DECEMBER TRAVEL UPDATE FOR PUNTA CANA
Christmas is coming and with it one of the busiest months for tourism in Punta Cana! COVID-19 has prevented travel for much of the year, although the Dominican Republic re opened its air borders back in July.
The government of the Dominican Republic have been working hard to ensure the island has safety and virus tracing measures in place. These have thankfully kept infections low while travelers enjoy the beautiful beaches!
If you have a Christmas break planned in Punta Cana, here is your update for travel to the Dominican Republic for December:
Entry Requirements:
A negative PCR or COVID-19 test is not required for entry to the Dominican Republic. Ports of entry will administer breath tests to between 3% and 10% of passengers, plus those who present symptoms on arrival. All travelers will be temperature checked. Please check with you airline in case of additional requirements for your flight. You must also follow your government guidelines for reentry from the Dominican Republic to your home country.
Health Declaration:
Until December 31, all travelers will be required to complete a health declaration. This is to confirm visitors have not had COVID-19 symptoms in the last 72 hours plus contact details for the next 30 days for contact tracing. From January 1, the new E-Ticket will be compulsory.
E-Ticket
The new E-Ticket combines three forms which were previously completed manually:
- Traveler’s Health Affadavit(Decaration)
- Customs Declaration
- International Embarkation/Disembarkation
Until December 31 both manual and electronic versions of these forms will be accepted. From January 1 the E-Ticket will be compulsory and the manual forms no longer accepted. You will need to fill one form for arrival and one for departure, which will then generate QR codes to be scanned by authorities at your port of entry and departure.
Internet is available free of charge at Dominican Airports if you forget to fill in the forms in advance. However, to keep time at the airport to a minimum, we recommend completing at least 72 hours in advance. You can keep a copy of the QR code either in print or as a screenshot on your device. You can access the E-Ticket here: https://eticket.migracion.gob.do/.
Free Health Coverage
International tourists on commercial flights and staying in a hotel and arriving on or before 31 December 2020 will be provided free temporary health coverage for COVID-19 infection or exposure during check in. Coverage includes:
- Specialist Medical Attention
- Medical Transfers
- Transfer of a relative
- Airfare change penalty
- Additional Accommodation
Insurance is provided by Seguros Reservas. The contact number for assistance in the event of exposure to COVID-19 is +1 809 476 3232. A representative will advise the best course of action on a case by case basis. You can find full coverage information here.
Curfew
Curfew hours until December 22 are as follows:
- 9.00 pm to 5.00 am Monday to Friday
- 7.00 pm to 5.00 am Saturdays, Sundays and national holidays
CLICK FOR ADDITIONAL CURFEWS FOR CHRISTMAS and NEW YEAR
The curfew does not apply within your resort or for transit to and from your hotel or the airport.
We hope you enjoy a safe and relaxing trip to Punta Cana this December! If you are looking for an exciting activity during your stay in Punta Cana, You can find out more on our recommended COVID safe experiences here!