Most visitors to the Dominican Republic stay at the resorts of Punta Cana and Bávaro, and many add Santo Domingo's colonial quarter, the Samaná peninsula or a boat trip to Saona Island. The country is not part of the EU's Roam Like at Home area, and plans from Europe or North America often charge roaming by the day.
There is also one form to deal with before you fly, and it is done online.
Key facts for the Dominican Republic
- EU roaming: not covered by Roam Like at Home
- Local networks: Altice (depending on the plan)
- Emergency numbers: 911
- Embassies: in Santo Domingo
The e-Ticket: entry and exit online
Every traveller must complete the e-Ticket, an online form for entering and leaving the country, before check-in. It costs nothing on the official site, eticket.migracion.gob.do, and it produces a QR code you show at the airport; you need one for your arrival and another for your departure. Ignore look-alike sites that ask for a card payment to fill it in for you.
Resorts and Wi-Fi
Resorts in Punta Cana and Bávaro offer Wi-Fi, but it is often weak on the beach and in rooms far from the lobby. Mobile data keeps maps, transfers and messages working on excursions and lets you call your hotel if a pickup is late.
Santo Domingo, Samaná and the mountains
Coverage is good in Santo Domingo, Santiago and the main tourist areas, and it becomes patchy on mountain roads around Jarabacoa and Constanza and on remote beaches. From mid-January to late March, humpback whales gather in Samaná Bay, and whale-watching boats leave from the town of Samaná.
Safety, storms and water
The hurricane season runs from June to November; if a storm approaches, follow your hotel's instructions and local alerts. Drink bottled water rather than tap water. Use taxis booked through your hotel or a ride-hailing app, keep your phone out of sight on busy streets, and look for the tourist police, who patrol the main tourist areas.
Getting connected
A travel eSIM is installed at home and starts on its first connection in the Dominican Republic, so you have data from the moment you land. Your usual number stays reachable for texts and bank codes.
Dominican prepaid SIMs from Claro or Altice are sold at the airports and in operator shops, and you need your passport to buy one.
Consular protection: who to call in the Dominican Republic
- 911 covers the police, ambulances and the fire service across the country.
- Embassies are in Santo Domingo, about two and a half hours by road from Punta Cana, and some countries have consular offices in Punta Cana or Puerto Plata. The Telcomia app shows yours, with address and phone.
- If you are an EU citizen and your country has no embassy or consulate in the Dominican Republic, the embassy of any other EU country must help you on the same terms as its own nationals (Article 23 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU).
- The app has emergency phrases in Spanish, ready to show on screen.
Dominican Republic travel-safety page →
Questions travellers ask about the Dominican Republic
Do I need the e-Ticket?
Yes, for both arrival and departure. It costs nothing on the official site.
Will my phone work at the resort?
Yes, but resort Wi-Fi is often weak away from the lobby, so mobile data helps.
Which networks does a Telcomia eSIM use in the Dominican Republic?
Altice, with 4G and 5G where available.
What is the emergency number?
911, for the police, an ambulance or the fire service.
The short version
Fill in the e-Ticket on the official site, install the eSIM before you fly, drink bottled water, and save 911.
See plans for the Dominican Republic →
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