Skip to content

Live bookings open November 1, 2026. Get your exact price today, and we'll email you when you can book. Get my price

ONVOYO

Shipping boxes to and from the Dominican Republic

Families send boxes to the Dominican Republic every day, and small shipments get a real break: an express shipment worth up to USD 200, counting shipping, pays no duty or ITBIS, just a small per-kilo customs fee. Above that, expect duty of 0-20% by item plus 18% ITBIS. The receiver should be registered with customs (the RUA) using their cédula or passport. Dominicans moving home after two years abroad can bring their household goods in duty free, once.

Typical transit
2-5 business days from North America; 4-7 from Europe; 5-8 from Asia
Currency
DOP
Duty-free up to
Express shipments worth up to USD 200 (about DOP 11,900), counting the goods plus shipping and insurance (CIF), pay no duty or ITBIS
Receiver ID
Cédula, passport, or RNC, with RUA registration

Price a shipment to the Dominican Republic

Box size

Choose where it's from and where it's going.

What it costs to ship boxes from the US to the Dominican Republic

  • 1 medium box (16 × 16 × 16 in, 20 lb)$135.84delivered in 2 to 5 business days
  • 5 medium boxes (30 lb each)$679.19 totalabout $135.84 a box

Includes pickup at your door, express delivery, fuel and prepared customs paperwork. Import duties and taxes, if any, are set by the Dominican Republic and paid by the receiver. Prices updated November 2, 2026.

Get my exact price

Sending to the Dominican Republic

Duties and taxes1246712

Duty-free threshold
Express shipments worth up to USD 200 (about DOP 11,900), counting the goods plus shipping and insurance (CIF), pay no duty or ITBIS. That includes personal effects and unsolicited gifts, not just purchases. Customs charges only a fee of USD 0.25 per kilogram. The limit applies to the whole shipment, and customs can add together similar goods sent to the same person. DGA's FAQ still describes the limit as FOB (goods only), but the 2022 customs regulation uses CIF, so keep goods plus shipping within USD 200 to be safe.
Import tax
ITBIS (Impuesto sobre Transferencias de Bienes Industrializados y Servicios) at 18%, paid together with the customs duty and charged on the CIF value plus duty and any other import taxes. Duty is 0%, 3%, 8%, 14%, or 20% of the CIF value depending on the item; some farm products have separate rates. Books and most medicines are exempt from ITBIS.
How value is worked out
CIF: duty is charged on the value of the goods plus freight and insurance, and ITBIS on that CIF value plus duty. The courier thresholds (USD 200 and USD 2,000) are also CIF values under the 2022 customs regulation. Values are converted to pesos at the official exchange rate on the day the goods are declared. The Banco Central's rate on September 25, 2026 was about DOP 59.6 per USD. Declare a realistic second-hand value for used goods: customs can hold a low-value package when it has reasonable doubts about the declared value.
Who pays
Shipments are sent DAP. The receiver pays any duties and taxes before or on delivery. The courier may add a clearance or disbursement fee.
Moving there?
Under Law 146-00 (article 13), Dominicans who have lived abroad for 2 consecutive years and return to live in the country for good, and foreigners coming to live here permanently, can import their personal and household effects free of duty, once only. Dominican students returning after more than 2 years of study abroad also qualify, and returning students' books for personal use are duty free. These imports are free of ITBIS too. You apply in person, by appointment, at DGA's exemptions department, with your passport, proof of residence abroad, and the bill of lading in your name.

Worked example

Illustrative: a box of used kitchenware and small appliances worth USD 450, with USD 50 of shipping and insurance, so a CIF value of USD 500 (about DOP 29,800). Assumes the items fall in the 20% duty band and no free-trade rate is claimed.

Duty: 20% x USD 500 = USD 100. ITBIS: 18% x (USD 500 + USD 100) = USD 108. Total USD 208.

About USD 208 (about DOP 12,400), plus any courier fee. If the goods plus shipping came to USD 200 or less, only the USD 0.25 per kilogram customs fee would apply.

How customs clearance works in the Dominican Republic23

Express carriers send DGA an electronic manifest before the flight lands, and each shipment is sorted by CIF value. Up to USD 200, the manifest serves as the customs declaration and only the per-kilo fee is due. From USD 200 to USD 2,000, the courier files a simplified declaration, pays the duty and ITBIS, and bills the receiver.

Formal entry
Above USD 2,000 CIF (about DOP 119,300), or for goods that need a permit or a free-trade certificate of origin, the shipment goes through normal customs clearance with a full declaration. The receiver can handle it directly, use a customs broker (agente de aduanas), or let the courier do it.
How long it takes
The regulation sets a target of 6 hours from presentation to release for shipments up to USD 2,000, when the manifest is on time, no inspection is needed, and taxes are paid. In practice, allow 1-3 business days. Permits or inspections add time.
Inspections
DGA's risk system screens every manifest and picks shipments for physical or document checks, alongside random checks. Low-value packages can be held for a missing or false invoice, doubtful values, no RUA registration, goods that need a permit, split shipments or commercial quantities, or suspected counterfeits.
If duties go unpaid
If the courier doesn't file a simplified declaration within 5 business days, the shipment moves to the general procedure. Goods with no customs destination requested within 30 days of arrival are legally abandoned and auctioned. The owner can reclaim them up to 24 hours before the sale by paying the duty, taxes, fines, and other charges. Banned or unusable goods are destroyed.

Moving to the Dominican Republic: claiming duty relief4579

  1. 01

    Check you qualify

    Dominicans who lived abroad for 2 consecutive years and are coming home for good, Dominican students back after more than 2 years of study abroad (with their diploma or certificate), or foreigners who have obtained Dominican residence. The exemption is granted only once.

  2. 02

    Get proof of your time abroad

    Bring your residence document from the country you lived in, or your naturalization certificate, with a copy. Dominican consulates also issue a certificate for Laws 168 and 146-00 confirming at least 2 years abroad.

  3. 03

    Ship in your name

    The bill of lading must be in the owner's name. Bring only household goods that match your home's needs, and get DGA's guidance before you ship.

  4. 04

    Prepare the paperwork

    Fill in DGA's household goods declaration form and make three copies. Add your valid passport with copies of every page, the tax assessment sheet for the shipment, the application-fee receipt, and a recent marriage or divorce certificate if it applies.

  5. 05

    Apply in person

    Book an appointment with DGA's exemptions department and apply in person. Approved goods clear free of duty and ITBIS.

Documents to have ready125910

  • Receiver's cédula, passport, or RNC number, which must appear on the courier label
  • Receiver's RUA registration with DGA, done online with the same ID before the boxes arrive
  • Itemized packing list with a fair value for each item, marked as used personal effects or gifts, plus store invoices for anything bought online
  • For the returning-resident exemption: DGA's household goods declaration form, passport with copies of every page, residence document from abroad (or naturalization certificate), the original bill of lading in your name, and a recent marriage or divorce certificate if it applies
  • Consular certificate for Laws 168 and 146-00, confirming at least 2 years abroad, from a Dominican consulate
  • For medicines: the prescription, plus a Ministry of Public Health import authorization where needed

Cédula, passport, or RNC, with RUA registration: Courier labels must show the receiver's cédula, passport, or RNC (for companies). DGA also requires everyone who uses courier services to be registered in its courier user registry, the RUA. There's no separate number: the ID itself is the registration, and signing up is free and online. Missing RUA registration is one of the listed reasons customs can hold a low-value package, so register before you ship. We ask for it during booking.

Onvoyo prepares the commercial invoice from your contents list. You print three copies, sign them, and send them with your boxes.

Official forms15910

What you can pack, category by category24710

What you can pack, by category
CategoryStatusWhat to know
Clothing and shoesMore on clothesAllowedUsed clothing for personal use is fine. It counts toward the USD 200 limit for the whole shipment.
Books and papersMore on booksAllowedBooks are fine and exempt from ITBIS. Returning students' books for personal use are also duty free.
ElectronicsMore on electronicsConditionsPersonal quantities only, with batteries installed. Several similar new items can look commercial.
MedicationMore on medicineConditionsMay need a Ministry of Public Health import authorization through VUCE; controlled medicines need a separate permit. Include the prescription.
FoodMore on foodConditionsMeat, dairy, and plant products need an import authorization through VUCE. Send only sealed, shelf-stable, commercially packed food, or leave it out.
Cosmetics and toiletriesMore on cosmeticsConditionsPersonal quantities only. No aerosols or nail polish. Larger imports need a health ministry authorization.
Alcohol and tobaccoMore on alcohol or tobaccoNot allowedCouriers generally refuse alcohol and tobacco in personal boxes. Where carried, small personal amounts clear only after paying duty and taxes.
Sports and outdoor gearMore on sports and outdoor gearConditionsClean gear is fine. No fuel canisters, flares, or pepper spray.
Children's items and toysMore on toys and baby gearAllowedUsed toys are fine. Remove loose batteries. Many identical new toys may look commercial.
Documents and photosMore on documents and photosAllowedPersonal papers and photos are fine. Documents with no commercial value clear without duty.
OtherConditionsPlants, seeds, animal products, exotic skins, and wildlife items need an import authorization through VUCE. Declare them clearly or leave them out.

Quantity limits1238

Quantity limits for Dominican Republic
ItemLimit
Personal shipmentsExpress shipments up to USD 200 CIF (about DOP 11,900): no duty or ITBIS, only a customs fee of USD 0.25 (about DOP 15) per kilogram.
Alcohol and tobacco by courierUp to 5 liters of drinks or 20 packs of 10 cigarettes per import, for personal use, can clear without a license, but duty and taxes apply. Couriers often refuse them.
Gifts (travelers only)Gifts worth up to USD 500 (about DOP 29,800) in total, once every 3 months. Does not apply to shipments.
Alcohol and tobacco (travelers only)For adults: 5 liters of alcoholic drinks, plus 20 packs of cigarettes, 25 cigars, or 200 g of tobacco. Does not apply to shipments.
Christmas gifts (travelers only)Each year from December 1 to January 7, Dominicans who have been away for at least 6 consecutive months can bring gifts tax-free up to a value DGA sets each year. Does not apply to shipments.
CashDeclare more than USD 10,000 (about DOP 596,000) in cash or bearer instruments when entering or leaving. Sending more than that by mail or courier without declaring it counts as smuggling.
Medicines (travelers)Travelers may carry personal medicines; for controlled or psychotropic ones, carry the prescription covering your stay. Shipped medicines may need a health ministry authorization.

What you can't send to the Dominican Republic234810

Not allowed

  • Aerosols, spray cans, and compressed gas cylinders
  • Flammable liquids and solids: fuel, lighter fluid, paint, nail polish, matches
  • Loose or spare lithium batteries and power banks not installed in a device
  • Cash, gift cards, checks, and other negotiable items
  • Firearms, ammunition, replicas, and weapon parts
  • Perishable food, and meat, dairy, or fresh produce
  • Cannabis, CBD, and THC products, even where they are legal at origin
  • Narcotics and psychotropic substances
  • Toxic or polluting substances
  • Counterfeit or pirated goods, which customs holds as suspected infringements

Allowed with conditions

Shipments over USD 200 CIF
Pay duty (0-20% by item) plus 18% ITBIS. From USD 200 to USD 2,000 (about DOP 119,300), the courier clears them on a simplified declaration. Above USD 2,000 they go through normal customs clearance.
Several boxes or repeat shipments to one receiver
The USD 200 limit covers the whole shipment, not each box. Customs can add together identical or similar goods sent to the same receiver, and commercial quantities lose the exemption.
Medicines
Medicines for your own treatment may need a Ministry of Public Health import authorization, requested through the VUCE single window. Controlled medicines need a separate permit. Packages that need a permit are held until it is shown.
Meat, dairy, and plant products
Need an import authorization from the agriculture or health authorities through VUCE. Without it, customs holds the package. Couriers refuse perishable food anyway.
Live animals, exotic skins, and wildlife products
Need an import authorization from the Ministry of Agriculture or the Ministry of Environment, including a CITES permit for protected species.
Alcohol and tobacco
By courier, up to 5 liters of drinks or 20 packs of 10 cigarettes per import, for personal use, can clear without a license, after paying duty and taxes under the normal clearance procedure. Couriers often refuse them.
Goods claiming a free-trade duty rate
Need a certificate of origin, and the shipment then goes through normal customs clearance instead of the simplified courier process.

Sending from the Dominican Republic

Shipping boxes out of the Dominican Republic2311

Sending your own belongings out of the Dominican Republic by express courier is simple. The courier sends customs an electronic manifest, and shipments up to USD 2,000 leave on a simplified export declaration it files for you. Cultural heritage items are the main things that can't leave.

Documents

  • Sender's cédula or passport, if the courier asks for it
  • Itemized packing list with fair values, marked as used personal effects or gifts
  • For shipments over USD 2,000: a separate export declaration under the normal procedure
  • Consent from the heritage authorities for any heritage item leaving temporarily for an exhibition or study

Can't leave the country

  • Items of the national cultural heritage, even privately owned, can leave only temporarily, for exhibition or study, with official consent. That includes pre-Columbian archaeological objects and historic art of museum value.
  • Digging for archaeological objects is banned without authorization, and finds must be reported
  • Travelers must declare more than USD 10,000 in cash on leaving, and sending more than that by mail or courier without declaring it counts as smuggling. Couriers won't carry cash.
  • Shipments over USD 2,000 follow the normal export procedure

Before pickup

  • Buying crafts or art to send home? Keep the shop receipt showing it's a modern piece.
  • Don't pack anything that looks archaeological unless you can prove it's a replica.
  • Check the destination's rules before you pack food, plants, or medicines.
  • Describe contents clearly. Vague lists slow checks at both ends.

Addresses, delivery and timing

Writing the address

Write the street and house number, then the sector (neighborhood), then the city or municipality and the province. Add a landmark if the house has no number, and always include a local phone number.

María ExampleCalle Las Flores No. 25, Apto. 3BSector Los JardinesSanto Domingo, Distrito NacionalDominican RepublicTel: +1 809 555 0123

Example only; not a real address.

Delivery coverage

Fastest to: Santo Domingo, Santiago de los Caballeros, Punta Cana, La Romana, San Pedro de Macorís, Puerto Plata, La Vega, San Francisco de Macorís.

Remote areas: Rural areas and smaller towns, especially in the southwest near the Haitian border and in the central mountains, can take 1-3 extra days.

Deliveries in Santo Domingo and Santiago are usually quick. A clear landmark and a phone number help drivers find homes without street numbers.

When things slow down

Expect slowdowns from December through mid-January, when family shipments and holiday travel peak, and around Semana Santa (Holy Week) and Independence Day on February 27. Hurricane season (June to November) can delay flights.

Advice for your situation

Students

Students heading abroad can send clothes and books out easily. Dominican students returning after more than 2 years of study abroad can qualify for the household goods exemption with their diploma or certificate, and their books for personal use come in duty free.

Returning home

If you lived abroad for 2 consecutive years and are coming home for good, Law 146-00 covers your personal and household goods, free of duty and ITBIS, once. Get your consulate's certificate, ship in your own name, and book an appointment with DGA. A few boxes worth up to USD 200 in total are simpler still.

Expats and relocations

Foreigners who have obtained Dominican residence, retirees included, can apply for the same one-time household goods exemption. For everyday boxes, register in the RUA with your passport or cédula before anything arrives.

Tips for a smooth delivery

  • Register the receiver in the RUA before you ship. It's free, online, and takes a cédula, passport, or RNC.
  • If you honestly can, keep the whole shipment, shipping included, within USD 200. Then only the per-kilo fee applies.
  • Put the receiver's cédula or passport number and phone number on the paperwork.
  • List every item with a realistic second-hand value. Missing or doubtful values are a common reason for holds.
  • Moving home for good? Get your consulate's certificate for Laws 168 and 146-00, ship in your own name, and talk to DGA before the boxes leave.
  • Leave out food, plants, and medicines unless you have the permit. Packages that need one wait until it's shown.

Shipping to and from the Dominican Republic: questions

Is there a tax-free limit for packages to the Dominican Republic in 2026?

Yes. Express shipments worth up to USD 200, counting shipping and insurance, pay no duty or ITBIS, only a customs fee of USD 0.25 per kilogram. It covers personal effects and gifts as well as purchases, and the limit applies to the whole shipment.

How much will the receiver pay above USD 200?

Duty of 0% to 20% of the CIF value depending on the item, plus 18% ITBIS on the CIF value and duty. For example, a shipment with a CIF value of USD 500 in the 20% band would owe about USD 208. Shipments up to USD 2,000 clear on a simplified courier declaration.

Does the receiver need to register with customs?

Yes. DGA requires courier users to register in its RUA using their cédula, passport, or RNC, and the courier label must show that ID. Registration is free and online. Low-value packages for unregistered receivers can be held.

Are barrels (barriles) treated like courier boxes?

No. The USD 200 rule belongs to the express courier regime, which covers air shipments by licensed express companies. Barrels and boxes sent by sea through shipping agencies clear as ordinary cargo at the port, so ask the agency how it clears and charges them.

What can Dominicans moving home bring duty free?

If you lived abroad for 2 consecutive years and are returning for good, Law 146-00 lets you bring your personal and household effects free of duty and ITBIS, once. Apply in person at DGA with your passport, proof of residence abroad, and the shipping document in your name.

Can I send medicine to the Dominican Republic?

Medicines for your own treatment may need a Ministry of Public Health import authorization, requested through the VUCE single window, and controlled medicines need a separate permit. Include the prescription. Without a required permit, customs holds the package.

How do I ship boxes from the Dominican Republic to another country?

Book an express courier and list every item with a fair value. Shipments up to USD 2,000 leave on a simplified export declaration that the courier files. The receiver pays any import charges at the other end.

What can't I send out of the Dominican Republic?

Cultural heritage items, such as pre-Columbian archaeological objects and historic art of museum value, can't leave except temporarily with official consent, even if privately owned. Couriers also refuse cash, loose batteries, aerosols, and weapons.

Official help in the Dominican Republic

Official sources

Every section above is checked against these official pages. Rules change, and customs in the Dominican Republic makes the final decision on every shipment. This guide is general information, not legal advice.

  1. 1.

    Dirección General de Aduanas (DGA)

    Preguntas frecuentes (opens in a new tab)

    Customs · checked September 26, 2026

  2. 2.

    Dirección General de Aduanas (DGA)

    Decreto núm. 755-22, Reglamento de aplicación de la Ley núm. 168-21 de Aduanas (opens in a new tab)

    Legislation · checked September 26, 2026

  3. 3.

    Dirección General de Aduanas (DGA)

    Ley núm. 168-21 de Aduanas de la República Dominicana (opens in a new tab)

    Legislation · checked September 26, 2026

  4. 4.

    Dirección General de Aduanas (DGA)

    Ley No. 146-00 de Reforma Arancelaria (opens in a new tab)

    Legislation · checked September 26, 2026

  5. 5.

    Dirección General de Aduanas (DGA)

    Requisitos para los beneficios de exoneración de ajuares del hogar y efectos personales (opens in a new tab)

    Customs · checked September 26, 2026

  6. 6.

    Dirección General de Impuestos Internos (DGII)

    ITBIS (opens in a new tab)

    Tax authority · checked September 26, 2026

  7. 7.

    Dirección General de Impuestos Internos (DGII)

    Título III del Impuesto sobre Transferencias de Bienes Industrializados y Servicios (Código Tributario, Ley 11-92) (opens in a new tab)

    Legislation · checked September 26, 2026

  8. 8.

    Dirección General de Aduanas (DGA)

    Manual del Viajero (opens in a new tab)

    Customs · checked September 26, 2026

  9. 9.

    Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores (MIREX), Portal Único de Servicios

    Certificaciones (opens in a new tab)

    Government · checked September 26, 2026

  10. 10.

    Ventanilla Única de Comercio Exterior (VUCE RD)

    Conoce los permisos y leyes que los sustentan (opens in a new tab)

    Government · checked September 26, 2026

  11. 11.

    Ministerio de Cultura

    Ley No. 318 sobre el Patrimonio Cultural de la Nación (opens in a new tab)

    Legislation · checked September 26, 2026

  12. 12.

    Banco Central de la República Dominicana

    Banco Central de la República Dominicana (tipo de cambio) (opens in a new tab)

    Government · checked September 26, 2026

What would your boxes to the Dominican Republic cost?

Get my price