Punta Cana, Dominican Republic Airport Arrival Tips
After arriving in Punta Cana, you’ll have to proceed through Immigration and Customs. Here are a few tips:
Departing the plane/Tourist Card:
The airport in Punta Cana is very small and open-air. You will depart the plane via stairs they roll up to the plane. There will be airport personnel there to direct you on where to go after departing the plane, or, you can just follow the other passengers!
Before you get to the immigration booth, you will be required to purchase a Tourist Card. The current cost of the card is $10.00 per person and can be paid in U.S. dollars. Please note, you won’t actually receive a card, you just pay your money and they will instruct you on where to go next. The agent at the airport will give you a receipt. Once you pay the $10 per person, then you will proceed to the immigration desk where you will show your passport.
You can also purchase the Tourist Card online prior to your arrival. Print off the document and present that when you get to the airport. The agent at the airport will give you a receipt
Immigrations and Customs forms for the Dominican Republic
Immigration
Make sure you have filled out completely the Immigration/Customs cards given to you on the flight.
Have your Immigration cards and passportsin hand when you approach the immigration booth. This will make things go much quicker.
Depending on how many other flights arrive at the same time as yours, the wait to get through Immigration could take a while.
After clearing Immigration, proceed to the baggage claim area (there will be someone showing you the way). Depending on how long it took you to get through Immigration, your luggage may already be off the carousel and just grouped together with lots of other luggage. This is when it’s handy to have some sort of colorful ribbon or something to distinguish your luggage from everyone else’s.
Customs
Once you have claimed your luggage, proceed toCustoms. They may search your luggage before you proceed.
After clearing Customs, you’ll go to the area where all the transportation companies have small booths set up. Just look for the APPLE VACATIONS booth and they will take care of you from there. Please note that there are some Timeshare representatives in the area that may try to get you follow them. See additional information in the packet. Just say “no, thank you” and proceed to the Apple Vacations booth/representatives.
Apple Vacations/AMSTAR representatives wear these flowered shirts with navy slacks or skirts. Talk to only Apple/AMSTAR reps.
Returning to the US
Fill out the Customs and Immigration form they give you on the plane in black ink.
Once you arrive at a US airport, you will go through Immigrations where you will show your passport and the blue form (above). Make sure you fill it out on the plane in and keep it with your passport. They will stamp your passport and the form. Then go claim your luggage. Once you claim your luggage, then you will go to the Customs desk – they take the blue form there. If you are at your arrival destination, you proceed to your vehicle or other transportation.
If you are connecting to a flight home, then you will need to re-check your luggage to your final destination AND go through security again. There are customs agents as well as airline and airport/sky cap personnel to ask for directions or help or look for signs.