for stays of longer than 2 weeks.
Some countries won't let you enter unless your passport is valid for 6 months after you plan to leave that country. This can apply even if you're just transiting or stopping over.
Some foreign governments and airlines apply the rule inconsistently. Travellers can receive conflicting advice from different sources.
You can end up stranded if your passport is not valid for more than 6 months.
The Australian Government does not set these rules. Check your passport's expiry date before you travel. If you’re not sure it'll be valid for long enough, consider getting a new passport.
Your passport is a valuable document. It's attractive to people who may try to use your identity to commit crimes.
Some people may try to trick you into giving them your passport. Always keep it in a safe place.
If your passport is lost or stolen, tell the Australian Government as soon as possible:
The local currency is the Dominican Peso (DOP).
You can't exchange Australian dollars in the Dominican Republic. However, you can exchange US dollars at banks or official exchange offices.
Take US dollars with you.
Choose your tour operators carefully.
If you plan to do a tour:
If proper safety equipment isn't available, use another provider.
For trips of less than 3 months, you can drive a vehicle with an International Driving Permit (IDP).
Apply for your IDP before leaving Australia.
More information:
You're more likely to be killed in a motor vehicle accident in the Dominican Republic than in Australia.
Hazards include:
Heavy rains cause mudslides and collapse roads. Roads may be closed at short notice, especially during the hurricane and wet seasons.
If you plan to drive in the Dominican Republic:
If you're involved in an accident, wait at the scene until police arrive and authorise you to leave.
Travellers have been robbed and assaulted when using unofficial taxis.
Don't use route taxis, also known as 'carros publicos'. They pose a higher risk of passengers being robbed. Instead, use either:
DFAT doesn't provide information on the safety of individual commercial airlines or flight paths.
Check the Dominican Republic's air safety profile with the Aviation Safety Network.
More information:
Depending on what you need, contact your:
Call 911.
Tourist police (POLITUR) can help tourists and they patrol key tourist areas.
Call POLITUR on 911.
Always get a police report when you report a crime.
Your insurer should have a 24-hour emergency number.
Read the Consular Services Charter for what the Australian Government can and can't do to help you overseas.
Australia doesn't have an embassy in the Dominican Republic.
The Embassy of Canada in Santo Domingo provides consular assistance for Australians. It can issue Australian provisional travel documents.
You can also get consular assistance from the Australian Embassy in Mexico City.
Av. Winston Churchill 1099
Torre Citigroup en Acropolis Center 18th floor
Ensanche Piantini, Santo Domingo
Phone: (+1 809) 262 3100
Email: sdmgo@international.gc.ca
Website: canadainternational.gc.ca/dominican_republic-republique_dominicaine
Ruben Dario #55
Corner of Campos Eliseos, Polanco
Colonia Bosques de Chapultepec
11580 Mexico DF Mexico
Phone: +52 55 1101 2200
Fax: +52 55 1101 2201
Email: consularpassports.mexico@dfat.gov.au
Website: mexico.embassy.gov.au
Facebook: Australian Embassy Mexico
Twitter: AusEmbMex
Check the Embassy website for details about opening hours and any temporary closures.
In a consular emergency, if you can't contact an embassy, call the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on:
Be the first to know official government advice when travelling.