Canadian Medical Travel Coordination
Quick Facts
Last updated: June 2026
Visa for Canadians
Not required for tourism stays of up to 30 days. A passport valid for the duration of the stay is sufficient through to December 31, 2026. Stays can be extended up to 120 days through the Dominican migration authority. See the official Government of Canada entry requirements
E-Ticket migration form
A free electronic E-Ticket must be completed online before each entry and again before exit. Official E-Ticket portal
Official language and hospital languages
Spanish is the official language. Private hospitals with international patient units operate in English.
Currency
Dominican peso, code DOP. Major credit cards and United States dollars are accepted at private hospitals and large hotels in Santo Domingo.
Last updated: June 2026
Flights from Canada to the Dominican Republic
The main hospital city is Santo Domingo, served by Las Américas International Airport (SDQ). Direct service from Eastern Canada is operated year-round by Arajet.
from Toronto (YYZ)
to Santo Domingo (SDQ)
Direct: Yes
Flight time: About 4.5 to 5 hours
Round-trip: Off-peak CAD 300 to 550 / peak CAD 550 to 900
from Vancouver (YVR)
to Santo Domingo (SDQ)
Direct: No, one or more stops
Flight time: 11 to 16 hours total
Round-trip: Off-peak CAD 700 to 1,050 / peak CAD 1,000 to 1,500
from Calgary (YYC)
to Santo Domingo (SDQ)
Direct: No, one or more stops
Flight time: 12 to 18 hours total
Round-trip: Off-peak CAD 750 to 1,100 / peak CAD 1,050 to 1,550
from Montreal (YUL)
to Santo Domingo (SDQ)
Direct: Yes
Flight time: About 4.5 to 5 hours
Round-trip: Off-peak CAD 350 to 600 / peak CAD 600 to 950
Fares are indicative and shift with season and booking lead time. The lowest fares from Eastern Canada generally appear in May, September, and early October, outside the school holiday and dry-season peaks.
Where to Stay
International patients in Santo Domingo most often stay in Piantini, Naco, Gazcue, or the Colonial Zone. These districts are close to the main private hospitals, are well-served by hotel inventory, and feel safer at night than outlying neighbourhoods. The dry season from December through April brings lower humidity and no Atlantic hurricane activity, which is the most comfortable window for recovery. The wet season from June through November is hotter and more humid, and the Atlantic hurricane window runs through to the end of November.
3-star hotels
Average nightly
CAD 95 to 110
Per week, 7 nights
CAD 665 to 770
4-star hotels
Average nightly
CAD 105 to 160
Per week, 7 nights
CAD 735 to 1,120
5-star hotels
Average nightly
CAD 128 to 190
Per week, 7 nights
CAD 896 to 1,330
Safety and Travel
The Government of Canada places the Dominican Republic at "exercise a high degree of caution" due to crime. This is the same level applied to many busy tourist destinations and is not a non-essential travel warning. The four cities where private medical care is concentrated, Santo Domingo, Santiago, Punta Cana, and Puerto Plata, are also the cities the Government of Canada identifies as having the most reliable ambulance and emergency services.
The land and sea border with Haiti is closed to travellers and should not be approached. Practical precautions: use only pre-arranged transport or official airport taxis, keep valuables in the hotel safe, and carry the address of your hotel and hospital in Spanish. The emergency number is 911. The full official advisory is available at travel.gc.ca for the Dominican Republic
Featured Treatments in the Dominican Republic
Health tourism is one of the five largest contributors to the Dominican economy, generating roughly 1.3 billion United States dollars in 2022, according to the Dominican Association of Health Tourism and the country's Central Bank. The treatments below are the categories with the clearest established international patient base.
Dental Care
Dental treatment is the single most common reason international patients travel to the Dominican Republic. Clinics in Santo Domingo and Punta Cana run dedicated international patient services with modern imaging and same-day digital workflows for implants, crowns, veneers, and full-mouth restorations.
Learn more about dental care with Maple Med Global
Bariatric Surgery
Gastric sleeve and gastric bypass are routinely performed by Dominican surgeons working with international patients. Tertiary centres such as CEDIMAT in Santo Domingo include bariatric surgery in their listed specialties, with hospital recovery, dietitian follow-up, and nursing support.
Learn more about bariatric surgery with Maple Med Global
IVF and fertility treatment
Santo Domingo is home to several established assisted-reproduction centres that have served international patients from the United States, Canada, and Europe for two decades. Services range from full IVF cycles to egg and embryo freezing, ICSI, and donor programs.
Plastic and cosmetic surgery
This is the second most common reason international patients visit the country, covering procedures from breast surgery and rhinoplasty through to body-contouring. We coordinate only with board-certified surgeons operating in facilities licensed by the Dominican Ministry of Public Health, and we follow international cosmetic-surgery safety guidance, including not combining multiple major procedures in a single operation.
Costs and Canadian Wait Times
Pricing in the Dominican Republic for the featured treatments below is presented as indicative ranges. For procedures publicly insured in Canada, the right-hand column shows the Fraser Institute 2025 wait-time context. For procedures not covered by Canadian public health insurance, the right-hand column shows the Canadian private-sector cost range so you can see the like-for-like comparison.
Single dental implant (implant, abutment, crown)
the Dominican Republic: CAD 1,400 to 2,600
Canada, private: CAD 3,000 to 6,000
Gastric sleeve
the Dominican Republic: CAD 6,800 to 12,300
Canada, public wait: Bariatric surgery in Canada averages around three years
Gastric bypass
the Dominican Republic: CAD 11,000 to 16,400
Canada, public wait: Bariatric surgery in Canada averages around three years
Brazilian Butt Lift (surgeon fee, single procedure)
the Dominican Republic: CAD 3,400 to 8,200
Canada, private: CAD 8,500 to 20,000
Final quotes are confirmed per case.
Leading Internationally Accredited Hospitals in the Dominican Republic
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Médico Express, Santo Domingo, Global Healthcare Accreditation certified for medical travel patient experience
This list is informational. Hospital selection for each patient depends on diagnosis, complexity, and treatment plan.
Frequently asked questions
For general questions about Canadian health insurance coverage abroad, complication insurance, follow-up care after returning to Canada, and trip planning, see our General FAQ
Plan Your Treatment in the Dominican Republic with Maple Med Global
A short conversation tells us whether the Dominican Republic is the right destination for your specific case, or whether another country we coordinate care in would suit you better. There is no charge to ask and no obligation to proceed.
Or call/text us at +1 (647) 492-2777
Explore Other Destinations
Comparing your options? Explore more of our medical travel destinations to find the right fit for your treatment.