Do you need a passport for Punta Cana?

The short answer is: yes, a passport is required to visit Punta Cana, as it is located in the Dominican Republic. The long answer is; yes, and you might need a Visa too! Below I go into this in more detail.

All travellers, regardless of nationality, must have a valid passport to enter the country. It’s important to ensure that your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your planned date of departure from the Dominican Republic to avoid any issues during your travels.

Read next: Punta Cana versus Cancun

Quick Punta Cana Travel Guide

Where to stay: Punta Cana is located on the east coast of the Dominican Republic, with loads of high-end all-inclusive resorts lining the coastline. Most visitors to Punta Cana opt to stay at one of these resorts, as it truly is a destination for relaxing and enjoying the Caribbean climate. Popular resorts include Dreams Macao Punta Cana, Impressive Premium Punta Cana and the Hard Rock Hotel.

Top activities and tours in Punta Cana:

Half-Day ATV and Water Cave Adventure ($65)
Adults-Only Coral Nursery Snorkelling Tour with Lunch ($114)
Half-day Dominican Republic Cultural Tour ($60)
Full-day Santo Domingo City Tour ($95)
Small-group Cruise and Snorkel Tour ($99)

Packing for Punta Cana: Punta Cana is hot year-round, so you obviously want to pack your swimwear, flip flops and light summer outfits. Resorts usually have a casual dress code, but won’t allow swimwear in the restaurants. So pack a few summery dresses or shorts and tops for dinner as well. Don’t forget reef-safe sunscreen, sunglasses and a good book, and read through my all-inclusive packing list before your trip!

Airport transfers: There are plenty of vendors and sellers waiting for you at the Punta Cana airport, so finding a taxi or transfer to your hotel is not a problem. However, if this feels a little overwhelming to you, I recommend booking a transfer in advance – for ease of mind. Our transfer by taxi (booked upon arrival) to our hotel cost $30 USD, whilst booking a transfer in advance would have been less than $15 (this is the highest-rated one).

Dominican Republic Travel Requirements

As mentioned above, you need a passport to enter the Dominican Republic and to travel to Punta Cana. In addition to this, you may need a Visa.

Generally, US citizens can travel to the Dominican Republic for up to 30 days without a Visa. Note that this is for leisure travel – i.e. if you are visiting Punta Cana as a tourist. If you are traveling for work, there may be different requirements, which you can check here.

Most European visitors will also receive a 30-day tourist Visa upon arrival.

A laptop set up on a table on a hotel balcony, with a white coffee mug next to it, and palm trees seen over the balcony.

Electronic eTicket before arrival

Even if you do not need a Visa to travel to the Dominican Republic, you need to fill out an electronic ticket before your departure. This is a simple online form where you enter your passport details, arrival and departure details, as well as the purpose of your trip.

This can be done here, and will make passport control/immigration a much smoother ride upon arrival in Punta Cana.

I was super impressed with this system, and especially the QR code we were provided afterwards. When we arrived at the airport in Punta Cana, all we had to do was show the QR code together with our passport at the immigration booth.

What documents do I need to travel to Punta Cana?

You need your passport, and it should be valid for at least 6 months after your departure from Punta Cana. In addition to this, you need to have at least 1 blank page in your passport in order to get it stamped.

Usually, there will be a passport control both before you board your flight to Punta Cana in addition to the one upon arrival. That way, you don’t have to worry about showing up in the DR without your passport.

Punta Cana Passport FAQ

What documents do I need to travel to Punta Cana?

You need a passport that should be valid for at least 6 months after your departure and with at least 1 blank page.

What islands can you go to without a passport?

You can visit certain islands without needing a passport if you are a U.S. citizen. Some of these islands include Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa. These territories are considered part of the United States, so U.S. citizens can travel to these destinations without a passport. Keep in mind that requirements may vary, so it’s always best to check with the specific destination’s entry requirements before planning your trip.

Do you need a passport to book a flight to Punta Cana?

You don’t technically need a passport to book your flight, but at some point before your travel date you need to enter your passport details for immigrations. Therefore, you should have a passport when booking your Punta Cana flight.