Dominican Republic lifts all travel restrictions

Travellers can enter without testing, quarantining, or having been vaccinated

The Dominican Republic is ready to welcome back tourists (Getty)

The Dominican Republic has announced it is lifting all travel restrictions for incoming holidaymakers.

The Caribbean nation said that arrivals will no longer be required to provide a negative Covid PCR test.

Travellers can also enter the country without being vaccinated, and there is no quarantine requirement.

Instead, airports and other ports of entry will perform a quick breath test to between 3 and 15 per cent of passengers, and all those with coronavirus symptoms, upon arrival.

All arrivals will also be given a temperature check. Anyone who tests positive for Covid or presents symptoms will be put into quarantine.

The Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism is also offering viral antigen testing to international visitors staying at a hotel.

The service is administered at a selection of hotels across the island, either free of charge or for a small admin fee.

This meets the UK’s requirement that all incoming travellers submit a negative Covid test – be it PCR, lateral flow or rapid antigen – prior to departure.

All arrivals to the Dominican Republic must complete an electronic entry and exit form, which combines a Traveller’s Health Affidavit, Customs Declaration and International Embarkation/Disembarkation forms.

These will generate two QR codes to be scanned at Customs.

All international tourists arriving on commercial flights and staying at a hotel will also be granted a temporary, free health coverage plan.

It provides cover in the event that the traveller contracts coronavirus while in the country, and includes medical attention, medical transfers, transfer of a relative, penalty for airfare changes, and lodging for prolonged stays.

International leisure travel is currently illegal in England. This ban is expected to lift on 17 May, when countries will be separated into a traffic-light system, graded red, amber or green depending on the level of risk.

The green list, with the lightest restrictions, will be comprised of the lowest risk countries, with the lowest infection rates; most advanced vaccination programmes; and the least prevalence of virus variants of concern.