DR1 Daily News - Dominican Republic

The Central Electoral Board (JCE) is set to begin the nationwide issuance of the new Dominican Identity and Electoral Card (Cédula) on 12 April 2026. To prevent the logistical bottlenecks that have plagued previous mass renewals, authorities have implemented a phased rollout based on the applicant’s birth month.

Under the new guidelines, citizens born in April will be the first eligible group to process their new documents. The JCE emphasizes that this transition is not merely a cosmetic update but a critical overhaul of the nation’s primary identification system to meet modern international security standards.

Phase one: The birthday-month protocolThe JCE has deployed a network of over 190 card-issuing centers across the country. To ensure an orderly flow, the following schedule and rules apply:

Priority access: Starting 12 April 2026, only those born in April may apply...