Surprisingly efficient Dominican process!

ddmcghee Dominican Republic Expert

Member since 15 May 2017

ddmcgheeDominican Republic Expert21 December 2025 17:37:05

1929

I've finally become sufficiently jaded so that nothing here in DR really surprises me! I have to admit, though, that I was pleasantly surprised on Friday with the speed and efficiency of getting an International Health certificate to take our dogs from the DR to Panama. Our vet gathered all the information ahead of time, submitted the forms online to DIGEGA just after 3:00 pm, and arrived at our house for the physical exams and to administer the required antiparasitic a little after 4:00, with the completed and DIGEGA-stamped certificates in his hand! This was so much more efficient than the USDA process we had to go through to bring our dog to DR five years ago. I can only hope the online process for getting the certificates apostilled is just as efficient!

It's nice to know at least one government agency has figured things out nicely! We recently sold our car, and that process was anything but simple! At least it was the buyer's responsibility to jump through most of those hoops!

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planner Dominican Republic Expert

Member since 27 December 2010

Dominican Republic Expert

plannerDominican Republic Expert21 December 2025 21:43:57

17686

Good to hear something works!

ddmcghee Dominican Republic Expert

Member since 15 May 2017

ddmcgheeDominican Republic Expert22 December 2025 22:27:50

1929

Now we are hoping that MIREX is just as efficient in issuing an apostille!

RockyM Serial expat

Member since 22 May 2019

RockyMSerial expat23 December 2025 19:33:53

527

@ddmcghee

They were! We got the apostilles within 24 hours. Yay!

planner Dominican Republic Expert

Member since 27 December 2010

Dominican Republic Expert

plannerDominican Republic Expert23 December 2025 22:55:57

17686

Wow!

ddmcghee Dominican Republic Expert

Member since 15 May 2017

ddmcgheeDominican Republic Expert24 December 2025 11:25:12

1929

@planner

We were shocked! We almost changed our flight out to allow more time for the apostilles. I submitted them online at about 3:30 Monday afternoon, and they had approved them, sent me an invoice to pay the 620 pesos per document online, and produced the final documents all by 9:15 yesterday morning!

planner Dominican Republic Expert

Member since 27 December 2010

Dominican Republic Expert

plannerDominican Republic Expert24 December 2025 14:48:26

17686

Wow, seriously unusual!!!!

Pbriscoe Member

Member since 07 September 2017

PbriscoeMember05 January 2026 13:00:38

Could you provide the website links for the forms for DIGEGA and MIREX?

I am confused about the process you described. Someone came to your house to administer the required antiparasitic. Your vet did not do this? Do you live in Santo Domingo?

I am curious because I want to take my dog with me to Central America, but I am unsure of the process and documentation.

Thanks.

ddmcghee Dominican Republic Expert

Member since 15 May 2017

ddmcgheeDominican Republic Expert08 January 2026 21:59:25

1929

Our vet came to our house. He already had the vaccine records for all three of our dogs, so he had completed the International Health certificate online and submitted it to DIGEGA for their endorsement before coming to the house. Once we had those, we scanned them and submitted them through the online portal at MIREX. Once the document has been reviewed, MIREX will send you an email asking you to pay for the apostille. Once paid, you'll get another email with a link to download your apostilled documents.

We were in Las Terrenas.