DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic

The first batch of new electronic passport booklets has arrived in the Dominican Republic for functionality testing. The Passports Agency announced the arrival, stating the tests are designed to ensure the new documents meet the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

If all goes well, the passport will become available for renewals and new passports in 2026. The passports office has not announced dates for the issuing of the new passports. In the past, it has been said that the new passport would first be issued to those with expired passports.

The Dominican government has also announced the issuing of new ID cards with advanced technology under the Central Electoral Board (JCE).

The new passport will include an embedded microchip that stores the holder’s demographic information, photo, encrypted digital signature, and biometric data like fingerprints and facial features. This technology will allow for swift and efficient identity...