Guide · Money & Travel
The DR Departure Tax, Explained
A plain FAQ on the new US$30 exit tax — separate from the politics of it, just the practical numbers.
Issue #001's Bridge Story covered the politics behind Ley 30-26. This is the shorter, purely practical version: what the departure tax actually costs you, and how it's collected, next time you fly out of DR.
💵 How much is it now
The airport departure tax rose from US$20 to US$30 under Ley 30-26 — a 50% increase on every trip out of the country, on top of anything your airline already charges.
🎫 How it's collected
The law mandates point-of-sale collection, meaning it's meant to be built into your ticket price rather than paid separately at the airport — but watch for how individual airlines actually implement that. It's worth checking your fare breakdown before you assume it's already included.
🧳 Is anyone exempt
Exemptions for departure taxes are typically narrow — diplomatic travel, infants, and transit passengers who never formally enter the country are the usual categories across similar taxes region-wide. Confirm your specific situation with your airline or DGII rather than assuming.
Do this before you book: check your fare breakdown for a separate line item. If the departure tax isn't itemized, it's likely already folded into the ticket price — but confirm rather than assume, especially on budget carriers.
Official source: Ley 30-26's provisions, including the departure-tax increase and the new $10 per-ticket airline fee, are summarized by DR outlets citing the law's official text. For your specific ticket, your airline's fare rules are the most reliable source of what you'll actually pay.
Sources
1. Departure tax increase (US$20 → US$30) and point-of-sale collection mandate — Revista Mercado, June 19, 2026. 2. Additional US$10 per-ticket airline fee under Ley 30-26 — DR1, June 30, 2026.
Criollo News guides are practical explainers, not legal or tax advice — confirm exact charges with your airline or DGII before you travel.