Airplane: The national airline of the Dominican Republic is Air Dominicana. It was founded in 2007 and is scheduled to start operations in 2009.
Direct flights from Germany to the Dominican Republic are offered by LTU (including from Berlin Tegel to Punta Cana) and Condor. From Amsterdam there are direct connections from Martinair. Air France also offers flights from Germany, Switzerland and Austria to Santo Domingo. There are also numerous charter flights from Germany and Italy (Milan).
Other international flights are offered by the following airlines, among others: Aeropostal, Air Canada, Air Europa, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, COPA Airlines, Delta, Iberia, Jet Blue, Lan Chile, Lufthansa, Mexicana, Spirit Airlines, US Airways and Varig.
According to computerannals, regional airlines that connect the Dominican Republic with Caribbean destinations are Air Caraibes, Air Antilles Express, LIAT, Cubana Air and Air Jamaica.
Airports: Santo Domingo Airport (SDQ) (Aeropuerto Internacional de las Americas) is the most modern airport in the Dominican Republic and is located 30 km east of Santo Domingo. Airport buses run regularly to the city bus station, the journey time is around 45 minutes. Taxis and rental cars from National, Avis, Quality and Nelly are also available.
Rental cars can also be used at Puerto Plata International Airport (POP) (Internacional General Gregorio Luperón).
Punta Cana International Airport (PUJ) is located near Punta Cana and Bávaro. Taxis leave from here. This is where most of the international visitors end up.
In November 2006, the El Catey International Airport (AZS) was reopened on the Samana peninsula.
There are also three other international airports in the Dominican Republic in Santiago (Aeropuerto Internacional Cibao, STI), Barahona (Aeropuerto Internacional Maria Montez, BRX) and La Romana (Aeropuerto Internacional La Romana, LRM).
Ship: the ferry of the company Ferries del Caribe connects Santo Domingo with Mayaguez in Puerto Rico three times a week in around 12-hour trips. This is the only international ferry connection in the Dominican Republic
Holland America and Celebrity Cruises are among the cruise lines calling at the Dominican Republic.
Border crossings: There are three larger border crossings between Haiti and the Dominican Republic: on the stretch between Port-au-Prince and Santo Domingo the Jimani and Malpasse crossing, between Cap-Haitien and Santiagoa at the Dajabon / Ouanaminthe crossing and in the south the border crossing between Belladere and Elias Pina.
Bus: The bus companies Capital Coach Line, Caribe Tours and Terra Bus offer daily bus connections from Santo Domingo to Port-au-Prince. All three companies travel on comfortable buses with air conditioning and travel times are between six and nine hours.
Dominican Republic – entry requirements
Passport:
is generally required for travel to the Dominican Republic. The passport (or the temporary passport) must be valid for at least 6 months upon entry. An identity card is not sufficient to enter the Dominican Republic.
Visa :
Citizens of EU countries and Switzerland can travel up to 60 days in the Dominican Republic without a visa for tourist trips. Upon entry, you can get a 60-day tourist card for 10 US dollars, and a return or onward ticket must be presented. If the stay is to be extended to more than 60 days, it is possible to apply for an extension of the stay at the Immigration Office of the Dominican Republic (Departamento de Extranjería, Dirección General de Migración).
An airport tax of US $ 20 must be paid when leaving the country. For some airlines, however, the airport tax is already included in the flight price.
In addition, when leaving the Dominican Republic for a stay of between 60 and 90 days, an amount of RD $ 800 per person (approx. € 15, December 2012) must be paid. For stays between 3 and 9 months RD $ 1,000, between 9 months and one year RD $ 2,500.
Tourist cards can be purchased at the Embassy and Consulates of the Dominican Republic or upon entry.
If you plan to live in the Dominican Republic regularly and for a longer period of time, you should definitely contact the responsible diplomatic office before departure and apply for a permanent residence visa here. The residence permit will no longer be issued on site.
Business travelers in the Dominican Republic require a visa
Visa fees
Germans, Swiss, Austrians and Turks do not need a visa for a tourist stay of up to 60 days in the Dominican Republic, but a tourist card (available from diplomatic missions and at the airport). The following fees apply for longer stays or business trips:
Germany
tourist card: 15 € (embassy) plus 5 € postage
Tourist visa: 105 €
Business visa : 200 € (stay up to one year, multiple entries).
Austria
the tourist card is only available upon entry: 10-20 US $
tourist visa: 65 € (single entry)
business visa : 95 € (single entry)
multiple business visa : 125 € (multiple entry)
Switzerland:
Tourist card: CHF 20
Tourist visa: CHF 170
Business visa: single entry CHF 225, multiple entry CHF 235
Application in
person or by post at the consulate or in the consular department of the embassy (see Dominican Republic – important addresses).
Documents:
Tourist visa : a passport photo – passport that is still valid for at least 6 months – a visa application filled out in German, English or Spanish – copy of the last pay slip – proof of booked and paid outward and return travel – – proof of hotel – further proof of identity (e.g. copy of the EC card, driver’s license or insurance card)
Business visa : in addition to the documents for a tourist visa, a company letter from the German company stating the purpose and duration of the trip with a confirmation of cost coverage and the address of the business partner – an invitation from the business partner from the Dominican Republic.
Processing time for
tourist visas: Application by post: 2 to 5 working days, express processing : 2 working days, personal application: one hour
Business and student
visas: around 2 weeks Work visa: around 2 to 3 weeks Entry with children : The same visa requirements apply for children traveling with you as for yours Parents valid. This means that the children’s travel documents must also be valid for at least 6 months upon entry.
Germany: German child ID card up to the age of 16 (with a photo for children over 3 years of age) or your own passport. After the age of 16, children will only accept their own passport. Child ID cards are no longer issued in Germany, existing child ID cards remain valid until the expiry date.
Austria: Children need their own passport.
Switzerland: Children need their own passport.
Minors under 18 years of age who travel alone or with only one parent or guardian require a certified declaration of power of attorney from the parent or legal guardian. This written permission must be issued in the sense of a notarial declaration with certification from the responsible office (e.g. regional court, district president or another comparable instance) and then with the corresponding translation and final certification by the consulate general.
Adequate funds:
Foreign visitors must have sufficient funds for their trip.
Vaccinations:
Information on recommended vaccinations, health risks and hygiene in the Dominican Republic can be found in the Dominican Republic – Health and Diseases chapter.
Entry with pets :
When entering the Dominican Republic, dogs and cats require a health certificate that proves that the animal is disease-free and comes from a region in which no dangerous diseases have occurred in the past 3 months. The health certificate may have been issued a maximum of 15 days before importation.
A vaccination card with proof of a rabies vaccination is also required. The rabies vaccination must have been carried out at least 30 days and at most 12 months before importation.
Both the health certificate and the vaccination certificate must have been translated and certified by the responsible representation of the Dominican Republic.
If small animals, birds or fish are introduced, a permit is required from the Dirección de Ganaderia, Secretaria de Estado de Agricultura in Santo Domingo. This authority may also set a quarantine period.
