Dominican Republic

Yacht entry to the Dominican Republic involves Navy harbourmasters/maritime authorities (Armada Dominicana), the General Directorate of Customs (DGA), General Directorate of Migration (DGM) and Port Authority, among others. In February 2026, DGM announced joint pleasure-craft inspections in Luperón Bay covering registration, navigation permissions, crew/passenger immigration status, safety and waste management. Procedures vary by arrival location and vessel. This guide is a pre-voyage reference; confirm current requirements with the intended port and competent authorities before departure.

APORDOM's national port directory includes commercial ports, tourist terminals, anchorages and marinas. The official tourism website also describes facilities including Cap Cana, Puntacana Resort, Casa de Campo, Sans Souci/Marina Bartolomé Colón, Zar-Par at Boca Chica, Puerto Bahía Samaná, Ocean World and Puerto Blanco at Luperón. A facility directory is not a list of ports authorised for international entry. Before sailing, confirm that the destination accepts foreign private yachts and can provide customs, immigration and Navy formalities. Do not enter simply because a port or marina is listed.

No uniform advance reporting deadline or nationwide online booking process for all foreign private yachts was found. DGM expressly states that the electronic E-Ticket applies only to air passengers and is not required for arrivals/departures aboard yachts or sailing vessels; it advises such travellers to consult DGA. Contact the intended port, DGA and Navy port authorities in advance to confirm ETA reporting, vessel/personnel documents, agents and inspection appointments. Do not apply air-passenger reporting rules to yachts.

Persons arriving from or departing abroad by sea undergo immigration checks. Regulations allow inspections at ports, designated locations or aboard. If officers inspect aboard, crew and passengers must remain until checks are complete. Responsible persons must provide passenger lists, crew lists/duty rosters and vessel name, nationality/flag, registration, arrival/departure times and embarkation/disembarkation ports. Individual passport, visa and visa-free eligibility depend on nationality and current rules; confirm personal admission with DGM before departure.

DGM advises yacht/sailing-vessel travellers to contact DGA about entry and departure. Recent Navy pleasure-craft inspections at Luperón Bay specifically checked registration and navigation permissions. DGA's published vessel nationalisation/permanent-import checklist includes a vessel entry form, valid Navy stay permission, registration evidence, previous-port outward-clearance form and owner identification. It concerns formal nationalisation/import and is not a complete short-stay/temporary-import procedure for foreign yachts. Before arrival, confirm temporary-import periods, navigation/stay permission, vessel documents, previous-port clearance and departure formalities with DGA and the Navy.

Do not assume exemptions for yacht-carried food, plants, animals, pets or biological material. Ministry of Agriculture information shows that some animal imports require advance permission through the foreign-trade single window. Wildlife, parts and derivatives may require environmental authority permission and origin-country CITES documents. The 2026 Luperón Bay joint inspections also emphasised proper solid and liquid waste management. Before departure, check pets, meat/agricultural products, plants, seafood, garbage and sewage handling individually with agricultural, environmental and destination authorities. No uniform quarantine checklist covering all yacht arrivals was found.

DGA traveller guidance identifies narcotics, psychotropic substances, firearms, pollutants and other national-security-sensitive goods as requiring special declaration/control. Its legal directory also lists Law No. 309-06 prohibiting firearm imports. CITES-protected wildlife and products require permits. This traveller guide is not yacht-specific and does not mean all goods attract identical legal consequences. Do not bring firearms, ammunition, controlled medicines, hazardous pollutants or protected species ashore or into the country without written authority confirmation. Ask DGA, the Navy and relevant licensing bodies about declarations and permissions.

First confirm that the selected port is authorised for entry, then contact the agent, Navy harbourmaster, customs and immigration as the port directs. Official tourism guidance describes possible Navy/Coast Guard and other boardings at authorised entry ports, with immigration passport checks for crew. Keep everyone aboard until officers finish if inspections are conducted onboard. Official information also notes that moving between official entry ports may require prior despacho (release/navigation permission). Confirm offices, arrival reports, communications, hours and agent requirements with the destination. Do not assume free movement between ports.

No official tariff sufficient to establish current uniform private-yacht customs, Navy, immigration or departure charges was found. The official tourism website mentions possible per-vessel or per-passenger fees, with separate marina mooring, anchoring or waste charges, but provides no complete schedule with verifiable current amounts. Before leaving or moving to another official entry port, confirm fees, payment methods, vessel release/departure documents and crew exit checks with the port and authorities. Do not treat old webpage amounts or another port's quote as current national standards.