International · DO

How to Ship to the Dominican Republic from the US

The Dominican Republic gets a lot of parcels from the US. A large Dominican-American community sends gifts and household goods home, and online shoppers buy from US stores. You can send a package by USPS or by an express courier (DHL, FedEx or UPS). For big boxes and barrels, people use Caribbean cargo forwarders.

Thanks to the CAFTA-DR trade deal, most US-made goods pay no import duty. But the recipient usually pays ITBIS, the Dominican sales tax of 18% on most goods. Luxury items such as perfume, jewelry and alcohol pay an extra tax. Below are USPS's real prices, the tax rules and the items USPS won't carry.

Typical 1 lb cost

$34.25–$65.05 by USPS (retail, July 2026)

Typical transit

USPS quotes 6–10 business days for Priority Mail International to major markets; express couriers take a few business days

Carrier Options to Dominican Republic

USPS First-Class Package International

Cheapest USPS option for small parcels: $21.40 for 8 oz and $34.25 for 1 lb at the Post Office (July 2026). Up to 4 lb.

USPS Priority Mail International

$65.05 for 1 lb and $88.60 for 5 lb at retail; up to 44 lb. USPS does not offer insurance on it to the Dominican Republic.

USPS Priority Mail Express International

$91.35 for 1 lb at retail; up to 66 lb. Delivered by the Dominican postal service under the EMS name.

DHL, FedEx or UPS

Express couriers that clear customs for you and deliver door to door. Priced per shipment by size, weight and service — get a quote.

Caribbean cargo forwarders

Used for barrels, big boxes and furniture. Priced per box or barrel, usually by ocean.

Customs Forms Required

Every parcel needs a customs form; it prints with the label when you buy postage online. List each item, its value and its country of origin. Priority Mail International uses PS Form 2976-A; First-Class Package International uses PS Form 2976.

Commonly Prohibited Items

✕By USPS: coins, banknotes, gold, silver, platinum, precious stones, jewelry and other valuables
✕By USPS: daggers, stilettos and sticks or fans with hidden blades or guns
✕By USPS: roulette wheels and other gambling devices
✕By USPS: books addressed to bookshops in care of a bank
✕Used clothing — Dominican rules ban it (US trade guide), though the rule is often not enforced
✕Firearms, drugs and counterfeit goods
✕Food and agricultural products without the required Dominican import permits

Dominican Republic-Specific Shipping Tips

💡 Light parcels are far cheaper by First-Class Package International ($34.25 for 1 lb) than by Priority Mail International ($65.05)
💡 Most US-made goods are duty-free under CAFTA-DR, but expect 18% ITBIS on most items
💡 Perfume, jewelry, alcohol and tobacco pay an extra luxury tax of 15–60%
💡 USPS has no insurance on Priority Mail International here. Use a courier for valuable items
💡 Add the sector (neighborhood) and a phone number to the address. It helps the carrier find the home

How Much Does It Cost to Ship to the Dominican Republic?

USPS set these prices on July 12, 2026. They are Post Office (retail) prices; postage bought online costs a little less. USPS's October 2026 holiday price change did not change international prices.

First-Class Package International (up to 4 lb, up to $400 in value): $21.40 for 8 oz, $34.25 for 1 lb, $38.30 for 2 lb, $56.95 for 3 lb and $69.85 for 4 lb. Online: $32.56 for 1 lb.
Priority Mail International (up to 44 lb): $65.05 for 1 lb, $69.50 for 2 lb, $88.60 for 5 lb, $130.40 for 10 lb and $204.75 for 20 lb. Online: $62.96 for 1 lb.
Priority Mail Express International (up to 66 lb): $90.60 for 0.5 lb, $91.35 for 1 lb, $96.35 for 2 lb and $117.25 for 5 lb.
Couriers (DHL, FedEx, UPS) and cargo forwarders: priced per shipment, box or barrel — get a quote.

💡 Up to about 3 lb, First-Class Package International is usually the cheapest tracked way to send a small parcel. Above 4 lb it is no longer available, so compare Priority Mail International with a courier quote.

Duty and ITBIS: What the Recipient Pays

Taxes are charged on the CIF value. That is the price of the goods plus shipping and insurance, in pesos. The US government's trade guide (February 2026) lists import duty and a luxury tax. Under CAFTA-DR, most US-made goods now pay no duty. ITBIS is charged on top at customs.

Import duty (arancel): 0% for most US-made goods under CAFTA-DR. Goods made elsewhere can still pay duty, up to 99% for a few products.
ITBIS (sales tax): 18% for most goods and 16% for a few foods, according to the Dominican tax agency (DGII). It is charged at customs, on the customs value plus any duty.
Luxury tax (Impuesto Selectivo al Consumo): 15–60% on goods such as vehicles, perfume, alcohol, jewelry and tobacco. CAFTA-DR does not remove it.
Small personal courier shipments can be tax-free, but the rules have changed. Check the current limit with your courier.

What USPS Won't Carry to the Dominican Republic

USPS's rules for the Dominican Republic ban coins, banknotes, gold, silver, platinum, gems, jewelry and other valuables. They also ban daggers, sticks or fans with hidden blades or guns, and gambling devices such as roulette wheels. Books sent to bookshops in care of a bank are banned too.

Two more limits catch people out. USPS offers no insurance on Priority Mail International to the Dominican Republic. If a parcel is lost, you can't claim its value. And Dominican import rules ban used clothing. The US trade guide says the rule is often overlooked, but customs can still apply it.

USPS, Courier or Cargo Forwarder?

A small gift or online order under 4 lb: USPS First-Class Package International is the cheapest tracked option.
A parcel from 4 lb up to 44 lb: compare USPS Priority Mail International with a courier quote. Remember USPS offers no insurance on it to the Dominican Republic.
Something valuable or urgent: use DHL, FedEx or UPS. They deliver door to door and clear customs for you.
Barrels, big boxes and furniture: use a Caribbean cargo forwarder, usually by sea. Ask how they handle customs in the Dominican Republic.

How to Address a Package to the Dominican Republic

Many Dominican addresses rely on the sector (neighborhood) rather than a street number alone. Write the address in this order:

Recipient's full name and phone number.
Street and house or building number (and apartment, if any).
Sector or neighborhood.
City or municipality, province and postal code (if known).
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC.

ℹ️ If the street has no numbers, add a landmark, such as 'frente al parque'. It helps the local carrier find the home.

Frequently asked questions

Can you ship items from the US to the Dominican Republic?

Yes. USPS, DHL, FedEx and UPS all deliver there, and cargo forwarders handle barrels and large boxes. USPS won't carry cash, jewelry, gold or other valuables, and Dominican rules ban imports of used clothing.

How much does it cost to ship a package to the Dominican Republic?

USPS retail prices from July 12, 2026: First-Class Package International costs $21.40 for 8 oz or $34.25 for 1 lb. Priority Mail International costs $65.05 for 1 lb or $88.60 for 5 lb. Express couriers price each shipment separately.

What taxes will the recipient pay?

Most US-made goods are duty-free under CAFTA-DR. The recipient usually pays ITBIS, the Dominican sales tax. It is 18% on most goods and 16% on a few foods. It is paid at customs, on the goods' value plus any duty. Luxury goods such as perfume, jewelry, alcohol and tobacco also pay a 15–60% luxury tax.

Can I send a package to the Dominican Republic through FedEx?

Yes. FedEx, DHL and UPS all serve the Dominican Republic with express services that include customs clearance. They cost more than USPS. But they are faster, easier to track and better for valuable items.

Can I ship a barrel to the Dominican Republic?

Barrels and large boxes usually go by sea through Caribbean cargo forwarders, not by USPS or a courier. Pack new goods, or check the rules first. Dominican import rules ban used clothing, though the rule is often overlooked.

Is there a tax-free limit for online purchases?

Small personal courier shipments can be free of duty and tax under Dominican customs rules. But the limit has changed over the years and has been argued in court. Ask your courier for the current limit before you count on it.

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