JCE Overseas Offices Temporarily Closed for Staff Training in 2026

Dominican Civil Registry Offices Abroad Pause Services

Dominicans living outside the country — and those with ties to the Dominican Republic who rely on official civil registry services — should be aware of a temporary disruption to consular-adjacent services.

According to Diario Libre, the Junta Central Electoral (JCE), the Dominican Republic's central electoral and civil registry authority, has temporarily closed its overseas offices while staff undergo an internal training program. The closure affects JCE satellite offices located abroad, which typically handle documentation services for Dominican nationals living outside the country.

What Services Are Affected?

The JCE's overseas offices are commonly used by Dominican expats and dual nationals to process civil registry documents such as birth certificates, identity cards, and other official paperwork. During the training period, these services will be unavailable at foreign locations.

What This Means for Travelers and Expats

If you are a Dominican national living abroad — or a traveler who was planning to handle Dominican documentation through an overseas JCE office — you will need to wait until the offices reopen or explore alternative options, such as processing documents directly through Dominican consulates or planning a visit to handle paperwork in-country.

For non-Dominican travelers visiting the DR in 2026, this closure is unlikely to affect your trip directly. However, expats and long-term residents who depend on overseas JCE services for documentation renewals or official record requests should plan accordingly and monitor announcements from the JCE for reopening dates.

Stay Informed

The JCE has not yet issued a widely publicized timeline for when the overseas offices will resume normal operations. Those affected are encouraged to check the official JCE website or contact their nearest Dominican consulate for updated guidance.