Dominican Republic · How long you can stay
How long can a US citizen stay in the Dominican Republic?
Short answer
No visa needed: a $10 tourist card, usually in your air fare, gets you 30 days. You can extend online to 120 days, but you can't work or switch to residency.
The rules for a US passport
| Visa needed? | No: a $10 tourist card is enough, and it's usually included in your air fare |
|---|---|
| Days allowed | 30 days in practice; the law allows up to 60 Needs review |
| Can you extend? | Yes, online up to 120 days in total, in about 3 working days. The request is free; you pay a stay fee when you leave: about $58 for 30–90 days, $92 for 90–120 |
| What you can't do | Paid work of any kind. Remote work for a foreign employer isn't addressed in the law Needs review |
| Overstay penalty | You pay a stay fee at exit, by total stay: about $116 for 9–12 months, up to about $1,617 for 10 years. Removal or bans Not yet verified |
| Passport validity | At least 6 months, plus a return ticket, an address in the country and proof of funds |
Checked against the law The work ban, overstay rule and passport rule, read in the migration law.
Needs review Officials allow 30 days, but the law and its regulation say up to 60.
Not yet verified The tourist card, extension and fees come from the agencies' own pages.
Still being checked The foreign ministry's entry list, the e-Ticket, exit tax, customs and the US government's page.
Good to know
- Want to stay longer? Get a residence visa at a Dominican consulate before you come; you can't switch from a tourist stay.
- Extending needs a medical certificate, plus your entry stamp, a return ticket and proof of funds.
- No vaccine or insurance rule for US tourists was found.
Sources (10)
Legal basis and exact figures
- Stay: DGII and DGM say 30 days, then extend or pay a stay fee; Ley 285-04 art 40(1) allows 'hasta 60 días, prorrogables' and Reglamento 631-11 art 81(a) sets a 60-day maximum. Reglamento art 83 allows one extension of 60 days; the DGM online prórroga allows up to 120 days in total.
- Fees: tourist card US$10 (Ley 199-67), included in the air fare for air arrivals. Stay fee 30–90 days RD$3,500; 90–120 days (or 3–9 months) RD$5,600; 9–12 months RD$7,000; 12–18 months RD$9,100; up to 10 years RD$98,000, then RD$7,000 a year. At BCRD compra 60.5931 (12 Nov 2026).
- Law: Ley 285-04 arts 40(1), 71 (present an RS visa within 30 days), 100 (no paid work for non-residents), 152 (overstay is irregular status); Reglamento 631-11 arts 48(a), 57(3), 81(a) (6-month passport, return ticket, DR address, funds), 83.
- Still being checked: MIREX country list (HTTP 503), the DGM e-Ticket and minors' exit-permit pages, exit tax, customs, yellow-fever rules for travellers from risk countries, airline passport policies and the US State Department page.
Links
- DGII: Sobre Tarjeta de Turista, preguntas frecuentes
- Decreto 631-11, Reglamento de Aplicación de la Ley General de Migración 285-04
- MIREX: Consulta de requisitos para extranjeros ingresar a la República Dominicana
- Ley General de Migración núm. 285-04 (15 Aug 2004, G.O. 10291)
- DGM: Prórroga de estadía para turistas
- DGM: Residencia Temporal (RT-9)
- DGM: Residencia por inversión en calidad de jubilado o pensionado
- Banco Central de la República Dominicana: tipo de cambio (portada)
- DGM: Servicio de cálculo y pago de tasas de estadía
- DGM: Servicios, Residencias (list of residence services)
Count your days in the Dominican Republic → Entry and visas in full → The full Dominican Republic guide →
Questions people ask
Do US citizens need a visa for the Dominican Republic?
No: a $10 tourist card is enough, and it's usually included in your air fare
How many days can a US citizen stay in the Dominican Republic?
30 days in practice; the law allows up to 60 (Needs review)
Can a US citizen extend a stay in the Dominican Republic?
Yes, online up to 120 days in total, in about 3 working days. The request is free; you pay a stay fee when you leave: about $58 for 30–90 days, $92 for 90–120
Can I work in the Dominican Republic as a tourist?
Paid work of any kind. Remote work for a foreign employer isn't addressed in the law (Needs review)
What happens if you overstay in the Dominican Republic?
You pay a stay fee at exit, by total stay: about $116 for 9–12 months, up to about $1,617 for 10 years. Removal or bans (Not yet verified)
How long must my passport be valid for the Dominican Republic?
At least 6 months, plus a return ticket, an address in the country and proof of funds