Dominican Driving License: New Format, More Locations & Digital Option
The Dominican Republic’s national transit and transportation authority, the Instituto Nacional de Tránsito y Transporte Terrestre (INTRANT), began issuing a fresh format for driver’s licenses on . The rollout includes an expansion of locations outside the country where Dominicans can apply for the document, incorporating improvements aligned with international standards, according to INTRANT officials.
The agency announced that the new system for issuing licenses will gradually double coverage abroad, expanding from five to ten consulates over the next two months.
In an initial phase, launched today, applications will be accepted at five legations serving the largest Dominican communities in the United States and Spain: Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Boston, and Madrid.
A second phase, scheduled to begin on , will add consulates in New Jersey (USA), Barcelona (Spain), San Juan (Puerto Rico), Brussels (Belgium), and Zurich (Switzerland).
National Expansion
The expansion is part of a series of measures announced by INTRANT to expedite license delivery. This includes increasing the number of regions within the Dominican Republic where residents can renew or apply for a license for the first time, extending the service from 14 provinces to cover the entire country.
As of Monday, the service is available at offices in the Greater Santo Domingo area, Santiago, San Cristóbal, La Vega, San Francisco de Macorís, Higüey, La Romana, Puerto Plata, Nagua, Bonao, San Juan, Barahona, Azua, and Valverde, among other locations.
Over the next 60 days, new offices will be incorporated in provinces including Montecristi, Dajabón, Elías Piña, Santiago Rodríguez, Monte Plata, Independencia, Pedernales, Sánchez Ramírez, San Pedro de Macorís, San José de Ocoa, El Seibo, Salcedo, Samaná, Hato Mayor, and Bahoruco.
The modernization of the driver’s license, which comes after more than two decades without significant changes, will prioritize those with expired licenses. Existing licenses will remain valid until the expiration date printed on the card for all other citizens. However, the service is also available for those who wish to voluntarily switch to the new model.
INTRANT has confirmed that the new license can be requested without any increase in costs, meaning the price of the service will remain the same. Nationally, the fee for a first-time license is 2,500 Dominican pesos, while renewal after four years costs 1,900 pesos.
For Dominicans living abroad, the cost of the service was, as of February 2023, 45 US dollars for renewal and 30 US dollars for a replacement in case of loss.
Enhanced Security Features
The new license incorporates technological and security improvements aligned with international standards, including ISO/IEC 18013-5, which regulates secure and verifiable driver’s licenses.
The new license is made of high-security polycarbonate and personalized using laser engraving. It includes microtext, holograms, invisible inks, and UV printing – elements designed to strengthen protection against counterfeiting.
The model also integrates an advanced biometric system (ABIS) to validate the driver’s identity and consolidates a unique, centralized history with auditable records.
Digitized theoretical and practical exams, with verifiable processes, are also being implemented to reduce discretion in the evaluation process.
A second phase is planned to incorporate a Digital Driving License (MDL), aligned with the international standard ISO/IEC 18013-5.
This report is brought to you by the Dominican community information site.