The Central Electoral Board, in charge of the civil registry in the Dominican Republic, announced that the new state-of-the-art ID (cedula) cards for legal residents of the Dominican Republic will begin in early 2026. The head of the JCE, Roman Andres Jaquez Liranzo, told reporters that the issuance of the new document to the general public would begin on 8 April 2026. Reportedly, this would be by birthdates. The entire process is scheduled to end on 31 March 2027.
The process will begin on 26 January 2026, when the JCE issues the first of the new IDs to President Luis Abinader.
During February and March, the JCE will begin issuing the new cedulas to members of the government ministries and other dependencies.
The timeline for covering the entire population is set to begin on 8 April, when the cards will be given to the Overseas Deputies, as well as the political leadership of the many political parties, diplomats and consular personnel, and leaders of the overseas Dominican community.
In May, overseas Dominicans will be able to obtain the new cards, and this service will be available until 21 January 2028. An appointment must be made in order to receive the new card.
The IDs are required for all legal residents older than 16 years. These are issued by the Central Electoral Board (JCE). Cards in use expired in 2024, but the JCE authorized their use as the issuing of the new IDs process experienced notable delays.
The card needs to be carried by citizens and foreigners with legal residency alike and is required for most activities requiring identification. Banks require the card for cashing checks, opening an account, exchanging currencies. The card is required for the registration of children in schools.
Sixty years ago, it was a folded piece of cardboard with a blurry picture of the holder stapled inside with a brief description and spaces for the required stamps from the local Tax Agency that cost RD$0.50 in 1960 currency. They were easily forged.
As time passed these documents have become much more sophisticated. The new polycarbonate ID card has at least 15 security markers as anti-counterfeit measures.
Several new types of cedula will now be available. There will be one for minors between the ages of 16 and 18 and it will serve as an ID card but not as a voter registration card. There will be another for members of the National Police and the Armed Forces as well as another one for foreigners with legal residency in the Dominican Republic.
And finally, there is the cedula for adults over the age of 18 and eligible to vote. The card issued is not only an ID card, but also a voter identification card.
The new card will have a very long life, with the youngest sector, between 18 and 35 years old extended to 12 years. The next segment, those between 36 and 60 will be valid for 16 years, and for the oldest population of 61 and above, the validity is extended to 20 years.
The new ID uses laser engraving to embed personal data deep within the material. This fusion ensures that any attempt to alter names or ID numbers would result in the physical destruction of the card itself. This switch makes them harder to alter, as data is fused into the card’s core, not printed on the surface.
Security is further bolstered by “Ghost Images” and Color-Changing Laser Images (CLI). These features allow authorities to verify the document’s authenticity by simply tilting the card to reveal hidden data points. For the first time, the Dominican ID will also feature a Machine Readable Zone (MRZ), standardizing the document with international passport protocols and facilitating automated verification at airports and government checkpoints.
On the aesthetic front, the card maintains its horizontal layout but introduces high-relief tactile elements and intricate “beehive” patterns over the primary grayscale photograph. The reverse side includes a QR code for encrypted digital validation and micro-text references to national monuments, blending cultural heritage with 21st-century encryption.
This technological transition aims to address long-standing vulnerabilities in the current PVC model, which has been in circulation for over a decade. By moving to a “smart” physical format, the Dominican Republic joins a growing list of nations adopting “zero-trust” identification standards to protect citizen data in an increasingly digital world.
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El Caribe
El Caribe
Diario Libre
Diario Libre
22 December 2025