Haiti’s iKat digital arrival and departure form became mandatory on 1 October 2026 for Haitian citizens and foreign nationals travelling through the country’s airports, seaports and land borders. The new requirement affects both entry and exit, so passengers must complete an electronic declaration before travelling and retain the QR code issued after submission.
The measure replaces separate paper-based declarations with a single digital process covering personal, passport, journey, customs and health information. It is administered by Haiti’s Directorate of Immigration and Emigration under the Ministry of the Interior and Local Authorities.
What Haiti’s iKat digital travel form means for passengers
The iKat system is designed to give border authorities advance information about people arriving in or departing from Haiti. It applies regardless of nationality or travel purpose, including tourism, business, residence and family travel.
Travellers must complete a new declaration for each journey. The requirement applies to:
- Haitian passport holders
- Foreign visitors and tourists
- Business travellers
- Returning residents and overseas Haitians
- Passengers travelling by air, sea or land
- Children and infants, who require individual forms
A completed iKat form does not replace a passport, visa, airline ticket or any other entry document. Passengers must continue to meet the separate requirements imposed by Haiti and, where relevant, connecting or neighbouring countries.
When should travellers complete the Haiti declaration?
Official guidance contains two different references for the submission window. The main instructions refer to completing the form within 72 hours before arrival or departure, while a separate government FAQ refers to 48 hours in advance.
Because of that inconsistency, passengers should check the official iKat portal and current immigration guidance before travelling. Completing the declaration as soon as the permitted window opens can help reduce the risk of arriving at a checkpoint without the required confirmation.
Travellers should have the following information available:
- Passport or identity-document details
- Flight, maritime or land-journey information
- Accommodation or destination details where requested
- Customs information
- Health-related declarations
After submission, the system generates a QR code. Passengers should save it on their phone and consider carrying a printed copy in case electronic access is unavailable during border checks.
How to complete the iKat form online
The declaration must be completed through the official government-operated platform. Travellers should carefully check every entry before submitting the form, particularly passport numbers, names, travel dates and transport details.
- Open the official iKat portal.
- Enter personal and passport information.
- Add the relevant arrival or departure details.
- Complete the customs and health sections.
- Review the information for errors.
- Submit the declaration and save the QR confirmation.
The government guidance says that submitted information can be amended through the portal using the form code and passport number. This may be useful if a travel date or transport arrangement changes, although passengers should confirm the latest procedure directly through the official system.
Land-border travel between Haiti and the Dominican Republic
The requirement is not limited to international aviation. It also covers Haiti’s land crossings, including journeys between Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
Someone entering Haiti from the Dominican Republic must complete the Haitian arrival declaration. A traveller leaving Haiti through a land border must complete the Haitian departure process. Dominican entry or exit requirements remain separate, and the iKat form does not replace documents demanded by Dominican authorities.
Before making a cross-border journey, passengers should confirm that their intended checkpoint is operating and check the requirements of both countries. This is particularly important for same-day trips, family groups and travellers using land transport with fixed departure times.
Children and families need separate confirmations
Parents cannot rely on one family submission. Each child, including an infant where required by the system, needs an individual iKat declaration and confirmation code.
Families should therefore allow extra preparation time to gather each traveller’s passport information and travel details. Individual QR codes should be stored together but remain clearly identifiable. Parents and guardians must also check any separate documents required for minors, such as parental authorisation or custody-related paperwork where applicable.
What the rule means at airports and ports
The digital form is intended to support more organised immigration, customs and public-health processing by allowing information to be submitted before arrival or departure. It may reduce reliance on paper forms, but it does not guarantee shorter queues, faster baggage collection or immediate border clearance.
Airline check-in and immigration declarations are separate processes. Carriers may still request passport, visa or onward-travel documents, and connecting passengers should verify any additional requirements with the operating airline.
Passengers should also avoid assuming that a QR code alone guarantees admission. Border officials retain responsibility for checking the traveller’s documents and compliance with applicable entry conditions.
Practical checklist before travelling to Haiti
- Check the official iKat timing guidance before each journey.
- Use the government portal rather than an unofficial third-party website.
- Ensure the details match the passport and booking exactly.
- Complete a separate form for every member of the family.
- Save or print each QR code.
- Check passport, visa and airline-document requirements separately.
- For land travel, verify the border crossing and requirements on both sides.
- Update the declaration if confirmed travel details change and the portal permits amendments.
Key takeaway for international travellers
Haiti’s iKat digital arrival and departure form is now a mandatory part of international travel through the country by air, sea and land. The most important step is to complete an individual declaration within the applicable official timeframe and keep the resulting QR code accessible. Since government pages refer to both 48-hour and 72-hour windows, passengers should confirm the current instruction on the official portal before setting out.