How to Ship to the Dominican Republic from the US
The Dominican Republic has a large Dominican-American diaspora that ships packages home regularly, plus a booming ecommerce market. Miami and New York are the primary hubs for US→DR shipping. Private express carriers and specialized Caribbean freight forwarders both serve this route well.
Customs duties in the Dominican Republic vary by product (typically 0–20%), plus ITBIS (equivalent to VAT) at 18%. There is effectively no de minimis exemption for commercial imports, but personal-use packages under approximately $200 are often cleared with reduced scrutiny by DGII/Aduanas.
Typical 1 lb cost
$35–$55 USD
Typical transit
3–14 business days
Carrier Options to Dominican Republic
DHL Express Worldwide
Best option for the DR. 2-4 business days to Santo Domingo. Reliable customs clearance.
FedEx International Priority
2-4 business days. Good for business shipments and high-value items.
UPS Worldwide Expedited
3-5 business days. Solid tracking and delivery to major cities.
USPS Priority Mail International
7–21 business days. Delivered by INPOSDOM (Dominican postal service). Slower, less reliable tracking.
Customs Forms Required
CN22 for items under $400. CN23 + commercial invoice for higher-value shipments.
Commonly Prohibited Items
- ✕Firearms and weapons without special authorization
- ✕Illegal drugs and narcotics
- ✕Counterfeit goods and pirated media
- ✕Fresh fruits and vegetables without phytosanitary certificate
- ✕Lottery tickets from foreign countries
Dominican Republic-Specific Shipping Tips
- 💡 ITBIS (18% VAT equivalent) applies to most commercial imports — factor this into total landed cost
- 💡 Many Dominicans use a US-based freight forwarder (viajero) as an intermediate address — a very common practice for e-commerce
- 💡 Santo Domingo has good express carrier coverage; rural areas may require extra transit time or alternate pickup
- 💡 Declare accurate values — DR customs officials regularly compare declared value to market price
- 💡 For frequent shippers, consider opening a PO Box with a Miami-based freight company specializing in DR shipments
Frequently asked questions
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