The Central Electoral Board (JCE) extended to 11 May 2026 the time span for those born in April to apply for their ID and voter card (cedula) renewal without having to make an appointment. The renewal program began on 12 April.
Those who are not born in April can make an appointment at the extended hours window at select points nationwide and renew from 11pm to 7am.
The process is staggered by birth months to avoid overcrowding, with a final deadline set for 31 March 2027. Some nine million IDs need to be renewed during this time frame.
Renewal options & schedules
Shopping malls (extended hours):
Galería 360, Sambil, Bella Vista Mall, Plaza Central, Occidental Mall, Megacentro, and Coral Mall in Greater Santo Domingo.
Monday to Friday: 9am to 9pm, Saturdays: 9am to 7pm, Sundays and holidays: 10am to 2pm.
Traditional issuance centers:
Most regular centers operate from 8am to 7pm (Monday–Friday) and 8am to 5pm on Saturdays.
24-hour continuous service:
For those needing off-hours access, the JCE has enabled specific “Continuous Service Centers” that operate from 11pm to 7am.
These are located in places like San Cristóbal (Bravo Supermarket) and Sambil, these generally follow mall or institutional hours (e.g., 8am to 8pm on weekdays).
Key guidelines for 2026
The “birthday month” rule: To manage flow, the JCE encourages citizens to visit a center during their birth month. While not always strictly mandatory at every center, it is the recommended protocol to ensure faster service.
Appointments are generally not required for daytime visits to standard centers, but they are necessary for the 24-hour service centers.
The following offices will operate around the clock to support the phased renewal process:
• Distrito Nacional (Centro de los Héroes): Calle República del Líbano, Esq. Paul P. Harris, Centro de los Héroes (La Feria), Distrito Nacional. This location is already the primary administrative hub for civil status records in the capital.
• Santo Domingo Este (Plaza Island): Carretera Mella Esq. Av. San Vicente de Paúl, Plaza Island, Santo Domingo Este.
• Santo Domingo Oeste (Occidental Mall): Prolongación 27 de Febrero, Occidental Mall, Santo Domingo Oeste.
• Santiago (Edificio BNV): Av. Las Carreras esq. Av. Presidente Antonio Guzmán, Edificio BNV, Santiago de los Caballeros.
• La Romana: Av. Santa Rosa No. 63, casi esq. Calle Duarte, La Romana.
• San Francisco de Macorís: Calle El Carmen No. 17, San Francisco de Macorís, Provincia Duarte.
• Puerto Plata: Calle Duarte No. 34, Puerto Plata.
• Bávaro / Punta Cana: Carretera Barceló, Km. 2, Plaza Paseo San Juan, Bávaro.
The first issuance of the new biometric ID card is free of charge.
Dominicans abroad
Renewal for those living overseas began in May 2026. This process is strictly by appointment through the official JCE website, with services offered at consular offices and Electoral Coordination Offices (OCLEE).
Read more in Spanish:
Hoy
Noticias SIN
5 May 2026