Narayan AmmachchiThe Dominican Republic is set to roll out electronic passports as part of efforts to strengthen border security and address the rising number of undocumented immigrants.
The new e-passports will feature embedded chips storing biometric data, including fingerprints and facial recognition, significantly reducing the risk of document fraud.
Additionally, advanced security measures — such as holograms, watermarks, and high-quality printing techniques — will make these passports highly resistant to counterfeiting and tampering, offering greater protection than traditional paper-based documents.
The government has partnered with private firms to develop and produce the e-passports under a payment-per-passport model, ensuring no direct financial burden on taxpayers.
According to local reports, work on the e-passport system commenced in 2021, followed by official decrees in 2022 and 2023. By mid-2024, the government had finalized contracts for infrastructure, design, and maintenance, paving the way for the nationwide implementation of the system.
This transition is expected to enhance border control, simplify travel for Dominican citizens, and align the country with international best practices in identity verification. As of 2025, over 140 nations have adopted e-passports, underscoring a global shift toward secure and technologically advanced travel documentation.
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