State Department Issues Updated Travel Advisory for Dominican Republic

Image: Punta Cana, Dominican Republic (Photo Credit: Adobe Stock/Pavel)
Image: Punta Cana, Dominican Republic (Photo Credit: Adobe Stock/Pavel)
Laurie Baratti
by Laurie Baratti
Last updated: 4:35 PM ET, Sun June 15, 2025

The U.S. State Department has reissued its travel guidance for the Dominican Republic, with officials continuing to advise American travelers to exercise increased caution due to crime.

The advisory, issued following a periodic review on June 12, classifies the Dominican Republic as a Level 2 destination on the government’s four-tier safety scale, with only minor changes made to the advisory released last June.

This level is the most common and simply urges visitors to stay alert and take additional safety measures while abroad. Other frequented destinations, such as Italy, Germany and Jamaica, also carry a Level 2 official warning. 

The Caribbean nation remains a top destination for U.S. tourists, welcoming more than 2 million American visitors in 2023 alone, according to data from the Dominican Republic’s Department of National Accounts and Economic Statistics, as reported by Newsweek

Safety Tips for Tourists

In an emergency, travelers can dial 911, seek assistance from the dedicated tourist police unit known as POLITUR, or turn to private security personnel available at most resorts.

The State Department also recommends that U.S. citizens enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive up-to-date safety alerts and to help authorities locate them more easily in case of a crisis.

While Level 2 advisories like this one are typically updated annually, the situation remains fluid. Travelers planning trips to the Dominican Republic should continue to monitor official guidance and remain alert throughout their stay.


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Laurie Baratti

Laurie Baratti

Assistant Editor

Laurie Baratti is an Assistant Editor for TravelPulse. She is a San Diego-based journalist whose work has previously appeared in publications like TravelAge West, SPACE, Modern Home + Living, Montage, and Sandals Life magazines. Travel writing has long been her passion, and she is always looking for excuses to explore the world outside of her native California. Laurie is also a lifelong equestrian, a proud pet-parent, and an underground advocate of the Oxford comma.

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