What exactly is the new passport?
It’s a biometric passportwith a electronic chip integrated that stores information of the owner (personal and biometric data) and that allows its automatic verification in modern migration systems.
It is aligned with the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and connected to Global Validation System of Passports, allowing other countries to confirm in seconds whether the document is authentic.
In practical terms: less manual inspectionfurther digital validation and less scope for counterfeiting.
When does it start to be applied?
The process has three moments clue:
- January 15: opens dating systemaccording to the expiration date of the current passport.
- February 19: starts the biometric data capture for the new documents.
- March–April: gradual expansion from the service outside Santo Domingo towards the Northern region and the Eastern region.
It is not a immediate change nor obligatory for everyone at the same time. They are prioritized:
- Expired or expiring passports in next six months.
- First time requests.
How much does it cost and what changes in the price?
The new electronic passport It costs RD$6,700 and is valid for 10 years for adults and 5 years for minors.
This implies an increase of RD$1,050 compared to the previous VIP rate to 10 years; but an increase of 5,050 pesos on the normal value and 4,100 on the VIP rate.
The increase is not linked only to the physical document, but to the technological infrastructurethe international interoperability and the new services associates.
Will both passports coexist?
Yes. For an indefinite period:
- He mechanical passport It will remain valid until expiration.
- He electronic passport It will be imposed progressively.
- There is no obligation to change it immediately if the passport current is still valid.
That new services includes?
There are two changes relevant:
Repatriation in case of death abroad:
- Coverage of up to US$9,000 for the transfer of the body to the country.
Optional courier service:
- To receive the passport without going physically to the headquarters.
- These services did not exist integrated into the previous document.
What does it mean for the diaspora and the trips?
For the Dominicans who travel or reside out:
- Elderly international recognition of the document.
- Less risk of questions immigration controls.
- Automatic verification of authenticity in compatible airports.
For the consulates and embassiesimplies training and systems adaptation, which is part of the first phase of the plan.
What changes in terms of security?
He new passport incorporates more than 130 measurements of securityamong them:
- invisible inks
- Microtexts
- Optically variable images
- Chip with biometric data
This not only makes counterfeiting more difficult, but also makes it possible to detect altered documents automatically in border controls.
