International moves require preparation and planning to relocate from one country to another. In addition to securing the services of an international moving company, packing your belongings and planning your moving budget, you must also consider the customs regulations, as they often vary and are subject to change.
Whatever your reasons for relocating to the Dominican Republic, you'll need to be properly prepared when entering the country through customs.
Here's what you need to know when preparing to travel to the Dominican Republic from the United States:
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR ENTRY
When you arrive in the Dominican Republic, you're going to need to present the customs officials with several documents detailing the inventory of your shipment and your identification to make your transition into the country as smooth as possible.
Here is what you'll need:
- Passport (must be original and must be notarized by the Dominican Consulate at the customer's origin location)
- Residence visa/Dominican residence card
- Work permit
- Birth certificates for each child traveling
- Customs bond
- Marriage certificate (if customer is married)
- Bank guarantee or affidavit
- Proof of a lease or rental contract in the Dominican Republic, as well as proof of water and electrical service
- Original Bill of Lading or Air Waybill
- Complete list of inventory and packing list (in English or Spanish, containing the contents of all boxes included in the shipment)
SHIPPING AND CUSTOMS REGULATIONS
Before you begin unpacking, you'll have to make sure your shipment fits all of the regulations to clear customs. Each country has its own unique set of shipping guidelines that must be followed, so here's what to expect when moving to the Dominican Republic:
- All customers must be present in the Dominican Republic at customs clearance to provide a customs declaration of the shipment, passport and all documentation providing proof of their intent to reside in the Dominican Republic, as well as proof that they have resided abroad for the past two years
- All shipments are subject to physical examination by a customs officer, port security and narcotics officer upon arrival at the port of entry
- When the inspection has been approved by customs authority, the customer may apply to the Department of Exoneration for full clearance of the shipment
- All used household goods and personal effects are permitted to be imported duty free as long as they have been in the possession of the customer for a minimum of two years
- Only one shipment of used household goods and personal effects is allowed duty free importation
- All new items being imported are subject to duties and taxes
PROHIBITED ITEMS
The following items are prohibited from being imported into the Dominican Republic through customs and may be seized by customs and border authorities upon arrival:
- Narcotics/illegal drugs
- Explosives, ammunition and all other weapons
- Pornography and other obscene/vulgar materials
RESTRICTED ITEMS
Restricted items are items which may be limited to certain quantities or require additional duties, taxes or fees before they can be cleared by customs officials. Here are the items that are restricted and dutiable by the government of the Dominican Republic:
- All firearms, including personal handguns and hunting guns (require a permit from the Dominican military prior to importation; any gun imported without this permit or other prior consent from the Dominican military will be confiscated, the entire shipment will be seized and the customer will be arrested)
- All medication and prescribed narcotics (must be imported with a physician's prescription)
- Computers and machinery (subject to taxes and duties)
- All new appliances and electronics (subject to taxes and duties)
- All new items and furniture items (require purchase invoices and receipts and will also be subject to duties and taxes)
- Antiques, works of art, jewelry, coins and precious metals (may be imported duty free if they are included in the household goods and personal effects shipment)
- All plants (must be accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate from the origin location and the customer must obtain a Dominican Agriculture permit upon arrival)
MOTOR VEHICLE REGULATIONS
There are several regulations for importing a motor vehicle into the Dominican Republic. Before you move, familiarize yourself with these regulations to be prepared when it's time to relocate overseas with your vehicle:
- Customer must be present in the Dominican Republic for customs clearance of any vehicle
- Only one vehicle may be imported per person
- All vehicles being imported must be in the owner's possession for a minimum of one year before importation
- Engine size on all imported vehicles is limited to six cylinders
- All luxury vehicles are prohibited
- Motorcycles are subject to taxes and duties
- These documents must be presented at customs clearance upon arrival:
- Original title and registration of the vehicle
- Commercial or original purchase invoice
- Original driver's license
- Dominican consular invoice, stamped by the Dominican consulate
PETS AND ANIMAL REGULATIONS
Pets are always welcome when moving overseas; after all, you wouldn't want to move without them, would you? However, many destinations have laws for bringing animals into the country. In the Dominican Republic:
- All cats and dogs are permitted to be imported duty free and do not require any quarantine upon arrival
- All other animals require a permit issued by the Director of Cattle Breeding, State Secretary of Agriculture at Santo Domingo
- All pets must be accompanied by a certificate of vaccination stating that the animal was vaccinated for rabies and the parvovirus at least 30 days prior to arrival
- Pets must also be accompanied by a health certificate issued no more than 15 days before arrival by licensed veterinarian stating that the animal being imported is in good health and is disease-free
To help you prepare for your move, we've provided you with a few links to learn more about the complicated international moving process: