Punta Cana is located on the easternmost tip of the island of Hispaniola, on the Dominican Republic’s side. In Central America and the Caribbean, there are many places in which U.S. citizens can enter for a limited time without the need for a passport, if under the right circumstances. These exceptions are mostly made for closed-loop cruises that start and end in the same port in the United States.
Is this the case for the Dominican Republic? Do you need a passport to go to Punta Cana or get back to the United States? In this article, we’ll go through the Dominican Republic’s passport requirements to answer this question. Keep reading and find out.

Do you need a passport to go to Punta Cana by plane?
From most airports on the East Coast of the United States, there is more than one daily flight to Punta Cana International Airport. The shortest flights that land in the Dominican Republic from U.S. territory take off from Puerto Rico, mostly from San Juan Airport.
From all these departure points, to enter Dominican territory, U.S. citizens need a passport book with at least 6 (six) months of remaining validity. A passport card is not acceptable for international flights. In addition, to visit Punta Cana, the authorities have some extra entry and exit requirements. Specifically:
- a confirmed return flight ticket
- details of the purpose of your visit
- proof of a hotel reservation
- a bank statement or another proof of sufficient financial means
- a Dominican Republic e-ticket.
As a U.S. citizen, you don’t require a tourist visa to stay in the country for less than 30 (thirty) days.
Children need to have the same documents required for adults.
Planning your next trip? Read our other articles for inspiration:
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Do you need a passport to go to Punta Cana by sea?
The Dominican Republic is a popular spot for cruises, given its fantastic beaches. Even if there is no cruise port in Punta Cana, many itineraries have stops near to, or right in front of it. It’s also possible to get to Hispaniola by ferry, with one of the connections from San Juan to Santo Domingo or Puerto Plata.
In both cases, to travel to Punta Cana by sea, all U.S. citizens need to carry a valid passport, the payment for the tourist card (it’s often already included in the ticket price), proof of the departure date, and a hotel reservation.
Prepare to go to Punta Cana with Passport Photo Online
If you need to get a new passport to travel to Punta Cana, use Passport Photo Online to get the pictures for the application. Our app, with over a million downloads, can help you take them with your phone.
Snap a photo, upload it, choose the document you need and we’ll do everything else:
- The app crops the image to the required size and removes the background. You can take pictures at home or wherever else you might be, and we’ll fix them for you.
- You get unlimited tries. With Passport Photo Online, you can take all the photos you need, until you get the perfect one. You’ll only pay for the final product.
Get ready for any trip anywhere in the world with Passport Photo Online, all you need is a smartphone.
Do you need a passport to go to Punta Cana from the United States: FAQ
In this section, we’ll answer a few common questions about visiting Punta Cana from the U.S.
Do you need a passport to go to Punta Cana if you are from the U.S.?
Yes, according to local migration laws; all U.S. citizens hoping to enter the Dominican Republic need to have a valid passport to be allowed in.
Do you need a passport book to go to Punta Cana?
Yes, international travel always requires a passport book, even for tourism purposes.
What are the entry requirements for U.S. citizens to go to Punta Cana?
To be allowed in the Dominican Republic, U.S. citizens need:
– a valid passport book, with at least 6 (six) months left before the expiration date;
– confirmed return tickets;
– hotel reservation;
– proof of financial means;
– Dominican e-ticket.
Tourist cards are often included in the tickets, but it’s always advisable to check if they actually are. If you plan on staying for less than 30 (thirty) days, it’s not necessary to apply for a travel visa.
Do you need a passport to go to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic?- conclusion
U.S. citizens who want to travel to Punta Cana need to present a valid passport book accompanied by the proper documentation. It’s not possible to enter the Dominican Republic with only a birth certificate or an enhanced driver’s license. If your passport expires in less than 6 (six) months, you’ll have to renew it before a vacation to Punta Cana.
Use Passport Photo Online to get pictures for your documents and get ready for your trip to Punta Cana.
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Riccardo Ollmert is a biometric photography expert at Passport Photo Online. With his background in languages and the publishing industry from La Sapienza University of Rome, he creates compelling content that simplifies the complexities of biometric photography. Riccardo’s passion for travel and creative writing is reflected in his work, emphasizing the role of biometric photos in seamless global exploration.