The Dominican Republic's E-Ticket: Do I Need One, When Do I File It, and Does It Cover My Family?

Every traveller entering or leaving the Dominican Republic needs an E-Ticket, the digital form that replaced the paper documents once handed out on the plane. It is free, but it is mandatory, and travellers still turn up without it. Here are the answers to the questions people ask.

What is the E-Ticket?
A single online form combining immigration, customs and health information. It replaced three separate paper documents. Once submitted, it generates a QR code that is checked when you arrive and when you leave.

Is it a visa?
No. It is a declaration, not a permission to enter. Travellers who need a visa for the Dominican Republic still need one; travellers who do not still need the E-Ticket.

When should I file it?
Within the week before you arrive. You can submit it up to seven days before travel.

Do I need one for leaving as well?
Yes, and this is the part people miss. Entry and exit are separate forms, each with its own QR code. A round trip means two submissions.

Can one form cover my whole family?
Yes. One form can include up to seven people travelling together. Larger groups need more than one form. Children are included but skip the customs section.

What if I arrive without it?
You can expect delays at the airport while it is completed, and some airlines check for it before departure. It is far simpler to have it done before you fly.

What about my passport's expiry date?
For most visitors, the usual rule applies: the passport should have plenty of validity beyond the stay.

There is a temporary exception. For nationals of the EU, the UK, the US, Canada and several South American countries, the Dominican authorities currently require only that the passport is valid for the length of the stay and for departure.

That relaxation runs from 1 December 2025 to 31 December 2026. It has been extended before, but it is not permanent. Anyone travelling in 2027 on a passport with little validity left should check whether it has been renewed again before relying on it.

What should I do?
Submit the entry form in the week before travel, and the exit form before you leave. Keep both QR codes on your phone and a printed copy.

If your passport is close to expiry and you are travelling after 31 December 2026, renew it rather than assume the exception still applies.

Verified against the Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism E-Ticket guidance, the Dirección General de Migración notice of 2 December 2025, and UK FCDO Dominican Republic entry requirements, checked 1 October 2026.