Dominica travel guide

Travel Advice

The hurricane season runs from June to November. You should follow and monitor local and international weather updates from the US National Hurricane Center and follow the advice of local authorities, including any evacuation orders. See Extreme weather and natural disasters.

Before you travel 

No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to: 

• see general advice for women travellers
• read our guide on disability and travel abroad
• see general advice for LGBT+ travellers
• read about safety for solo and independent travel
• see advice on volunteering and adventure travel abroad

Travel insurance 

If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency. 

About FCDO travel advice

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice. 

Follow and contact FCDO travel on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. You can also sign up to get email notifications when this advice is updated. 

This information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of Dominica’s current rules for the most common types of travel.

The authorities in Dominica set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Dominica High Commission in the UK. 

COVID-19 rules 

There are no COVID-19 testing or vaccination requirements for travellers entering Dominica. 

Passport validity requirements 

To enter Dominica, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you arrive. 

Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.  

You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen. 

Visa requirements 

You do not need a visa to visit Dominica. The border authorities will grant you a stay of 6 months on arrival. If you want to stay longer, you must arrange and pay for an extension with the Dominica Immigration Division. 

It is illegal to overstay or work without a work permit. 

Checks at border control 

At border control, you may also need to show a return or onward ticket. 

Departure tax 

There is a departure tax of 86 East Caribbean dollars or 33 US dollars. It is usually included in the cost of your plane ticket. You also need to pay departure tax if travelling by ferry. 

Vaccine requirements  

To enter Dominica, you must have a certificate to prove you’ve had a yellow fever vaccination if you’re coming from a country listed as a transmission risk.

For full details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see TravelHealthPro’s Dominica guide. 

Customs rules 

There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of Dominica. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty. 

Taking money into Dominica   

Declare cash or travellers cheques if the value is 10,000 East Caribbean dollars or more. You will get a certified declaration to show you brought it in with you.  

Terrorism  

There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets. Stay aware of your surroundings at all times.        

UK Counter Terrorism Policing has information and advice on staying safe abroad and what to do in the event of a terrorist attack. Find out how to reduce your risk from terrorism while abroad. 

Terrorism in Dominica 

Although there’s no recent history of terrorism in Dominica, attacks cannot be ruled out. 

Crime 

The crime rate in Dominica is low, but you could be at risk walking alone away from the main roads, particularly after dark.

Take precautions to protect your personal safety:  

• make sure your accommodation is secure – this also applies if you’re staying on a yacht  

• take care when walking alone off main roads 

• take particular care around large gatherings, including street and beach parties, especially after dark or during the festival season  

• avoid isolated areas, including beaches, after dark  

• only use licensed taxis  

• do not carry large amounts of cash or jewellery  

• leave valuables and travel documents in your hotel safe or a safety deposit box  

• keep car doors locked when driving and do not stop if pedestrians try to flag down your vehicle

Laws and cultural differences  

Laws on clothing 

It is illegal for anyone, including children, to dress in camouflage clothing.  

Illegal drugs and prison sentences 

There are severe penalties for drug offences. Pack all your luggage yourself and do not carry anything through customs for anyone else. 

LGBT+ travellers 

Attitudes towards the LGBT+ community are mostly conservative throughout the Caribbean. Certain same-sex sexual acts are illegal. LGBT+ travellers should be mindful of local attitudes and be aware that showing affection in public may attract unwanted and negative attention. 

Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers. 

Outdoor activities and adventure tourism  

Swimming safety 

Take care when swimming. Currents can be stronger than they look and not all beaches have lifeguards or warning flags.  

Hiking and mountaineering 

Before hiking to the Boiling Lake, check with guides that it is safe to do so. You can also contact the Office of Disaster Management or see their Facebook updates. 

Transport risks  

Road travel  

If you are planning to drive a hire car or a UK vehicle, see information on driving abroad. You need to arrange car rental ahead of your arrival. 

You must show your UK driving licence to get a temporary Dominican driving licence. Car hire companies will usually help with this.   

The roads on the island are sometimes narrow and in poor condition. Pedestrians often walk on the roads and drivers swerve to avoid potholes or fail to indicate before they pull out. There are few road signs and it’s easy to get lost. If you have an accident, call the police and do not move your vehicle. 

The main highway from Douglas Charles Airport is prone to landslides after bad weather and there are sheer drops where the road has fallen away. Avoid driving on this road at night.  

Taxis and minibuses 

Taxis are not metered, but there are standard fares for most destinations. Registered taxis have a windscreen sticker that reads: ‘Nature Island’s Standard of Excellence’ followed by a number.  

To avoid being overcharged, agree the fare before you set off. You can usually also pay in US dollars.  

You can tell your taxi driver if you want to be driven at slow speeds, but minibuses are likely to drive over the speed limit.  

Extreme weather and natural disasters 

Find out what you can do to prepare for and respond to extreme weather and natural hazards.

Hurricanes  

The hurricane season normally runs from June to November. Tropical storms and hurricanes can develop suddenly and unexpectedly. Monitor the US National Hurricane Center or the World Meteorological Organization for hurricane warnings.  

Check the Government Information Service for local instructions, including any evacuation orders. 

Wildfires 

During especially hot and dry periods a single spark or flame can start a wildfire. Report fires to the emergency services immediately. 

Earthquakes 

Earthquakes are a risk in Dominica and tremors are frequently felt. If there is an earthquake, local authorities should direct you. The US Federal Emergency Management Agency website has advice about what to do before, during and after an earthquake. 

Before you travel check that:

• your destination can provide the healthcare you may need
• you have appropriate travel insurance for local treatment or unexpected medical evacuation

This is particularly important if you have a health condition or are pregnant.

Emergency medical number

Call 999 and ask for an ambulance.

Contact your insurance company quickly if you’re referred to a medical facility for treatment.

Vaccine recommendations and health risks

At least 8 weeks before your trip:

• check the latest vaccine recommendations for Dominica
• where to get vaccines and whether you have to pay on the NHS travel vaccinations page

See what health risks you’ll face in Dominica, including:

• Zika virus
• dengue
• chikungunya

Medication

The legal status and regulation of some medicines prescribed or bought in the UK can be different in other countries. 

Read best practice when travelling with medicines on TravelHealthPro. 

Healthcare in Dominica  

FCDO has a list of medical providers in Dominica.   

There is also guidance on healthcare if you’re living in Dominica.  

The Dominica China Friendship Hospital, the government hospital in Roseau, can cope with many types of treatment, but serious cases may require emergency evacuation. 

Before choosing to be treated at a private facility, you should check the payment policy. Private clinics may ask for payment up front, so insurance documents may not be sufficient.  

Private medical treatment in Dominica can be expensive. Make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad and repatriation. 

Travel and mental health 

Read FCDO guidance on travel and mental health. There is also mental health guidance on TravelHealthPro. 

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) cannot provide tailored advice for individual trips. Read this travel advice and carry out your own research before deciding whether to travel. 

Emergency services in Dominica 

Telephone: 999 (ambulance, fire, police) 

Contact your travel provider and insurer 

Contact your travel provider and your insurer if you are involved in a serious incident or emergency abroad. They will tell you if they can help and what you need to do. 

Refunds and changes to travel 

For refunds or changes to travel, contact your travel provider. You may also be able to make a claim through insurance. However, insurers usually require you to talk to your travel provider first. 

Find out more about changing or cancelling travel plans, including: 

• where to get advice if you are in a dispute with a provider 
• how to access previous versions of travel advice to support a claim 

Support from FCDO 

FCDO has guidance on staying safe and what to do if you need help or support abroad, including: 

• finding lawyers and funeral directors in Dominica 
• dealing with a death in Dominica 
• being arrested or imprisoned in Dominica 
• getting help if you’re a victim of crime  
• what to do if you’re in hospital 
• if you’re affected by a crisis, such as a terrorist attack 

Contacting FCDO 

Follow and contact FCDO travel on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. You can also sign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated. 

You can also contact FCDO online.  

Help abroad in an emergency 

If you’re in Dominica and you need emergency help from the UK government, contact the British High Commission in Bridgetown, Barbados. 

FCDO in London 

You can call FCDO in London if you need urgent help because something has happened to a friend or relative abroad. 

Telephone: 020 7008 5000 (24 hours) 

Find out about call charges