Why airlines still charge Dominican citizens the tourist card fee?
Santo Domingo.- The recent announcement by the Ministry of Finance and Economy of a US$10 increase in the departure tax for Dominican citizens, residents, and foreign travelers has renewed public debate over the continued automatic charging of the US$10 tourist card fee, despite a legal ruling ordering its elimination for Dominican nationals.
Although Resolution 217-2022 established that Dominicans should no longer pay for the tourist card, the charge is still automatically applied to airline tickets due to technical limitations in airline billing systems. As a result, affected travelers must request a refund through the General Directorate of Internal Taxes (DGII).
The issue stems from a complex legal process involving court rulings and delayed implementation. In 2023, several airlines—including JetBlue, Copa Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, Air France, and others—challenged the measure before the Superior Administrative Court, but their appeal was rejected. That same year, citizens also filed a constitutional challenge against DGII refund regulations related to the tourist card.
The Constitutional Court ruled that Dominicans cannot be considered tourists in their own country and therefore should not be charged the fee. However, it suspended the immediate effects of its decision, allowing state institutions time to adjust tax and billing systems.
The Civil Aviation Board (JAC) has stated that full implementation depends on coordination between the National Congress and the DGII, since Constitutional Court rulings take precedence over administrative regulations.
Although the ruling was issued in December 2023, its implementation period began on May 18, 2026, after official notification to tax and judicial authorities. From that date, the government has a two-year window to develop a system that prevents automatic collection of the tourist card fee from Dominican citizens, while Congress is expected to introduce the necessary legal reforms.
During this transition period, the current “pay first, refund later” system will remain in place. The court acknowledged that airlines cannot reliably determine passenger nationality at the time of ticket purchase, making automatic exemption technically unfeasible without disrupting airline systems.
The discussion has gained renewed relevance following the government’s broader fiscal measures, including a US$10 increase in the departure tax as part of an anti-crisis economic plan. According to Finance Minister Magín Díaz, the adjustment is expected to generate between RD$7 and RD$8 billion within a wider revenue strategy.
While the new departure tax applies to all passengers, Dominican citizens retain the right to claim reimbursement of the tourist card fee until the legal and technical framework is fully updated.
