Countries › Dominican Republic › Guide › 8. Immigration › Visiting the Dominican Republic: tourist card, 30 day stays and business visas

Visiting the Dominican Republic: tourist card, 30 day stays and business visas

Argentina. For full detail on Argentina, go to The Argentine Thread.

Last verified: 2026-10-30 · Status: Changing

Most visitors enter with a US$10 tourist card, normally inside the air ticket, for 30 days and tourism only. Business trips legally need a business visa from a consulate. Nationals on the DGII visa list must get a visa for any trip.

USD figures use the Banco Central de la República Dominicana reference selling rate of RD$60.9007 per US dollar for 29 October 2026, as shown on its home page on the verification date, rounded to the cent.

Key facts

Stay on a tourist card	30 daysDGII tourist card questions, question 3, as of 2026-10-30 · in force
Legal ceiling for tourists and business visitors	60 daysLey 285-04 art. 40, as of 2026-10-30 · in force
Tourist card price	10 USDLey 199-67; DGII page, as of 2026-10-30 · in force
Stay extension fee, 30 to 90 days	3500 DOPDGM service sheet, as of 2025-10-22 · in force
Longest stay reachable by extension	120 daysDGM service sheet, as of 2025-10-22 · in force
Last day of six month passport waiver for listed nationals	2026-12-31 dateDGM memorandum under Resolución DGM-01-2024, as of 2025-12-02 · in force
NM business visa fee	200 USDMIREX consular fee schedule, as of 2026-10-30 · in force
Reference rate used for USD conversions	60.9007 DOP per USDBanco Central reference selling rate, as of 2026-10-29 · in force

The rule

1. Every foreigner needs a visa, except nationals covered by visa waiver agreements and those the Executive lets in with a tourist card, for tourism only. The card is good for one entry.Decreto 631-11, Reglamento de la Ley General de Migración, art. 28, 2011-10-19 official text · verified 2026-10-30

2. The tourist card comes from Ley 199-67 and costs US$10. Its use is limited to one entry, and the right is lost if the holder carries on gainful activity.
Cost to do it: US$10 (RD$609.01) or €10 at sea ports and land points.Ley 199-67, DGII tourist card page, Page text, 1967-05-09 official text · verified 2026-10-30

3. Since 25 April 2018 the card is included in air tickets issued outside the country, so air visitors do not buy it on arrival. Land and sea visitors buy it at DGII points.DGII tourist card page, Page text, 2018-04-25 official text · verified 2026-10-30

4. A card holder may stay 30 days and may go past that by paying the DGM rate.DGII tourist card questions, Question 3, 2026-10-30 official text · verified 2026-10-30

5. The law allows non residents who are tourists, business visitors or group members a stay of up to 60 days, extendable.Ley 285-04, General de Migración, art. 40, 2004-08-15 official text · verified 2026-10-30

6. Tourists must show a passport valid six months, a return ticket, a Dominican address and proof of funds.Decreto 631-11, Reglamento de la Ley General de Migración, art. 81 literal a, 2011-10-19 official text · verified 2026-10-30

7. Until 31 December 2026, tourists from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, the United States, England and European Union countries need a passport valid only for the stay and departure, not six months. Foreigners from other countries who hold documents to enter those nations get the same treatment.DGM memorandum continuing Resolución DGM-01-2024, DGM notice of 2 December 2025, 2025-12-02 official text · verified 2026-10-30 · changed: Extended on 2 December 2025 for 1 December 2025 to 31 December 2026.

8. Foreigners with permanent residence or a valid multiple entry visa from the United States, the European Union (Schengen), Canada or Great Britain may enter with a valid passport and a tourist card, for tourism.Decreto 691-07, MIREX summary, 2007-12-18 official text · verified 2026-10-30

9. Business travelers need an NS visa for one entry or an NM visa for multiple entries, with a contract, letter of intent or invitation stating the business. Each stay is up to 60 days.
Cost to do it: NS US$150 (RD$9,135.10); NM US$200 (RD$12,180.14).Decreto 631-11, Reglamento de la Ley General de Migración, art. 81 literal b, 2011-10-19 official text · verified 2026-10-30

10. An NM visa lasts one year with multiple entries. It needs a certificate of no criminal record issued within 12 months, an employment certification and a company letter.MIREX visas page, Ley 875 de 1978 sobre Visados, Visa de negocios, 2026-10-30 official text · verified 2026-10-30

11. A DGII statement says a foreigner entering for business must apply for a business visa at a consulate.DGII tourist card questions, Question 13, 2026-10-30 official text · verified 2026-10-30

12. Non residents cannot do paid or gainful work, except temporary workers, border residents, group members and students, each only for the admitted activity.Ley 285-04, General de Migración, art. 100, 2004-08-15 official text · verified 2026-10-30

13. Visa decisions take 10 to 20 working days.MIREX visas page, Response time, 2026-10-30 official text · verified 2026-10-30

14. The extension is requested online, is free to file and costs a rate by days requested. It runs up to 120 days and takes three working days.
Cost to do it: 30 to 90 days RD$3,500 (US$57.47); 90 to 120 days RD$5,600 (US$91.95).DGM service sheet, stay extension, Cost, 2025-10-22 official text · verified 2026-10-30

Visa	Entries and term	Fee (USD)
TS	One entry, 60 days	100
TM	Two entries, 60 days	150
NS	One entry, 60 days	150
NM	Multiple entries, one year	200

Short stay visas. Terms from the MIREX visas page, fees from the MIREX schedule.

Worked example

A visitor who stays 75 days pays RD$3,500 (US$57.47) on the 30 to 90 day band, on top of the US$10 card in the ticket.
An executive making five trips a year pays US$200 (RD$12,180.14) once for an NM visa valid one year, rather than a US$150 NS for each single trip.

Step by step

Check whether your nationality appears on the DGII visa list.
For business, apply for an NS or NM visa 10 to 20 working days ahead.
Complete the electronic entry and exit form (e-ticket).
If staying past 30 days, request the extension online before day 30.
Keep the return ticket and proof of funds.

Common traps

The law says up to 60 days, but the tourist card gives 30. Use 30 for planning.
The regulation allows only one 60 day extension for tourists, while the DGM sheet offers up to 120 days. The sheet reflects current practice.
Meetings on a tourist card breach the card's terms: it is for tourism, and gainful activity forfeits it.
Lists can lag: the DGII page shows Bosnia and Herzegovina on both the card list and the visa list. Confirm with a consulate.
Argentina is on neither DGII list. DGM's notice covers Argentine tourists, so check with a consulate before travel.
The passport waiver ends on 31 December 2026 unless extended.

Sources

← Immigration in the Dominican Republic: who decides, the residence ladder and which status fitsWork visas in the Dominican Republic: the NM1 visa and RT-3 labor residence →

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