Published: January 14, 2026
Embassy & Consulate Contact Information
U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo
Av. Republica de Colombia #57 Santo Domingo Dominican Republic
+ (809) 567-7775
Emergencies: +(809) 567-7775 Hours. 0800-1645 Monday-Friday
OSAC Country Chapter(s)
The Country Chapter in Santo Domingo is active, meeting quarterly.
Contact OSAC’s Americas team with any questions.
Dominican Republic Travel Advisory
The current U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory at the date of this report’s publication
assesses that travelers should exercise increased caution when traveling to the Dominican
Republic due to crime.
Review OSAC’s report, Understanding the Consular Travel Advisory System.
Crime
The U.S. Department of State has assessed the Santo Domingo as being a CRITICAL-threat location for crime directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.
The U.S. Department of State has included a Crime “C” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for the Dominican Republic.
The crime emergency line in the Dominican Republic is 911. Review the State Department’s Crime Victims Assistance brochure.
Crime: General Threat
Crime continues to be the number one safety concern in the Dominican Republic for Dominicans and for the U.S. Embassy. Most crimes committed are random armed robberies. Many are committed with guns or knives and are often violent. Most criminals utilize motorcycles for transportation. Although armed assaults are more likely to occur at night or to pedestrians, they can also occur during the day and/or while the victim is in a vehicle stopped at a traffic light. Purse and cell phones are often snatched from pedestrians on the street or sidewalk, including in wealthy neighborhoods and tourist areas. Homicides are significant, causing almost eight deaths per 100,000 by June of 2025, but have improved from the rate of 10 deaths per 100,000 in 2024. Most homicides are linked to social or domestic violence situations. The wide availability of weapons, the use of drugs, and the developing criminal justice system all contribute to the high level of criminality in the country.
During the holiday season (November-January) the overall level of crime, specifically thefts and robberies, tends to rise due to employees receiving their “13th month” bonuses. The Dominican Republic Security Services, however, also increases police and military presence to counter this trend.
The Dominican Republic also faces challenges with organized crime, which involves a variety of activities, including drug trafficking and money laundering. A lack of law enforcement resources, poorly paid and trained police officers, and corruption exacerbate the situation.
Security outside of the resort area, including beach areas, is unpredictable, especially at night. Insist that hotel management take immediate action to involve appropriate authorities such as contacting the police
Fraud schemes, particularly credit card fraud, remain commonplace. ATM card skimming is common, although ATMs located inside banks, malls, and hotels tend to be more reliable. The fraud scheme most attributed to the Dominican Republic is called the “Grandparents Scam,” where someone pretending to be a police officer or a representative from the U.S. Embassy calls an elderly relative of a U.S. citizen claiming that a young relative has been arrested. The caller sounds credible and pressures the U.S. relative to wire money for “bond,” “damages,” or “legal fees.” Due to a high number of U.S. tourists, international scammers often cite the Dominican Republic as their location. However, based on U.S. Embassy investigations, the callers often are not based in the Dominican Republic, nor does the wired money end up in the Dominican Republic. The U.S. Embassy regularly receives calls from U.S.-based victims of this scam.
Crime: Areas of Concern
Most crime is concentrated within the local population in cities and urban areas. Due to the Dominican Republic’s critical crime rating, the Embassy recommends driving from place to place instead of walking, especially at night and/or in locations you are unfamiliar with.
Review OSAC’s reports, All That You Should Leave Behind, Hotels: The Inns and Outs, Considerations for Hotel Security, Taking Credit, and Our Two Cents: Petty Crime Basics and How to Minimize the Risk.
Kidnapping Threat
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Kidnapping “K” Indicator on the Travel Advisories for the Dominican Republic.
There is a low risk of kidnapping in the Dominican Republic. However, victims of the few reported cases include businesspersons, family members, and common citizens. Some victims have reported being abducted by men in police uniforms or similar clothing and having been told that their identity needed to be verified. Kidnappers take victims to an undisclosed location and hold them from a few hours to a couple of days, most commonly in exchange for ransom. Foreigners may be more frequent targets of kidnapping for ransom schemes because of perceived affluence. Remain aware of your surroundings, stay in accommodations that have a searchable internet presence like hotels rather than apartments, and don’t accept rides from unmarked cars.
The Dominican Republic is also a known transit point for human traffickers due to the convenience of its location to Europe. Undocumented workers in the Dominican Republic are frequent targets of traffickers. Americans are less likely to be targets in these cases, but it is best to remain vigilant.
Review OSAC’s reports, Kidnapping: The Basics and Active Shooter and Kidnapping Response Tips.
Terrorism
The U.S. Department of State has assessed Santo Domingo as being a LOW-threat location for terrorism directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Terrorism “T” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for the Dominican Republic.
There are no known organized domestic terrorist groups. Santo Domingo experienced its first known incident of domestic terrorism in 2014, when a male ignited an incendiary device on a crowded subway car, killing one person and injuring dozens. The Dominican Republic is an integral transportation hub of the Caribbean, with several international airports, and is generally permissive for travel. As such, it is a likely transit point for extremists from within the region, Africa, and Europe.
Political Violence and Civil Unrest
The U.S. Department of State has assessed Santo Domingo as being a LOW-threat location for political violence directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Civil “U” Unrest Indicator on the Travel Advisory for the Dominican Republic.
Civil unrest can develop quickly without prior notice, often interrupting logistics and services. Avoid demonstration activity, as even those planned to remain peaceful have the potential to turn violent.
Elections/Political Stability
The Dominican Republic is a stable democracy that shares democratic principles with the United States. Protests have occurred around election periods.
The last election was held in May 2024. The incumbent president, Luis Abinader, won a second term without the need for a run-off. The election was held without significant incident.
Protests & Demonstrations
Politically motivated protests, demonstrations, and general strikes are common throughout the country, particularly during general election years. Although demonstrations are normally peaceful, some have turned violent, with participants rioting, erecting roadblocks, and clashing with police. Civil unrest sometimes occurs due to the lack of adequate electricity, water resources, and the public opinion from certain groups that the government is not actively protecting the national interest.
Demonstration alerts were released by the U.S. Embassy in March, April, May, and July 2025, advising U.S. citizens to stay clear of areas expecting significant protest activities. Demonstrations were unrelated to each other and took place in a variety of locations. None of the demonstrations targeted U.S. facilities. Subscribe to STEP alerts to remain informed of when demonstrations may occur and check the U.S. Embassy website for alerts.
Review OSAC’s report, Surviving a Protest.
Anti-U.S./Anti-Western Sentiment
There are no concerns about anti-U.S. sentiment.
Law Enforcement
The National Police handle the country’s internal security and the protection of its citizens (to include residents, visitors, and diplomats). The National Police are the main internal security force and the only agency authorized to conduct investigations. The Dominican Republic has a specific police force for tourist issues known as POLITUR. POLITUR provides first responder-type assistance to tourists. POLITUR will help visitors who are victims of crime get to a police station, file a police report, and seek further assistance.
The military, a constitutionally separate entity from the National Police, handles some functions that would be designated as Law Enforcement responsibilities in other countries. CESFRONT handles border security and CESAC handles aviation and airport security as partially independent agencies under the military.
Corruption and official misconduct remain a serious concern. Police Internal Affairs works to prevent, investigate, monitor, control, and recommend corrective actions for any improper conduct. Although Internal Affairs investigations result in the termination of hundreds of police officers per year, these investigations are regularly under-resourced and unable to make a significant dent in the level of police corruption.
Police Response
Call 911 to reach emergency services.
Reach POLITUR offices in the following destinations as follows:
- Playa Dorada: 809-320-4603
- Puerto Plata / Cofresi: 809-320-0365
- Santo Domingo: Tel. 809-222-2026 / 809-685-0508
- Sosua: 809-754-3051 / 809-754-3020 / 809-571-2338
Response times to reported incidents is normally limited due to local traffic conditions and available resources but are within the international norms for emergency response systems. The system is considered a model emergency response system in the region and was recently expanded to serve almost 90% of the Dominican population.
Transportation Security
Road Safety
In 2024, traffic accidents became the Dominican Republic’s most common cause of death. The Dominican Republic is consistently ranked among the world’s highest mortality rates from vehicular accidents. Defensive driving skills are a necessity. Although traffic laws are like those in the U.S., a lack of adequate traffic controls and enforcement result in aggressive driving conditions and frequent car accidents. Drivers are commonly erratic, often fail to yield the right of way, and engage in road rage. A majority of cases causing injury or death involve motorcycles. Motorcycles account for half of registered vehicles and regularly cross red lights, drive on the shoulder or sidewalk, or otherwise operate in a hazardous fashion. Local laws require the use of seat belts, the use of hands-free cellular devices while driving, and the use of helmets by motorcyclists, although in practice police rarely enforce these rules.
Police conduct random stops of vehicles to check documentation. Police can delay or fine individuals found to violate the law. Local law requires that police take a driver into custody when an accident results in serious injury/death, even if the driver is insured and appears not to have been at fault. Only the driver must enter into custody. The standard detention period is 48 hours, but detentions could last until a judicial decision (often weeks or months) or until the injured party signs a waiver (usually as the result of a settlement). Visitors should avoid driving and may consider hiring a driver. Licensed drivers familiar with local road conditions are available through local car rental and travel agencies.
Pedestrians commonly step out into traffic without regard to corners, crosswalks, or traffic signals. The lack of street lighting is notable and contributes to pedestrian and vehicular deaths. Pedestrians do not have the right of way, so walking along or crossing busy streets can be very dangerous, even in crosswalks, at intersections with signals, or areas of traffic police presence.
The Dominican Republic criminalizes driving under the influence of alcohol, with an extremely low legal limit for blood alcohol content - .025, or slightly more than one alcoholic beverage in an hour. In practice, however, drivers are normally only tested after an accident, so enforcement is virtually non-existent. Traffic accidents related to driving under the influence often result in serious injury or death, especially on weekends and holidays, and when commercial vehicles are involved. In September 2024 a truck ran into a crowd of people at a roadside bar in Azua, killing 10 and injuring dozens.
Travel at night on intercity highways and in rural areas can be highly dangerous due to animals on the road, poor road conditions, and vehicles being driven at either very slow or excessive speeds, often with malfunctioning headlights or taillights. Rolling blackouts increase the danger of night travel. Streetlights outside of major urban areas are uncommon.
The border areas between Haiti and the Dominican Republic are regions where nationalistic tensions can result in violence. Dominican authorities have delayed U.S. citizens at checkpoints while reviewing their passports and questioning their purpose of travel. Bring such situations to the attention of the U.S. Embassy American Citizen Services. Border crossings are frequently subject to sudden closure.
Gasoline prices are high. This encourages many people to convert their vehicles to propane gas, a cheaper fuel. Often, the nozzles of the tanks that hold propane can rupture easily in an accident, and the tanks themselves are often secured improperly to the vehicle. Collisions involving a vehicle using propane gas can result in explosions or rapid fires, which can be fatal or cause severe injuries to the occupants of the vehicles and bystanders.
Review OSAC’s reports, Road Safety Abroad, Driving Overseas: Best Practices, and Evasive Driving Techniques; and read the U.S. Department of State’s webpage on driving and road safety abroad.
Public Transportation Safety
Public transportation includes a metro (subway) and public bus system, as well as shared bus or van taxis known as guaguas (converted vans or microbuses, often without doors). Guaguas run regular routes within urban areas and between towns in the countryside. Public buses and guaguas operating in the capital do not meet U.S. safety standards. For travel within the city, use hotel, call-ahead, or app-based taxi services. Rideshare services are available in many parts of the country. For safety reasons, avoid using public transportation, such as route taxis (carros públicos) and guaguas. For intercity travel, consider one of the more reputable tourist bus companies such as Caribe Tours or Metro.
Aviation Concerns
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration assesses through its International Aviation Safety Program that the Dominican Republic meets International Civil Aviation standards. The last reported commercial aviation incident occurred in 1996. The only airline operating flights to and from the Dominican Republic that the U.S. government prohibits its employees from using is Insel Air, based in Aruba.
Review OSAC’s Report, Security in Transit: Airplanes, Public Transport, and Overnights.
Maritime Security
In general, maritime security poses a low risk to U.S. travelers in the Dominican Republic. Charters and vessels operated by tour companies and resorts in the Dominican Republic are generally well kept and maintain a high level of safety for passengers. Outside of these companies, many boats are not well maintained and do not have sufficient lifesaving equipment in the event of an emergency. The Dominican Armada and Air Force, while trained in search and rescue, have limited capacity to respond in many areas of the Dominican Maritime Search and Rescue area of responsibility.
Piracy and other violent crimes in the maritime environment are uncommon in the Dominican Republic. However, due to the Dominican Republic’s proximity to Haiti, there have been isolated reports of migrant boats attempting to bypass law enforcement by landing on or near beaches in the Dominican Republic. Mariners should be vigilant of other boats in their proximity, as smuggling from Haiti and The Bahamas is common.
Travelers with Special Considerations
For specific traveler concerns in the Dominican Republic, review the local laws and circumstances on the U.S. Department of State’s Country Information Page.
Rule of Law, Arbitrary Detention, Official Harassment, Corruption, & Transparency
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Risk of Wrongful “D” Detention Indicator on the Travel Advisory for the Dominican Republic.
The law provides criminal penalties for corruption by officials, and the government generally implements the law effectively. The attorney general, through the Office of the Specialized Prosecutor on Administrative Corruption, investigates allegedly corrupt officials. Individuals and NGOs note the greatest hindrance to effective investigations was a lack of political will to prosecute individuals accused of corruption, particularly well-connected individuals or high-level politicians. Government corruption remains a serious problem and a public grievance, so much so that it led to widespread protests in 2017, and corruption was a primary factor leading to the change in government in the 2020 elections.
Dominican President Luis Abinader has made anti-corruption a priority of his administration and has made progress dismantling the culture of impunity in the Dominican Republic since first being elected to office in 2020. Important advances since 2020 include the prosecution of several ongoing high-level corruption cases, implicating former senior officials, the strengthening of regulations surrounding public procurements, and the enactment of a civil asset forfeiture law. Despite these efforts, official corruption remains widespread.
U.S. companies identify corruption as a barrier to Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and some firms reported being solicited by public officials for bribes. U.S. investors indicate corruption occurs at all phases of investment, not just in public procurement or during the process for awarding tenders or concessions, as is most often alleged. U.S. businesses operating in the Dominican Republic often need to take extensive measures to ensure compliance with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. The U.S. Government has received reports/heard allegations of significant harassment of investors whose interests ran contrary to politically connected individuals in recent years.
Civil society has been a critical voice in anti-corruption campaigns to date. Several non-governmental organizations are particularly active in transparency and anti-corruption, notably the Foundation for Institutionality and Justice (FINJUS), Citizen Participation (Participacion Ciudadana), and the Dominican Alliance Against Corruption (ADOCCO).
Health Concerns
Medical care in Santo Domingo is adequate for basic medical needs. Appointments are generally easy to obtain. Patients must pay for services at the time of the appointment (or when the ambulance arrives). While private hospitals in large cities are generally adequate, the quality of care can vary. Public hospitals and those outside large cities are not necessarily up to U.S. medical standards. Ambulance response times vary (with faster response times for private ambulances and the slower response times for 911 calls).
Dominican providers do not always accept U.S. insurance plans and will not file claims for U.S. patients. Check to ensure your medical insurance provides coverage overseas and consider purchasing supplemental travel insurance. Most health care providers only accept cash payments, which you must make up front, prior to treatment and/or before discharge.
Find contact information for available medical services and available air ambulance services on the U.S. Embassy website. The U.S. Department of State strongly recommends purchasing international health insurance before traveling internationally. Review the U.S. Department of State’s webpage on health insurance overseas.
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Health “H” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for the Dominican Republic.
Review the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) country-specific Travel Health Notices for current health issues that impact traveler health, like disease outbreaks, special events or gatherings, and natural disasters.
See OSAC’s Guide to U.S. Government-Assisted Evacuations; review OSAC’s reports, The Healthy Way, Shaken: The Don’ts of Alcohol Abroad, Health 101: How to Prepare for Travel, and Fire Safety Abroad; and visit the U.S. Department of State’s webpage on Your Health Abroad for more information.
Vaccinations
The CDC recommends all travelers receive the Hepatitis A and influenza vaccine.
The Typhoid Fever vaccine is recommended for most travelers, especially those with adventurous dietary habits; those without consistent access to safe food and water; those with prolonged stays; and those traveling outside common tourist packages and other prearranged fixed itineraries, especially in rural areas.
Hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for all health care workers; adventure travelers; those with prolonged stays; those with frequent short stays in this or other high- or intermediate-risk countries; those with possible contact with contaminated needles (e.g., from acupuncture, tattooing, or injection-drug use) or possible sexual contact with a new partner during the stay.
A Yellow Fever vaccine is required for travelers aged ≥ 1 year coming from the states of Mina Gerais, Espírito Santo, São Paulo, and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. This also applies to airport transit stops (no exit through immigration checkpoint) longer than 12 hours in the aforementioned states.
Measles, Mumps, and Rubella vaccine is recommended for those born in 1957 or later (1970 or later in Canada and UK; 1966 or later in Australia) without evidence of immunity or of 2 countable doses of live vaccine at any time during their lives. Also indicated for those born before 1970 (in Canada) without evidence of immunity or previous vaccination with 1 countable dose of measles-containing vaccine.
Rabies vaccines are recommended for prolonged stays for all travelers and expatriates, with a priority for young children. Significant risk from dogs exists throughout the country, especially in Distrito Nacional. Dog, other terrestrial mammal (including cat and mongoose), and bat bites or scratches should be taken seriously, and postexposure prophylaxis should be sought even by those already vaccinated.
Due to increasingly frequent pertussis outbreaks worldwide, all travelers should receive Tdap vaccine every 10 years, assuming they previously received an adequate primary series. Those who received Td or TT for their most recent booster should receive an immediate dose of Tdap, regardless of the interval since the last tetanus dose.
Pneumococcal vaccine is recommended for adults aged over 65 years and all adults with chronic disease or immunocompromising conditions.
Varicella vaccine is recommended for all persons born outside the U.S. or born in the U.S. in or after 1980, except for persons with an adequate vaccination history (2 lifetime doses), reliable evidence of previous infection, or laboratory confirmation of immunity.
Review the CDC Travelers’ Health site for country-specific vaccine recommendations.
Issues Traveling with Medications
There are no specific concerns about traveling with medications.
Water Quality
Tap water is unsafe to drink. Bottled water and beverages are safe.
Natural Disasters
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Natural Disaster “N” indicator on the Travel Advisory for the Dominican Republic.
The Dominican Republic is located in the center of the Antillean archipelago, placing it in the pathway of severe weather, including hurricanes, tropical storms, tropical depressions, and other natural disasters. Many buildings do not comply with U.S. hurricane and seismic codes. The largest regular natural disaster threat is hurricanes, along with resultant landslides and flooding in low-lying and coastal areas susceptible to the influence of tidal surge. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. The Dominican Republic lies on several fault lines running through the Caribbean. Of note is the “Submarine Fault” between the easternmost part of the Dominican Republic and Guadeloupe. Some popular beaches are subject to dangerous undertows. Many beaches lack lifeguards, warnings, or signs of unsafe conditions. U.S. citizens have died in the Dominican Republic due to these dangers. Resort managers usually offer current information on local swimming and surf conditions. Do not swim alone, particularly at isolated beaches.
U.S. Embassy Santa Domingo releases frequent weather alerts for U.S. citizens, most often regarding tropical storms. US Embassy Santa Domingo recommends the following during a tropical storm or hurricane:
- Do not walk, swim, or drive through flood waters.
- Move to higher ground or higher floors to avoid rising waters.
- Stay off bridges and do not move through flood water.
- If your vehicle is stuck in water, only depart the vehicle for higher ground if it is safe to do so; check for water depth, and that water is not swiftly moving (as little as 6 inches of fast-moving water can make adults fall, and 1 foot of moving water can move vehicles).
- If your vehicle is trapped in rapidly moving water, stay inside. If water is rising inside of the vehicle, seek refuge on the roof.
- Remain current on weather, road and water conditions through news sources such as the National Hurricane Center https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/ .
- Contact police or other authorities if you encounter dangerous conditions and follow warnings and directions provided. If you have an emergency, call 911. The tourist police (POLITUR) central number is 809-200-3500 (assistance available in English) or via mobile app “POLITUR APP”.
- Spanish language alerts are available from the website of the Dominican Emergency Operations Center (COE) http://www.coe.gob.do/ or via their mobile app “alertaCOE”.
- U.S. citizen residents and visitors are strongly encouraged to enroll in the Smart Traveler Program, which enables the Embassy to share both emergency and routine information relevant to the Dominican Republic at https://step.state.gov/ .
- Visit Ready.gov for tips on emergency preparedness
- Update and review your family’s contingency plans. All U.S. citizens should have evacuation plans that do not rely on U.S. government assistance.
- Make sure your travel documents are up to date and easily accessible.
- If you are in an emergency and are safe, be sure to notify friends and loved ones.
Visit the Embassy’s website and sign up for STEP alerts to stay up to date on alerts for US citizens.
Review OSAC’s report, Earthquake Preparedness Toolkit.
Cybersecurity
The threat from transnational cyber criminals is of increasing concern to host government authorities. Financial cybercrimes, such as scams, extortion, fraud, and ransomware attacks are most frequent. Victims of romance or impersonation scams are often located outside of the Dominican Republic, including in the US. However, the government is taking robust steps to address cyber-criminal activity. The government enacted a National Cybersecurity Strategy in 2018 and has participated in numerous international agreements, including with the United States and Organization of American States, to strengthen its cyber defenses. The Dominican Republic also has a government entity dedicated to combatting cybercrime, the Inter-institutional Commission against Crimes and High Tech Crime (CICDAT).
Counterintelligence Issues
There are no counterintelligence threats specific to private-sector operations in the Dominican Republic.
Import/Export Restrictions
Import licenses are not required for most products, except pharmaceutical products (drugs, cosmetics and skin care products, cleaning products), all agricultural products, and agrochemicals. For pharmaceutical products a Sanitary Register must be obtained at the Public Health Ministry for each trademark/product imported by the company. The import of satellite phones for personal or business use is not limited. For the latest information on Import/Export Restrictions, contact the Dominican Republic's Ministry of Industry and Commerce.
A country-specific listing of items/goods prohibited from being exported to the country or that are otherwise restricted is available from the U.S. International Trade Agency website.
Additional resources and reports can be found in the OSAC Traveler Toolkit.
