Getting to the Dominican Republic: Flights, Entry Requirements and the E-Ticket

Alexander Maurerbauer

4 days ago

4 min read

The Dominican Republic is one of the easiest Caribbean destinations to reach, and the north coast around Sosúa is better connected than many visitors expect. This guide covers which airport to fly into, where direct flights come from, and exactly what paperwork you need before you board, so your arrival is as relaxed as the beach that follows.

Which airport should you fly into?

Puerto Plata (POP), Gregorio Luperón International Airport is the airport for Sosúa and Cabarete. It sits on the coastal highway between Puerto Plata city and Sosúa itself, which means the drive from the terminal to a villa in Casa Linda or an apartment in central Sosúa is a matter of minutes rather than hours. If you can find a reasonable fare into POP, take it. It is a compact, easy airport: you clear immigration, collect your bags and walk out to the arrivals area where taxis and pre-booked drivers wait.

Santiago de los Caballeros (STI), Cibao International Airport is the second option. It serves the Dominican Republic's second city in the Cibao valley and has a wide choice of flights, especially from the US East Coast. From STI it is roughly a two to two-and-a-half hour drive over the mountains to Sosúa, a genuinely scenic route. It is worth considering when POP fares are high or when your dates do not line up with a direct flight to the north coast.

Santo Domingo (SDQ), Las Américas International Airport is the capital's airport and the country's largest gateway, with the broadest range of European and South American connections. The drawback is distance: expect roughly three and a half to four hours by road to Sosúa. Fly into SDQ if you want to combine your beach stay with a day or two in the colonial city, or if it is the only airport with a direct flight from your home city.

Direct flights to Puerto Plata

As of 2026, Puerto Plata's airport receives direct scheduled flights from a solid list of North American and European cities. From the United States, the main year-round links are Miami, New York JFK, Newark and Atlanta, with seasonal service from cities such as Charlotte and Boston. From Canada, Toronto and Montréal are served year-round, with additional seasonal routes in the winter months. From Europe, there are direct flights from Frankfurt and Zurich, plus charter and package flights from other European cities in high season. Copa Airlines connects Puerto Plata to Panama City, which opens up onward connections across Latin America.

Winter (December to April) is the busiest season on the north coast, so this is when you will find the most direct flights and the highest fares. If you have flexible dates, shoulder months such as May, June and November often combine good weather with better prices and quieter beaches.

The E-Ticket: mandatory, free and online

Every traveller entering or leaving the Dominican Republic by air must complete the government's electronic entry and exit form, known as the E-Ticket. This applies to everyone, regardless of nationality or age, and it replaces the old paper customs and immigration cards.

The essentials:

It is completed online, only at the official portal eticket.migracion.gob.do. It is free. Any website asking you to pay for an E-Ticket is not the official site.
You fill in one form for arrival and a separate one for departure. Each takes five to ten minutes and asks for passport details, flight number, your address in the Dominican Republic and basic customs declarations.
Once submitted you receive a QR code. Save a screenshot or print it; airlines may ask to see it at check-in and immigration officers scan it on arrival.
You can fill it in as soon as you have your flight details. Doing it a day or two before you fly, when you have time and a good connection, is the stress-free approach.
One form can cover a family travelling together.

For your address in the country, use the address of your villa or apartment. If you are staying with InStyle Residences, you will find the exact details in your booking confirmation.

Passports and visas for US, Canadian and European visitors

Citizens of the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and all European Union countries do not need a visa for a tourist visit. On arrival you receive permission to stay for up to 30 days, which can be extended through the immigration authority (or, in practice, by paying an overstay fee on departure) for longer stays. Investors and owners spending extended periods on the north coast should plan for this in advance.

Passport validity is the point most worth checking. The general rule in the Dominican Republic is six months' validity beyond your arrival date. An exceptional measure in force through 31 December 2026 allows nationals of the US, Canada, the UK and EU countries to enter with a passport that is simply valid for the length of their stay. Our advice is not to rely on the exception: many airlines still apply the six-month rule at check-in, and the measure may not be renewed. Renew early if your passport is close to expiry.

The tourist card in 2026

For years, visitors bought a US$10 tourist card on arrival. That is no longer the case. The fee is now built into the price of your airline ticket, so there is nothing to buy at the airport and no separate form to complete. Likewise, the departure tax is included in your fare. In short, for a normal holiday arriving by air, your complete checklist is: a valid passport, a return or onward ticket, and your E-Ticket QR codes.

A few last practical notes

Bring a printed or offline copy of your accommodation address, since immigration may ask where you are staying. Travel insurance is not mandatory but is strongly recommended. And if you are arriving late in the evening, arrange your transfer in advance so a driver is waiting for you.

If you are planning a stay in Sosúa, the team at InStyle Residences is happy to help with arrival details when you book your villa or apartment.

Staying in Sosúa?

Flights booked? The next step is where you sleep. Our own residences in Sosúa: studios and apartments at Rizz Suites in the town centre, private-pool Casa Linda villas five minutes from the beach, and oceanfront apartments at Infiniti Blu. Book direct with our local team or send us a message — we reply personally, usually within a few hours.