To prepare a mission or a new post: the essential context, region by region. This briefing does not replace your organisation's security briefing on arrival.
10open jobs
3organisations hiring
2violent events in 3 months
1deaths (estimate)
To prepare a mission or a new post: the essential context, region by region. This briefing does not replace your organisation's security briefing on arrival.
presidential republic
Political demonstrations sometimes happen, although not usually near tourist areas. Take care not to get caught up in demonstrations or large gatherings and follow the instructions of the Dominican Republic authorities.
mixed 70.4% (Mestizo/Indio 58%, Mulatto 12.4%), Black 15.8%, White 13.5%, other 0.3% (2014 est.)
Spanish (official)
Evangelical 50.2%, Roman Catholic 30.1%, none 18.5%, unspecified 1.2% (2023 est.)
Country profiles: The World Factbook (CIA), public domain, last edition (2025-2026).
surging middle-income tourism, construction, mining, and telecommunications OECS economy; major foreign US direct investment and free-trade zones; developing local financial markets; improving debt management; declining poverty
11.5 MPopulation2025
72.5 %Urban population2025
$11,059GDP per capita2025
2.1 %GDP growth2025
3.9 %Inflation2025
0.8 %Extreme poverty (international line)2024
5.1 %Unemployment2025
94 %Adult literacy2024
91 %Internet users2024
99.5 %Access to electricity2024
20refugees hosted2025
1,029asylum seekers2025
22,023refugees and asylum seekers from the country2025
Indicators: World Bank (CC BY 4.0); refugees and displaced people: UNHCR Refugee Data Finder. Latest available year for each figure.
Armed Forces of the Dominican Republic: Army of the Dominican Republic (Ejercito de la República Dominicana, ERD), Navy (Armada de República Dominicana or ARD; includes naval infantry), Dominican Air Force (Fuerza Aerea de la República Dominicana, FARD) (2025)
Party names as coded by UCDP, July – September 2026. "Government of …" refers to State forces.
| Actor | Events | Deaths |
|---|---|---|
| Government of Dominican Republic | 2 | 1 |
Informative list, to be complemented by your organisation's security analysis and NGO security forums.
UK government (FCDO) travel advice. Some guidance is aimed at British nationals; always follow your organisation's instructions.
No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to:
If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice.
Sign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated.
Follow FCDO:
Organised violence events recorded by UCDP, July – September 2026.
By month: July 2 · August 0 · September 0
| Region | Events | Deaths | Civilians | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santo Domingo | 1 | 1 | 1 | new |
| Duarte | 1 | 0 | 0 | new |
There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets. Stay aware of your surroundings at all times.
UK Counter Terrorism Policing has information and advice on staying safe and what to do in the event of a terrorist attack. Find out how to reduce your risk from terrorism while abroad.
Although there’s no recent history of terrorism in the Dominican Republic, attacks cannot be ruled out.
Political demonstrations sometimes happen, although not usually near tourist areas. Take care not to get caught up in demonstrations or large gatherings and follow the instructions of the Dominican Republic authorities.
The crime rate in the Dominican Republic is high. Incidents range from opportunistic bag-snatching and pickpocketing to violent crime and carjacking.
Stay alert when on the street or driving to the risk of drive-by robberies. Thieves on motorcycles snatch bags and valuables from pedestrians and sometimes reach through the windows of cars at red lights to steal belongings.
There have been incidents where foreigners have been mugged at gunpoint or knifepoint during the daytime while walking in residential districts.
Attackers may be armed, even if you cannot see a weapon.
You can take steps to reduce your personal risk by:
If you’re robbed, do not fight back or do anything that puts you at greater risk.
Bank card cloning and identity theft are a risk in the Dominican Republic. Keep your payment card in view when paying or pay in cash.
Incidents of assault, rape and sexual aggression against foreigners have occurred, including at beach resorts. In some cases, hotel employees or fellow guests have been implicated.
You can take steps to reduce your risk:
If you’re a victim of a sexual assault or other crime, report it immediately to the British Embassy in Santo Domingo. Consular staff can help:
See FCDO’s guidance for victims of rape and sexual assault abroad.
You must formally report a crime to the Dominican Republic authorities before you leave the country so they can investigate.
Always carry copies of the photo page of your passport and entry stamp with you.
There are severe penalties for all drug offences. Possession of even small quantities of any drug can lead to a fine and a prison sentence. Pack your own luggage and do not carry anything through customs for anyone else.
If you’re arrested for drug offences your case can take several years to progress through the judicial process, during which you’re likely to be held in detention. If you’re given a prison sentence, you will serve the whole sentence in the Dominican Republic.
Attitudes towards the LGBT+ community are mostly conservative throughout the Caribbean. Although same-sex sexual relations are legal in the Dominican Republic, same-sex marriages are not legally recognised. Showing affection in public may result in unwanted and negative attention.
Nearly all Dominican hotels welcome LGBT+ travellers, although you should check when you book.
Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers.
Providers of recreational and adventure tourism may not meet UK safety standards. Check safety standards with the tour operators or providers and make sure you’re insured if you take part in activities like water sports, boat tours, quad biking or horse riding.
Lifeguards may not be present at swimming pools or on beaches. Safety and rescue equipment may not be available.
The sea can be dangerous, especially during the hurricane season, which runs from June to November. Follow instructions about sea conditions and warning systems.
See water safety on holiday from the Royal Life Saving Society.
If you’re planning to drive in the Dominican Republic, see information on driving abroad.
You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in the Dominican Republic for up to 3 months. If you still have a paper driving licence, you may need to update it to a photocard licence or get the correct version of the international driving permit (IDP) as well.
For longer visits, apply for a local driving licence.
Hire car companies often have stricter requirements for their customers, such as a year of driving experience, a higher minimum age and holding an IDP.
The Dominican Republic has a high death rate from road traffic accidents. Road accidents happen often, especially during holiday periods like Christmas and Easter.
Risks you may face include:
The quality of roads varies, although the majority of motorways connecting cities and tourist areas are in good condition.
Driving outside the main cities at night can be dangerous because of poor lighting, animals or pedestrians on the road and cars driving without headlights.
If police stop you for a traffic violation, they may issue you with a fine. They should not ask you for money directly. Pay the fine online on Infracciones de transito (in Spanish).
Take particular care if riding a motorbike or scooter. The Dominican Republic has a high death rate from road accidents involving motorbikes and scooters.
If you’re involved in an accident, call the police and wait at the scene. If you’re detained because of a road accident, ask the police to contact the British Embassy in Santo Domingo.
Drivers involved in an accident that causes serious injury or death will be taken into police custody until circumstances have been investigated. This will happen even if the driver appears not to be at fault.
The telephone number for national roadside assistance is +1 829 689 1000.
If you’re involved in a road accident, you must file a report with the Dominican Republic authorities.
If the accident did not cause injuries and happened in Santo Domingo or Santiago, you should register it at an accident reporting centre such as La Casa del Conductor or El Centro del Automovilista (both in Spanish). These are government centres with English-speaking agents and representatives from the police and insurance companies.
Talk to your insurance company for guidance on which centre you should use to report an accident.
If the accident occurs in any other part of Dominican Republic, file a report at the nearest police station.
Taxis can be cheap but many are in poor condition. Use an authorised airport or hotel taxi service, or book from a registered provider. Ride-hailing apps are widely available.
Motorbike taxis (‘motoconchos’) are often driven badly and do not always provide passengers with a helmet.
Public buses and ‘carros publicos’ (shared cars that pick up passengers) are often uninsured, not registered and poorly maintained.
Private companies operate good bus services between cities.
Find out what you can do to prepare for and respond to extreme weather and natural hazards.
The hurricane season in the Caribbean normally runs from June to November. Monitor local news and check the World Meteorological Association weather reports for the Dominican Republic and the US National Hurricane Center’s regional map.
Spanish language alerts are available from the Dominican Emergency Management Centre (COE) via their mobile app ‘AlertaCOE’, or their X account.
Hurricanes can cause localised flooding and damage to buildings. In recent years this has affected the north and east of the country.
Earthquakes are a risk in the Dominican Republic. If an earthquake happens, follow the advice of the local authorities.
The US Federal Emergency Management Agency website has advice about what to do before, during and after an earthquake.
There is a risk of tsunamis from earthquakes at sea. Follow the instructions of the local authorities if there are warnings of an approaching tsunami.
This section has safety advice for regions of the Dominican Republic. It only covers regions where FCDO has specific advice.
You should also read FCDO’s overall travel advice and safety and security advice.
FCDO advises against all travel to Haiti due to the volatile security situation.
Land and sea borders between the Dominican Republic and Haiti are closed. Military and police roadblocks are common in the border area. The roadblocks can appear to be unofficial, although the soldiers do wear army uniform and carry weapons.
There have been armed robberies on roads close to the border with Haiti, including by criminals posing as police officers.
73.9yearsLife expectancy2024
30.6per 1,000 live birthsUnder-5 mortality2024
124per 100,000 live birthsMaternal mortality2023
0.2per 1,000 people at riskMalaria (new cases)2024
2.43per 1,000 peoplePhysicians2023
97.5 %Basic drinking water access2024
Before you travel check that:
This is particularly important if you have a health condition or are pregnant.
Call 911 and ask for an ambulance if you’re in Santo Domingo.
The 911 emergency number does not have full coverage across the country. If you’re outside Santo Domingo, you can telephone the tourist police (‘Politur’) in an emergency: +1 809 200 3500.
Contact your insurance company quickly if you’re referred to a medical facility for treatment.
At least 8 weeks before your trip:
See what health risks you’ll face in the Dominican Republic including:
Altitude sickness is a risk in parts of the Dominican Republic. Read more about altitude sickness on TravelHealthPro.
Tap water in the Dominican Republic is not drinkable.
The legal status and regulation of some medicines prescribed or bought in the UK can be different in other countries.
Read best practice when travelling with medicines on TravelHealthPro.
Some medicines normally only available on prescription in the UK are available in pharmacies across the Dominican Republic.
FCDO has a list of medical providers in the Dominican Republic where some staff will speak English.
Public medical facilities in the Dominican Republic are generally limited. Private hospitals offer good standards of care, although they can be expensive.
Make sure you have appropriate travel health insurance and can access funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad and repatriation. In some cases, visitors who cannot pay their hospital bills are stopped from leaving the country until the debt is paid.
There are risks associated with cosmetic or elective surgery overseas.
If you’re considering travelling to the Dominican Republic for medical, surgical or dental treatment:
Find further advice on medical tourism from TravelHealthPro, and NHS guidance on going abroad for medical treatment and on cosmetic surgery abroad.
Read FCDO guidance on travel and mental health. There is also mental health guidance on TravelHealthPro.
Passport Index Data (passportindex.org), MIT licence. Indicative, for a tourist stay; always check with the embassy or consulate. (17 February 2026)
This information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of the Dominican Republic’s current rules for the most common types of travel.
The authorities in the Dominican Republic set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Embassy of the Dominican Republic in the UK.
Up until 31 December 2026, British passport holders can enter and leave the Dominican Republic for tourism purposes, as long as their passport remains valid for the duration of their visit. Rules may change after this date. Check the Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism website for the latest information.
Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.
You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.
You may be refused entry if you do not have proof of onward or return travel when you arrive in the country.
Border officials will take your fingerprints and take a photograph of you before allowing you into the country.
You must fill in an entry and exit form before arriving in and leaving the Dominican Republic. This form includes your:
You can fill in the form up to 7 days before you arrive in the country. You’ll get a QR code, which you may be asked to show at check-in, or when you arrive in or leave the country.
When returning to the UK, British citizens must carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement. See Dual citizenship.
You can visit the Dominican Republic for tourism without a visa for 30 days.
To stay longer (to work or study, for business travel or for other reasons), you must meet the Dominican Republic government’s entry requirements.
You can pay to extend your visit up to 120 days by contacting the Dominican Republic Immigration Service.
At least 8 weeks before your trip, check the vaccinations and certificates you need in TravelHealthPro’s Dominican Republic guide.
Depending on your circumstances, this may include a yellow fever certificate.
For children aged 17 and under travelling alone, parents should check travel requirements with the airline and with Dominican Republic Immigration Service.
There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of the Dominican Republic (in Spanish). You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.
Before you arrive, register with the coordination bodies: they share alerts, cluster meetings and useful contacts.
Clusters: health, nutrition, protection, WASH, food security, shelter, education, logistics, emergency telecommunications and CCCM. OCHA publishes their meetings and contacts in each country where they are activated.
Organisations hiring in the country, based on open jobs on the site:
See jobs in Dominican RepublicFunding ↗Tenders ↗Train in field security
Violence over the last 3 months, jobs and passages of official advice that mention the region.
1 event · 1 death · 1 civilian
If you’re a victim of a sexual assault or other crime, report it immediately to the British Embassy in Santo Domingo. Consular staff can help:
If you’re involved in an accident, call the police and wait at the scene. If you’re detained because of a road accident, ask the police to contact the British Embassy in Santo Domingo.
1 event · 0 deaths
No organised violence recorded over the period.
If the accident did not cause injuries and happened in Santo Domingo or Santiago, you should register it at an accident reporting centre such as La Casa del Conductor or El Centro del Automovilista (both in Spanish). These are government centres with English-speaking agents and representatives from the police and insurance companies.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
This briefing gathers public information to prepare a mission. It does not replace your organisation's security analysis, your security focal point's instructions or the country's authorities.