ENTRY REQUIREMENTS (June, 2008)
All Americans traveling by air outside of the United States are required to present a passport or other valid travel document to enter or re-enter the United States.. This requirement will be extended to sea travel (except closed loop cruises), including ferry service, by the summer of 2009.

Visas: Visitors who do not obtain a Dominican visa prior to entry must purchase a tourist card upon arrival to enter the country. Tourist cards cost ten U.S. dollars, which must be paid in U.S. currency.

Strict exit requirements apply to minors under 18 years of age (of any nationality) who are residents in the Dominican Republic. Such children traveling alone, without one parent, or with anyone other than the parent(s), must present written authorization from a parent or legal guardian. This authorization must be in Spanish, and it must be notarized at a Dominican consulate in the United States or notarized and then certified at the Dominican Attorney General’s office (Procuraduria de la Republica) if done in the Dominican Republic. Though not a requirement for non-resident minors (in the Dominican Republic), the U.S. Embassy recommends that any minor traveling to the Dominican Republic without one or both parents have a notarized document from the parent(s). In addition to clarifying the reason for travel, this will facilitate departure from the Dominican Republic. (*) (Top)

HEALTH INFORMATION 
Medical care is limited, especially outside Santo Domingo, and the quality of care varies widely among facilities. Since October 2004, there have been several reported cases of malaria in areas frequented by U.S. and European tourists.  Prior to coming to the Dominican Republic, travelers should consult the Centers for Disease Control web site (below) for the most up-to-date recommendations on malarial prophylaxis.

SECURITY ISSUES
Crime is on the increase throughout the Dominican Republic. Street crime involving U.S. tourists does occur, and precautions should be taken to avoid becoming a target. Criminals are becoming increasingly more dangerous and visitors walking the streets should always be aware of their surroundings.

Credit card fraud is common. Visitors should limit their use of personal credit cards and may wish to consider coordinating their trip with their credit card company so that only specified expenses such as hotel bills may be charged. In order to prevent the card's information from being copied down for illegal use, credit cards should never leave the sight of the cardholder. It is advisable to pay close attention to credit card bills following time spent in the Dominican Republic. (*) (Top)

PEOPLE (June 2008 )
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Dominican(s).
Population (2007): 9.365 million.
Annual growth rate (2007): 1.5%.
Ethnic groups: Mixed 73%, European 16%, African origin 11%.
Religion: Roman Catholic 95%.
Language: Spanish.
Education: Years compulsory--6 Attendance--70%. Literacy--84.7%.
Health: Infant mortality rate: 28.3/1,000. Life expectancy--70.2 years for men, 73.3 years for women.
Work force: 60.2% services (tourism, transportation, communications, finances, others), 15.5% industry (manufacturing), 11.5% construction, 11.3% agriculture, 1.5% mining. (Top)

GEOGRAPHY
Area: 48,442 sq. km. (18,704 sq. mi.), about the size of Vermont and New Hampshire combined.
Cities: Capital--Santo Domingo (pop. 2.25 million). Other city--Santiago de los Caballeros (908,230).
Terrain: Mountainous.
Climate: Maritime tropical. (*) (Top)

GOVERNMENT
Type: Representative democracy.
Independence: February 27, 1844. Restoration of independence, August 16, 1863.
Constitution: November 28, 1966; amended July 25, 2002.
Branches: Executive--president (chief of state and head of government), vice president, cabinet. Legislative--bicameral Congress (Senate and House of Representatives). Judicial--Supreme Court of Justice.
Subdivisions: 31 provinces and the National District of Santo Domingo.
Political parties: Dominican Liberation Party (PLD), Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD), Social Christian Reformist Party (PRSC), and several others.
Suffrage: Universal and compulsory, over 18 or married. (Top)

ECONOMY (2007)
GDP: $36.4 billion.
Growth rate: 8%.
Per capita GDP: $4,147.
Non-fuel minerals (1.4% of GDP): Nickel, gold, silver.
Agriculture (6.5% of GDP): Products--sugarcane, coffee, cocoa, bananas, tobacco, rice, plantains, beef.
Industry (27.4% of GDP): Types--sugar refining, pharmaceuticals, cement, light manufacturing, construction.
Services, including tourism and transportation: 58.6% of GDP.
Trade: Exports--$6.484 billion (FOB), including processing zones: textiles, sugar, coffee, ferronickel, cacao, tobacco, meats and medical supplies. Markets--U.S. (75%), Canada, Western Europe, South Korea. Imports--$8.797 billion: food stuffs, petroleum, industrial raw materials, capital goods. Suppliers--U.S. (48%), Japan, Germany, Venezuela, Mexico, Colombia. (*) (Top)