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|  | Tourist Cards and Departure Taxes Explained
« Thread Started on Jan 25, 2009, 9:40am » | |
There is always a lot of confusion on this subject, this information is current as of January 2009.
Yes there is a $20.00 U.S. departure tax per person and a $10.00 U.S. tourist card is required on entry to the Dominican Republic.
Confusion arises on the forums when Canadians and Americans and people from other countries post and answer questions about these taxes, as they are handled differently if leaving from the U.S. than they are from Canada.
For Americans, the departure tax has always been prepaid in the taxes added onto your package (or your flight if you did not book a package). For Americans until fairly recently they've had to purchase the tourist card at the airport upon arrival. From what I read, this is gradually changing over so this will also be prepaid and the cards will be given out by the airlines. For now, if leaving from the U.S., check with your travel agent to see if the tourist card is included. The departure tax is included.
For Canadians, the opposite has been the case, with some exceptions. Canadians have always prepaid the tourist card and received it before arrival in the Dominican Republic, but usually had to pay the $20.00 U.S. departure tax when they left, it was prepaid for a couple of airlines. By the end of 2007 Canadian tour operators started including both the tourist card and the departure tax in the package or air only price, so it didn't have to be paid when leaving the country. Currently Sunwing Vacations is the only Canadian tour operator that does not include the tourist card or the departure tax in their prices. For all the other Canadian tour operators or airlines, the price of the Tourist Card and Departure Tax is prepaid.
addendum: Nov 28, 2009. It has been reported that Go Travel South does not include the $20US departure tax, so be prepared to pay that locally. Nov 30th, verified that is the case. Dec 8, they apparently pick up the tourist card, so that leaves Sunwing as the only Canadian supplier where you have to pay both separately.
bfc
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