Tourist Card?

[amy]

Where do I get this tourist card to enter and exit the DR? Am I able to get it at the airport in Miami? Where in the airport? Or am I able to get one before departing? I believe I only have about 45 minutes in Miami airport and I am not familiar with it? I would feel more comfortable if I had this card before beginning my trip. Please help!!

 

[Hi]

No Panic

Don't panic Amy. You can either get the tourist card before going thru customs in the DR, or if they have it in Miami at check in ask the airlines.. In NYC the airlines sometimes have tourist cards. The price will be $10.00. If you get it in SD, after exiting the plane and before going thru imigration look to the right in the large room everyone is having their passports checked in. There should be a line of tourists to the right buying their tourist cards.

Hope u have a great trip!

 

[Tom]

Amy, It's nothing to worry about. When in the DR you can't worry about everything working out the way it is supposed to and flexibility in a necessity. In Miami, they sell the tourist card at American Airlines at one of the counters opposite from where the international travelers check their luggage (the last one on the right). You might have to wait a few minutes because they don't have someone standing there all the time waiting for people to purchase tourist cards. Ask an of the American Airlines employees and they will tell you. If you fly TWA or Continental they should be able to do the same thing. Sometimes they don't have them or no one is around to unlock the drawer, so you will have to get it at one of the immigration windows after you get off the plane. No big deal. Just make sure you have your US$10 and they will let you in. Carry a pen with you to fill out the form. It takes less than 60 seconds. At JFK, they get it for you and bring it to the person who is checking you in.

 

["Thomas"]

YOu can get your tourist card upon entering the DR. At POP, it's to the left as you enter the customs area. Good idea to have a pen handy and $10 US. You will surrender the top copy of the tourist card when you leave customs. Save the yellow copy for when you depart the country and don't forget to save $10 US for the exit fee. No problema.

 

[Jim Hinsch]

Pesos are also accepted for the departure tax. I am an American tourist and have paid in Dominican pesos.

Jim Hinsch JimHinsch@CSI.COM

 

[diana pichardo]

Hi Amy, I know for a fact that Miami airport has them specially American Air Lines. Once you arrive at the airport you have to check in before boarding the plane, ask there. Like everyone else said the cost for it is $10.00 and is just a small form that you fill out and keep to go in and out DR. It just asks you some personal information and where you are staying in DR. In case of emergency who to contact and if you are caring food or other things. It'll take you about 5 to 10 minutes to fill out. Very easy....have a good trip!

 

[jerry]

Amy,

I went to the DR via Miami two weeks ago, and as someone mentioned before, the person was not at the desk across from the baggage check in, but at the gate before boarding, I was able to get the tourist card. It is much better if you can get it in Miami, especially if there are a lot of tourist on the Plane, or other planes arrive right before your flight. Enjoy

 

["Thomas"]

Not at the POP airport. Unless you are incredibly persuasive. It was clearly delineated to me that ONLY US funds were accepted. Anybody else get out with pesos?

 

[Tom]

When I left POP in May I was allowed to pay in pesos. There were quite a few newspaper articles about how the airlines couldn't obligate you to pay in dollars and it appeared it was going to change. I returned and left again in June and was not allowed to pay in pesos and was forced to pay in dollars. All the arguing did not help. The airlines collect the tax for the airport and it appears that having change in both dollars and pesos was one of the issues. A Dominican York standing next to pay offered to pay my $10 and when I wanted to give her the pesos she refused. I insisted she take it but it shows how generous Dominicans are both in the DR and here in the US.

 

["Thomas"]

The unpredictability of this island adds immeasurably to its charm.

 

[Richard]

Unless someone has been living under a rock, any visiter to the D.R. must know that the government wants you to pay the $10.00 in U.S. Since the government needs the U.S. greenbacks and since most people who visit the D.R. are treated with the utmost respect by Dominicans,surely the least we can do as guests is respect the contry enough to hang onto $10.00U.S. to pay the departure tax. In my humble opinion, not to do so is disrespectful.

 

[Lyse]

But the D.R. legal money is the Dominican peso. Plus, the D.R. Supreme Court ruled on it was illegal to obligate to pay in other money than the Dominican peso.

 

[Jim Hinsch]

Re: Tourist Card. Pesos or Dollars?

Many passengers don't start with US Dollars, so for them, it is not a matter of "hanging on" to US$10.

I'm not sure who in the government you feel "wants" the tax paid in dollars. From the history, it was the old administration that wanted it in US Dollars and the new administration that struck down the decree.

The Dominican Supreme Court declared it against the law to require it by ruling that Decree 295-94 violates the rights of Dominicans. Resolution 5088 was then ruled by the Airport Commission that Dominicans can pay in departure tax in US currency or the equiavlant amount in Dominican Pesos (ref: <A HREF="http://www.dr1.com/daily/news052599.shtml">http://www.dr1.com/daily/news052599.shtml</A>).

The Direccion General de Impuestos Internos also ruled the same, effective June 27, 1999. It was the Monetary Junta that upheld the 1994 decree by then President Balaguer in 1994 that the tax be paid in US Dollars and Melanio Paredes, Director of the Airport Department, that ordered the money be collected in US Dollars, despite court rulings (ref: <A HREF="http://www.dr1.com/daily/news052899.shtml">http://www.dr1.com/daily/news052899.shtml</A>, <A HREF="http://www.dr1.com/daily/news052099.shtml">http://www.dr1.com/daily/news052099.shtml</A>, and <A HREF="http://www.dr1.com/daily/news061899.shtml">http://www.dr1.com/daily/news061899.shtml</A>). Finally, the Presidency ruled that Dominicans can pay in Dominican pesos (ref: <A HREF="http://www.dr1.com/daily/news070699.shtml">http://www.dr1.com/daily/news070699.shtml</A>).

While the ruling states that this applies only to Dominican residents, I found that in practice, they are not verifying citizenship when collecting the tax. It became a big issue. I don't think it would have become an issue unless there was some pressure to allow it to be paid in pesos.

I personally have paid in pesos, without a problem. The vast majority of passengers still pay in US Dollars, so if you plan on paying in pesos, you may need exact change.

Jim Hinsch JimHinsch@CSI.COM

 

[anna coniglio]

Re: Tourist Card. Pesos or Dollars?

I just returned from Sosua and my tourist card was included in my ticket with Canada 3000.I was there for a month and when I was leaving everyone told me I needed 10US dollars for departure tax.My rep told me it was once again included in my ticket and it was.

 

[Rasta Man]

Last time I was in DR (Sept 99) I didnt have to pay $10 to leave. Hmm maybe it was included in my plane ticket