Guide on how to apply for the Dominican Republic Short Stay Visa

The Dominican Republic is the second-largest country in the Caribbean, with the fastest and the biggest economy in the region. The country allows foreigners to visit for a series of engagements like business, tourism, reunion, etc. However, you may need a Dominican Republic short-stay visa if you plan to stay in the country for ninety days.

Also, foreigners from some countries can visit the Dominican Republic without a visa for a certain duration.

We have put together this guide to let you know about a Dominican Republic short-stay visa, who needs it, and how to apply for it.

Quick facts about the Dominican Republic 

The Dominican Republic is a Caribbean republic that occupies the island of Hispaniola’s eastern two-thirds. The western third of the island is occupied by Haiti. Santo Domingo is the capital and largest city. The Dominican Republic is home to nearly Ten million people.

The country’s economy is based on agriculture, mining, tourism, and free trade zones. It has a GDP of over $60 billion.

Furthermore, the Dominican Republic has become a top tourist destination in the Caribbean, with nearly five million tourists visiting each year. It features stunning mountain scenery, crystal-clear waters, and white-sand beaches. The lush tropical jungle and rainforest cover much of the mountainous interior.

What is a Dominican Republic short-stay visa?

It is a legal document that authorizes foreign nationals to stay in the Dominican Republic for. Thirty days. It can be renewed if the foreigner has genuine reasons to stay longer in the country.

This visa can be for single or multiple entries depending on your choice. You can apply for the Dominican Republic short-stay visa at the Republic embassy or consulate in your country.

Types of a Dominican Republic short-stay visa 

If you intend to visit the Dominican Republic for a short stay, here are the types of visas you can apply for:

Dominican Transit Visa 

This visa has the shortest duration in the Dominican Republic because it is valid for two days. It is available to foreigners who need to break their journey or get a connecting flight to their destination. But you don’t need this visa if you will leave for your final destination on the same day and you are within the airport transit zone.

Dominican Tourist Card 

This card is available online for a fee of ten US dollars which you can pay through a bank draft or postal order. The tourist card is available to some countries that have bilateral agreements with the Dominican Republic to allow their citizens into the country with the card. The card is valid for thirty days. You can apply for it within seven working days or on arrival at the airport.

Dominican Tourist visa

It is a short-stay visa issued to a foreigner to visit the country for thirty days for tourism purposes. It is valid for single and multiple entries within sixty days you receive the visa. So if you wish to spend your next vacation in the Dominican Republic, this visa is best for you because you can visit numerous tourist scenes with it.

Dominican Business visa 

If you plan to visit the Dominican Republic for business engagements with your partner or business seminars within thirty days, you need this visa.

Dominican Dependent visa 

It is a short stay issued to foreigners with legal family members in the Dominican Republic. It is renewable if you plan to reunite permanently with your family in the country.

Who needs a Dominican Republic short-stay visa?

Interestingly, not all foreigners need to apply for a short-stay Dominican Republic visa before visiting the country. So you must find out if you need a visa to visit the country. It will help you to plan your trip perfectly.

Here is the list of countries that do not require a short stay visa to the Dominican Republic below:

• The United States
• Canada
• The United Kingdom,
• Russia
• Ukraine
• Kazakhstan
• Mexico
• South American countries,
• Central America counties,
• Japan,
• Israeli
• Other Schengen countries.

Hence, if your country is not listed above, all hope is not lost because you can still visit the country but with a Dominican Republic short-stay visa.

Furthermore, the citizens who do not have visas to visit the country must hold valid means of identification like a national identity card (ID) or national passport.

Documents required for a Dominican Republic short-stay visa 

It is now clear that you need to obtain a Dominican Republic short-stay visa for a visit to the country. You must attach the following documents to have your visa application considered by the embassy.

• The first is the Dominican Republic short-stay visa application form which you can download here.
• A valid traveling passport that won’t expire in the next six months. You should submit both the photocopy and the original, which should have blank pages for official use at the embassy.
• A medical certificate that is notarized and the translation apostilled into the Spanish language. The original and photocopy of the medical certificate must be attached.
• A document such as credit card details, recent bank statements, or a letter of employment must be attached. It serves as proof that you can take care of your financial needs while you are there on a visit.
• You must attach proof of valid means of accommodation in the Dominican Republic, such as your host residential address, hotel ticket/reservation, or a rented apartment.
• You should attach a certificate of good conduct, which shows that the government has no criminal charges against you. The document is called a police clearance certificate. You can get this document from the police department in your country. But if you have stayed in the country earlier Dominican Republic Attorney General’s Office must have issued you the document.
• You also attach a recent passport photograph with a dimension of two by two inches and colored background. But if you are applying for a business visa, the copies of passport photographs must be five.

Specific documents for the Dominican Republic short-stay visa application 

These are not general documents required for a short-stay visa application but according to the type of visa application.

• Birth Certificate if you are traveling to the country with a minor.
• Marriage certificate and other evidence of relationship if you are applying for a dependent or reunion visa.
• Work contract or letter of invitation from the Dominican Republic organization for business engagement

 Dominican Republic short-stay visa application steps

Here are the simple actions to take to apply for a short-stay visa in the Dominican Republic.

• The first is to fill out the application form correctly and sign and stamp it accordingly. You also attach all the required documents to the application form and arrange them in a self-addressed envelope.
• Then you visit the embassy to schedule an appointment with the consular officer for submission and interview.
• After this, you pay the visa application fee through the recommended channel and attach the receipt to the application form.
• Thereafter, you appear in person on the scheduled date to submit your visa application form and other required documents. If you are through with this stage, you will be interviewed by the consular officer immediately or on short notice. Also, biometric capturing will be captured after the interview.
• Lastly, you wait while the embassy processes your Dominican Republic’s short-stay visa application. This process takes about two weeks, except if there is a much workload or issues with your application. The embassy will contact you once your short stay visa is ready.

Dominican Republic short-stay visa fee 

The short stay visa fee depends on the type you are applying for but finds below their respective fee:

• The tourist card application fee is ten US dollars
• The tourist visa fee is ninety-five dollars
• The business visa fee is one hundred and fifteen dollars for a single entry, while multiple entries are for one hundred and twenty-five dollars.

Dominican Dependent visa processing fee is One hundred and twenty-five US dollars.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

Can I apply for the Dominican Republic short-stay visa? 

You need to verify from the Dominican Republic embassy or embassy in your country if an online application is possible.

How long does a short-stay visa last? 

A short stay visa in the Dominican Republic can last for up to ninety days within one hundred eighty days. This means you can travel to this country at least two times if you must stay for ninety days for each visit.

How much is the overstay fee in the Dominican Republic? 

It depends on your duration of overstay in the country. You should be prepared to pay a minimum of sixty US dollars for one month’s overstay in the country.

Can I leave my documents in my official language? 

Nope, all your documents must be notarized and the translation apostilled into the Spanish language; otherwise, your visa application won’t be processed.

Can I immigrate to Canada from the Dominican Republic? 

Canada welcomes foreign nationals that have all the requirements to stay legally in the country for different legal reasons. You can as well check here for a complete guide on immigrating to Canada from the Dominican Republic.

Conclusion

We have provided you with comprehensive detail to guide you on how to apply for a short-stay Dominican Republic visa. Hopefully, you find it useful and worthy to share with your friends and families.