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Worldwide Caution: The Department of State advises Americans worldwide to exercise increased caution.
Need help with American Citizens Services at the U.S. Embassy? Our Navigator will guide you to the information you need and help you ask us for help if you need it.
If you have an emergency involving the death, arrest or hospitalization of a U.S. citizen, or a missing U.S. citizen, please call 809-567-7775. When the prompts ask you to enter the extension, enter 0 and tell the operator you have an emergency. For general information you may e-mail us at SDOAmericans@state.gov. We can receive emergency calls any time, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Note that this number is not for visa inquiries.
Arrest of a U.S. CitizenThe Department of State is committed to ensuring fair and humane treatment for U.S. citizens imprisoned overseas. We stand ready to assist incarcerated citizens and their families within the limits of our authority in accordance with international law, domestic and foreign law.
The Department of State helps the family and friends of U.S. citizens who die abroad. We inform the U.S. citizen’s next-of-kin of the death and we provide information on arrangements for local burial or the return of remains to the United States and on disposition of estates and personal effects. We also issue a Consular Report of Death Abroad, an official record of death.
If you are concerned about the welfare or whereabouts of an U.S. Citizen in the Dominican Republic, please call the U.S. Citizens Services (ACS) Unit at 809-567-7775. For general information you may also e-mail us at SDOAmericans@state.gov.
The Department of State’s Office of Children’s Issues works to resolve and prevent cases of international parental child abduction and to help children and families involved in abduction cases. For more information, see our international parental child abduction page on travel.state.gov.
The Department of State helps U.S. citizens who are victims of crime overseas. We connect crime victims with police and other services and provide information and resources to assist with physical, emotional, and/or financial injuries from crime.
Are you a U.S. citizen who needs a passport?
The Department of State is committed to ensuring fair and humane treatment for U.S. citizens imprisoned overseas. We stand ready to assist incarcerated citizens and their families within the limits of our authority in accordance with international law, domestic and foreign law.
The Department of State helps the family and friends of U.S. citizens who die abroad. We inform the U.S. citizen’s next-of-kin of the death and we provide information on arrangements for local burial or the return of remains to the United States and on disposition of estates and personal effects. We also issue a Consular Report of Death Abroad, an official record of death.
Welfare and Whereabouts of U.S. Citizens
If you are concerned about the welfare or whereabouts of an U.S. Citizen in the Dominican Republic, please call the U.S. Citizens Services (ACS) Unit at 809-567-7775. For general information you may also e-mail us at SDOAmericans@state.gov.
International Parental Child Abduction
The Department of State’s Office of Children’s Issues works to resolve and prevent cases of international parental child abduction and to help children and families involved in abduction cases. For more information, see our international parental child abduction page on travel.state.gov.
The Department of State helps U.S. citizens who are victims of crime overseas. We connect crime victims with police and other services and provide information and resources to assist with physical, emotional, and/or financial injuries from crime.
Information on transferring funds, what receivers need, and destitution.
Emergency Financial Assistance
Information on transferring funds, what receivers need, and destitution.
Consular Affairs (CA) is the public face of the Department of State for millions of people around the world. We provide many services, and the most common are listed below.
U.S. Citizens overseas can renew passports, replace passports, or apply for new passports.
If you live in Dominican Republic and have questions about Social Security Administration (SSA) services, contact the SSA Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) FBU.Santo.Domingo@ssa.gov. The FBU operates on on an appointments-only system. Email to request an appointment and please include all your contact information. The Regional FBU of the American Embassy in Santo Domingo is responsible for providing services to all the Caribbean, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname and Venezuela. The FBU is responsible for the administration of the benefit programs for the Social Security Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, Railroad Retirement Board.
If you are a U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident (green card holder), you are responsible for filing U.S. federal income tax returns while abroad. You will find useful information on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) website, such as Frequently Asked Questions about taxes or how to apply for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). The American Citizens Services (ACS) Unit of the U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo is part of the U.S. Department of State, not the IRS, and therefore does not issue ITIN numbers. However, the ACS Unit can and does certify the supporting documents to be forwarded to the IRS along with the W-7 application. To certify the supporting documents, you must make an appointment for a notarial service through our online booking system.
If you are a U.S. dual citizen or U.S. citizen living outside of the United States, you can register with the Selective Service System.
U.S. service members, veterans, and their beneficiaries can apply for benefits on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) website. The Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) may also be able to help veterans and beneficiaries with questions about benefits and services.
Depending on where you are eligible to vote, you may get your ballot by email, fax, or internet download. To start, complete a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) here. Print, sign, and return the FPCA to your local U.S. election office. Include your email address so election officials can reach you if there is a problem. If your state delivers ballots electronically by fax only, include your fax number. If you request electronic delivery and include your email address or fax number, you will receive your blank ballot 45 days before general and mid-term elections and generally 30 days before special, primary, and run-off elections for federal offices. We recommend completing a new FPCA each January, or when you move.
U.S. citizens sometimes contact the Embassy requesting to have their fingerprints taken for an FBI criminal background check, as part of applying for residency in the Dominican Republic or for some other purpose. Unfortunately, the U.S. Embassy is unable to take fingerprints for FBI background checks, and is unaware of any institution in the Dominican Republic able to do so.
If you live in Dominican Republic and have questions about Social Security Administration (SSA) services, contact the SSA Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) FBU.Santo.Domingo@ssa.gov. The FBU operates on on an appointments-only system. Email to request an appointment and please include all your contact information. The Regional FBU of the American Embassy in Santo Domingo is responsible for providing services to all the Caribbean, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname and Venezuela. The FBU is responsible for the administration of the benefit programs for the Social Security Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, Railroad Retirement Board.
If you are a U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident (green card holder), you are responsible for filing U.S. federal income tax returns while abroad. You will find useful information on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) website, such as Frequently Asked Questions about taxes or how to apply for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). The American Citizens Services (ACS) Unit of the U.S. Embassy in Santo Domingo is part of the U.S. Department of State, not the IRS, and therefore does not issue ITIN numbers. However, the ACS Unit can and does certify the supporting documents to be forwarded to the IRS along with the W-7 application. To certify the supporting documents, you must make an appointment for a notarial service through our online booking system.
If you are a U.S. dual citizen or U.S. citizen living outside of the United States, you can register with the Selective Service System.
U.S. service members, veterans, and their beneficiaries can apply for benefits on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) website. The Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) may also be able to help veterans and beneficiaries with questions about benefits and services.
Depending on where you are eligible to vote, you may get your ballot by email, fax, or internet download. To start, complete a Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) here. Print, sign, and return the FPCA to your local U.S. election office. Include your email address so election officials can reach you if there is a problem. If your state delivers ballots electronically by fax only, include your fax number. If you request electronic delivery and include your email address or fax number, you will receive your blank ballot 45 days before general and mid-term elections and generally 30 days before special, primary, and run-off elections for federal offices. We recommend completing a new FPCA each January, or when you move.
Fingerprints for FBI Background check
U.S. citizens sometimes contact the Embassy requesting to have their fingerprints taken for an FBI criminal background check, as part of applying for residency in the Dominican Republic or for some other purpose. Unfortunately, the U.S. Embassy is unable to take fingerprints for FBI background checks, and is unaware of any institution in the Dominican Republic able to do so.
The Department of State assumes no responsibility or liability for the professional ability or reputation of, or the quality of services provided by, the entities or individuals whose names appear on the following lists. Inclusion on this list is in no way an endorsement by the Department or the U.S. government. Names are listed alphabetically, and the order in which they appear has no other significance. The information on the list is provided directly by the local service providers; the Department is not in a position to vouch for such information.
Legal AssistanceThe Embassy cannot represent U.S. citizens in court or provide legal counsel. Instead, you may wish to consult with an attorney, who can provide advice on your options and remedies within the Dominican legal system. The American Citizens Services (ACS) Unit maintains a List of Local Attorneys in the Dominican Republic, for your convenience.
Resources for U.S. citizens faced with medical emergencies while in the Dominican Republic.
Like the rest of the Caribbean, the Dominican Republic is a hurricane-prone country. The hurricane season runs from June, with the peak season from mid-August to late October. For information on preparation for other types of natural disasters, please see our disaster preparedness page.
