Dominican Republic - Country Information

Film Commissions

General Information

Location: Caribbean
Local Time: GMT -4
Capital City: Santo Domingo
Population: 8,950,034
Area: 48,730 square km, 18,8145 square miles.
Language(s): Mainly Spanish, some English,
Dialling Code: 1 809
Emergency: Police, Fire & Ambulance: 911
Directory Enquiries:
TV Standard:
Driving: Driving is on the right. National licence required & foreign licence for a period of 3 months
Electricity: 110-120V AC 60Hz

Business & Currency

Currency: Dominican Peso (DOP 1 = 100 Centavos)
Notes: DOP: 10, 20, 50, 100, 500, 1,000, 2,000
Coins: DOP: 1, 5. Centavos: 1, 5, 10, 25, 50

Credit Cards/Travellers Cheques: Authorized offices only can be used for exchange of the following currencies only: CAD, JPY, CHF, EUR, GBP & USD

Opening Hours
Bank: 0900-1700 Mon-Fri
Office: 0830-1200 & 1400-1800 Mon-Fri, 0800-1500 Mon-Fri (Government offices)
Shops: 0900-19.30 Mon-Sat

Public Holidays
2008
Jan 1 New Year's Day, Jan 6 Epiphany, Jan 21 Our Lady of Altagracia, Jan 26 Duarte's Birthday, Feb 27 Independence Day, Mar 21 Good Friday, May 1 Labour Day, May 22 Corpus Christi, Aug 16 Restoration Day of Inpedendance, Sep 24 Our Lady of las Mercedes, Nov 6 Constitution Day, Dec 25 Christmas Day.

Business/Social Hints: Business is conducted in Spanish, most executives speak English. On social occasions dress as for business meetings unless otherwise indicated. The minimum drinking age is 18 years

Tipping: Service charges are usually included in the bill, however additional tips around 10% are customary

Health

Compulsory vaccinations: None.

Recommended immunisations: Diphtheria, hepatitis A, hepatitis B*, malaria, TB*, tetanus, typhoid, rabies
* recommended in some circumstances, travellers making 3 or more visits per year, stays of more than 3 months in a rural area, high-risk occupational groups & backpackers staying more than 1 month.

Risks: There is a risk, including from malignant malaria, throughout the year. Most cases occur in the western provinces of Castanuelas, Hondo Valley and Pepilla Salcedo in rural areas including game parks. The risk is usually smaller in the east and in built up tourist resorts but periodic outbreaks do occur in these areas. Rabies.

Passport & Visa

The following details relate to holders of adult normal passports (requirements for children may be different), if any other type of passport or travel document is held, entry requirements should be checked with the relevant embassy or consulate

Passports

Required by all

Passport Validity: Passports must be valid for twice the amount of intended length of stay

Passport Notes:

Visas

The following DO NOT require a visa:
1) Nationals of Dominican Rep
2) Nationals of Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Israel, Japan, Korea (South), Peru & Uruguay
3) Holders of a valid Tourist Card issued to:
a) Nationals of United Kingdom
b) Nationals of Andorra, Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bolivia, Botswana, Bouvet Island, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Rep, Denmark, Dominica, El Salvador, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland Rep, Italy, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Kiribati, Kuwait, Latvia, Letoonia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malaysia, Malta, Marashall Islands, Martinique, Mauritius, Mexico, Micronesia, Monaco, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Northern Mariana Islands, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Samoa, San Marino, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Soloman Islands, Spain, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & Grenadines, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad & Tobago, Turkey, Turks & Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, UAE, Ukraine, United States, Vanuatu & Venezuela
c) Permanent residents of Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland Rep, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, United Kingdom, United States & Venezuela, provided holding proof of residence stamped on a valid passport or document from Embassy stamped "Entry Permit"
d)Any person holding any type of visa to the UK, USA or Schengen States may travel to the Dominican Republic with a tourist card

Notes: Tourist Cards are valid for 30 days from the day of entry to the Dominican Republic, If decided to extend your stay, you need to visit the migration department in santo Domingo to request an extension. You will need to pay about US 5 TO US 100 depending on the lenght of stay. The fee can also be paid at the airport upon departure

Air Transit

Required by all except those as noted above and:
1) Persons continuing their journey to a third country by the same or first connecting aircraft on the same day without leaving the airport, provided holding confirmed onward tickets & documentation (nationals of Dominican Rep & holders of a re-entry permit may enter if holding a one-way ticket)

Climate

Temperatures are high throughout the year, sea breezes help to counteract the humidity, so it is rarely unbearable. As this is the most mountainous island in the Caribbean, higher areas are much cooler and wetter than lowland areas. The north coast is wetter than the south, which is wetter than most other Caribbean islands during the rainy season from May-Oct, when hurricanes may also occur. Temperatures can dip below 0C during winter months (Dec-Apr) in mountain areas. There are two rainy seasons, the heaviest from May-Aug, the lightest from Nov-Dec. The southwest is the country's driest region

Clothing

Light clothing all year, warmer clothes if planning a trip to the mountains

Charts for Santo Domingo

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Max Temp (C) 29 29 29 29 30 31 31 31 31 31 30 29 Min Temp (C) 19 19 19 21 22 22 22 23 22 22 21 19 Humidity am (%) 91 88 90 90 89 90 90 90 91 92 92 91 Humidity pm (%) 64 58 60 62 65 65 65 65 66 67 67 66 Rainfall (mm) 61 36 48 99 173 158 163 160 185 152 122 61

Temperature (C) Rainfall (mm) Humidity (%)

Representative

UK Tourist Office
Dominican Republic Tourist Board
18-21 Hand Court, High Holborn
London, WC1V 6JF
tel: +44 20 7242 7778
fax: +44 20 7405 4202
e-mail: dominican.rep@btconnect.com
website: www.godominicanrepublic.com

Embassy
Embassy of Dominican Republic
Consular Section
139 Inverness Terrace
London, W2 6JF
tel: +44 9065 508945
fax: +44 20 7727 3693
e-mail: info@dominicanembassy.org.uk
website: www.dominicanembassy.org.uk
hours: 1000-1400 (Mon-Fri)