Random Information about the Dominican Republic
Covering a few random topics that aren't really talked about so often regarding the Dominican Republic.
We’ll look at the notable community of US veterans who are finding a renewed life and genuine happiness on this island. Separate from that, if you plan to visit or stay longer than 30 days, you need to know about the predictable overstay fee. I learned the simple airport routine the hard way, and I’ll walk you through it.
Wellness centers
There are quite a number of wellness centers in the Dominican Republic that specifically cater to US veterans.
I randomly saw a video of a young man who is a retired vet. In the video, he was talking about the struggles he and other veterans go through back home in the United States.
He briefly spoke about the lack of support he received while transitioning back to society.
He explained that he was pretty much depressed during his time back home in the US.
He’s calling out to other US veterans to consider moving to the Dominican Republic. He credits the Dominican Republic for his turnaround and newfound happiness.
You can see the enthusiasm and feel the positive energy coming from this man.
His message is simple: the wellness centers helped him, and he wants to share that with his fellow veterans.
There are a notable number of US veterans living in the Dominican Republic, and the country is becoming a popular choice for them.
Overstay in the Dominican Republic
How long could you stay in the Dominican Republic? The short answer is 30 days without needing a visa.
After that, you’ll have to make a payment at the airport before boarding your flight.
I’ve actually been through this process of leaving after the allowed 30 days. I missed my flight on the 30th day because of traffic and the driver deciding to make an unannounced detour.
The next day, I checked my bags at the airport. At this point, I had completely forgotten about the fee.
Good thing I was at the airport early with time to spare.
They let me know about the fee and that it could only be paid in Dominican pesos. They wouldn’t accept USD or Credit Cards.
I didn’t have enough pesos (DOP) with me, and finding an ATM was a journey in itself.
This happened to me in 2018, and the only difficulty was paying in Dominican pesos. Luckily, they have since improved methods of paying the overstay fee.
Now the fee can be paid with either USD or a Credit Card, but I would suggest to arrive early just in case.
The overstay fee is not a crime nor will it prevent you from future re-entry. Consider it a predictable, administrative charge.
The amount you pay is based on the extra time spent (as seen in the chart above).
It’s pretty straightforward: when you get to the immigration counter to have your passport stamped for departure, the officer will see the overstay and direct you to a nearby payment window. Once you pay the fee and get the receipt, you show it to the officer, they stamp your passport, and then you move on.
This information is for tourism purposes only.
For other reasons like work, study, or business travel, you can stay much longer but must meet the Dominican Republic government’s specific visa and residency requirements.
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