By The Rio Times | Created at 2026-10-11 16:26:35 | Updated at 2026-10-11 17:48:24
1 hour ago
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC · HOLIDAYS
Key Facts
- —The country Dominican Republic, sharing the island of Hispaniola with Haiti.
- —The holiday Constitution Day, marking the first constitution of 6 November 1844.
- —The day off Monday, 9 November 2026, moved from Friday, 6 November.
- —Who it covers All public and private workplaces nationwide, under Law 139-97.
- —Friday, 6 November A normal working day, according to the Labour Ministry.
- —Still open Bank hours, embassy closures and 2026 ceremonies not yet announced.
The Dominican Republic marks Constitution Day on Monday, 9 November, not on the anniversary itself, giving many workers a three-day weekend.
The Dominican Republic’s Constitution Day holiday falls on Monday, 9 November 2026. The anniversary itself, Friday, 6 November, will be a normal working day under the Ministry of Labour’s calendar.
For US visitors and expats, the change matters for anything that needs an office, a bank branch or an official appointment. It also creates a three-day weekend for many workers, from Saturday, 7 November, to Monday, 9 November.
Why the Holiday Moves to a Monday
The move follows Law 139-97 of 19 June 1997, which shifts certain holidays that fall from Tuesday to Friday to a Monday. The law was published in the Gaceta Oficial, the official journal, on 25 June 1997, the presidency’s news service notes.
The Ministry of Labour announced the full 2026 calendar on Wednesday, 5 November 2025. It said the law must be applied in all establishments in the country, public and private alike.
Three holidays move in 2026 under the rule. Epiphany moved from Tuesday, 6 January, to Monday, 5 January, and Labour Day from Friday, 1 May, to Monday, 4 May.
Constitution Day is the third and last of them. Independence Day and Good Friday are immovable, and Christmas on Friday, 25 December, stays put.
The same rule applied last year, when 6 November fell on a Thursday. The ministry moved the holiday to Monday, 10 November 2025, the presidency reported.
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What the Day Marks
Constitution Day recalls the first Dominican constitution, drafted and approved by a constituent assembly in San Cristóbal in 1844. The holiday falls on the anniversary of its promulgation on 6 November, months after the republic was proclaimed on 27 February 1844.
The constitution has been reformed several times since, Prensa Latina, the Cuban state news agency, noted in 2025. The latest reform, in October 2024, changed several articles to limit presidential re-election.
San Cristóbal, a city west of Santo Domingo, hosted the main ceremonies in 2025. President Luis Abinader’s programme there included a solemn hearing of the Constitutional Court and a civic-military parade on Avenida Constitución.
The programme for 2026 has not been announced. It is also not known whether official events will take place on the anniversary, Friday, 6 November, or on the Monday holiday.
What Closes on 9 November
The Labour Ministry’s calendar makes Monday, 9 November, the day off for public institutions and private employers alike. Workers on a standard week return on Tuesday, 10 November.
The ministry’s announcement does not list exemptions, and it does not say how banks, shops or tourism businesses will operate. Check opening hours directly with any office, branch or tour operator you plan to use that day.
Revista Mercado, a Dominican business magazine, confirmed on 25 September that Friday, 6 November, is a regular working day. Public offices are therefore expected to keep normal hours on the anniversary itself.
The Rio Times found no official traffic or travel advice for the long weekend by Sunday, 11 October. If you plan to travel inside the country from 7 to 9 November, book transport and hotels early.
Other Dates US Visitors Should Note
The US federal holidays of Veterans Day and Thanksgiving follow on Wednesday, 11 November, and Thursday, 26 November. The US Embassy in Santo Domingo’s closure list for these dates could not be loaded on Sunday, 11 October.
Christmas Day, on Friday, 25 December, is both a Dominican and a US holiday. It gives many workers in the Dominican Republic a three-day weekend from 25 to 27 December.
New Year’s Day falls on Friday, 1 January 2027. The Labour Ministry had not published its 2027 calendar by Sunday, 11 October.
Entry Rules and Safety for US Visitors
US citizens need no visa for stays of up to 30 days, according to the State Department. Your passport must be valid for six months from the day you arrive.
A US$10 tourist card fee, about 605 Dominican pesos, is included in airline charges. The rate used is 60.52 pesos per US dollar, from open.er-api.com on 11 October.
You must complete an eTicket, the online immigration and customs form, for each entry and each exit. Cash or equivalents of US$10,000 or more must be declared on arrival and departure.
The State Department rates the Dominican Republic at Level 2, “exercise increased caution”, in an advisory issued on 12 June 2025. The US Embassy is at Avenida República de Colombia 57 in Santo Domingo, phone +1 809-567-7775.
What It Means for You
If you are visiting, the holiday does not change the entry rules or the advisory level. Plan official errands for Friday, 6 November, or Tuesday, 10 November, rather than the Monday.
If you live in the Dominican Republic, book residency, immigration and notary appointments away from 9 November. If you employ staff, note that the ministry applies the day off to private employers as well as the state.
If you need US consular services in November, check the embassy’s website before booking. Allow for Veterans Day and Thanksgiving as well as the Dominican holiday.
What Is Not Known
Bank branch hours for 9 November have not been published. It is also not known whether supermarkets, malls and tourist attractions will change their hours that day.
The official programme for Constitution Day 2026, including any parade or ceremony in San Cristóbal, has not been announced. The US Embassy’s November closure dates could not be confirmed.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Constitution Day in the Dominican Republic in 2026?
The anniversary is Friday, 6 November, but the public holiday is Monday, 9 November 2026. The Labour Ministry moved it under Law 139-97, so Friday is a normal working day.
What are the remaining Dominican holidays in 2026?
Two remain: Constitution Day on Monday, 9 November, and Christmas Day on Friday, 25 December. Christmas is not moved and creates a three-day weekend.
Do US citizens need a visa for the Dominican Republic?
No visa is needed for stays of up to 30 days, according to the State Department. You need a passport valid for six months from arrival and an eTicket for each entry and exit.
Sources: Presidency of the Dominican Republic, Labour Ministry 2026 holiday calendar (5 November 2025); Presidency of the Dominican Republic, Constitution Day 2025 moved to 10 November (3 November 2025); Revista Mercado, remaining 2026 holidays (25 September 2026); El Caribe, 2026 holiday calendar (24 December 2025); Prensa Latina, 181st anniversary of the first constitution (6 November 2025); US State Department, Dominican Republic country information; US Office of Personnel Management, federal holidays; open.er-api.com, exchange rates (all accessed 11 October 2026).
