East Timor travel advice

Travel Summary

• The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised its Pandemic Threat Alert Phase to Level 6. The WHO website at http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html has further details. You should also monitor local media reports for any developments and advice. There is a dedicated Swine Flu page on the FCO website. Guidance on Pandemic Flu can be obtained on the UK Department of Health website. On 30 April 2009 the British Consulate-General Jakarta published an updated advisory notice on pandemic influenza to British nationals travelling or resident in Indonesia and East Timor. The full text can be consulted on the website of the British Embassy Jakarta.
  
  

• We advise against all but essential travel to East Timor, because of the uncertain security situation. Violence can break out without warning, anywhere and at any time. You should avoid demonstrations and large crowds and if you become aware of any nearby military activity you should leave the area immediately. See the Political Situation section of this advice for more details.
  
  

• You should also restrict your movements and avoid the areas surrounding IDP (internally displaced persons) camps, government buildings (including the Palacio da Cinzas and Palacio do Governno) and the vicinity of the Nicolau Lobato International airport in Comoro, including the airport road. You should also refrain from going outside after dark.
  
  

• There is no British representation in East Timor. Emergency consular services are provided by the New Zealand Embassy in Dili. Applications for new passports or renewals should be made to the British Consulate General, Jakarta, the British Consulate, Bali or any other British passport issuing post. See the General section of this advice for more details.
  
  
• If you decide to travel to East Timor, you should ensure that you are content with your own and your family's security arrangements and keep yourself up to date with developments, including by regularly monitoring this travel advice. You should also ensure that your travel documents are up to date and readily available in case you need to leave the country at short notice.
  
  
• There is an underlying threat from terrorism. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
  
  
• The tropical cyclone season in East Timor normally runs from November to April. See the Natural Disasters section of this travel advice and Tropical cyclones for more details.
  
  
• We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. See the General (Insurance) section of this advice and Travel Insurance for more details.

Safety and security

Terrorism

There is an underlying threat from terrorism in East Timor. Attacks could be indiscriminate including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. In neighbouring Indonesia, Westerners were killed and injured following the terrorist attacks in Bali (October 2002 and October 2005) and Jakarta (August 2003 and September 2004). For further information see Terrorism Abroad.

The main air routes to Dili are via Bali (this normally involves an overnight stay) and Darwin. Due to the ongoing threat of terrorist attacks in Indonesia you are recommended to consult the FCO travel advice for Indonesia before planning to travel via Bali. You should reconfirm bookings in advance of departure from East Timor.

Political Situation

East Timor Country Profile

We advise against all but essential travel to East Timor because of the uncertain security situation.

You should avoid any demonstrations and large crowds, as these have the potential to deteriorate quickly and turn violent. You should restrict your movements and avoid the areas surrounding IDP (internally displaced persons) camps, government buildings (including the Palacio da Cinzas and Palacio do Governno) and the vicinity of Nicolau Lobato International airport in Comoro, including the airport road. You should also refrain from going outside after dark.

Should you choose to travel to East Timor, information on the prevailing security situation can be obtained from the United Nations Police (UNPOL) emergency and security information numbers on 112. There is also a Security Information Co-ordination Centre within the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor Leste (UNMIT). The centre can be contacted on +670 723 0635. Both centres are open 24 hours a day.

Crime

There have been a number of attacks on foreigners in Dili, including bag-snatchings, during both the hours of daylight and darkness. You are advised to remain vigilant at all times and to avoid displaying expensive items of jewellery or carrying large sums of money.

For more general information see Victims of Crime Abroad.

Local Travel

Accommodation and transport for independent travellers are extremely limited, particularly outside the capital, Dili. Even in Dili you should not expect to find taxis or other public transport after dark.

You should refrain from going outside after dark, and avoid travelling alone.

You should be particularly vigilant if travelling to border areas, as there remains the potential for trouble there.

Road Travel

Drivers must hold a current driving licence valid for the class of vehicle they plan to drive. Third Party motor vehicle insurance is not available.

Drivers should take extra care on the roads, especially when it is wet. Travel in convoy whenever possible. Main routes are often single-track mountain roads, which can deteriorate rapidly and become impassable, particularly during the rainy season (December-April). Road quality even in Dili is poor and there is little street lighting. You should avoid walking on the road at night where possible, and always be wary of the open drains, even in the middle of the pavement.

For further information see Driving Abroad.

Sea Travel

There have been incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships in neighbouring waters. Mariners are advised to be vigilant; reduce opportunities for theft; establish secure areas onboard; and report all incidents to the coastal and flag state authorities.

For more general information see River and Sea Safety.

Local laws and customs

You should not become involved with drugs of any kind. Penalties for breaking the law can be severe.

For more general information for different types of travellers see Travel Advice Relevant to You.

Entry requirements

Visas

A tourist visa can normally be issued on arrival to the holder of a valid British passport, provided entry into East Timor is regarded by the local authorities as being for a legitimate purpose. The fee is US$30. This visa is valid for a single entry and a stay of 30 days. Note that if you plan to travel overland (rather than by the ferry) to the exclave of Oe-cussi you will need two further $30 tourist visas as well as the US$40 double-entry full page transit visa for Indonesia. Extensions cost US$35 for each subsequent period of 30 days, but you can only extend twice (i.e. a maximum stay of 90 days). Fines for overstay start at $70 for one to 30 days, rising to $270 for 91 days or more. There is a departure tax of US$10.

For information on other types of visa see the Immigraton Department of Timor-Leste or contact tmorgan@iom.int.

Passport validity

You should ensure that your passport is valid for a minimum period of six months. Entry to East Timor may be refused to visitors with less than six months validity.

Travelling with children

Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country.

Health

Medical services in East Timor are severely limited. There is very little dental or optical services.

Malaria, dengue fever and Japanese encephalitis are common throughout East Timor. There is usually an increase in dengue cases during the rainy season, which runs from November to April.

You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. For more general information on how to do this see HIV and AIDS.

You should seek medical advice before travelling to East Timor and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date. For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit the websites of the National Travel Heath Network and Centre NaTHNaC and NHS Scotland’s Fit for Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

For more general health information see Travel Health

Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)

There have been no reported cases of avian influenza (bird flu) in East Timor during the current series of outbreaks. But the World Health Organisation (WHO) has confirmed cases elsewhere in the region.

You should read this advice in conjunction with Avian and Pandemic Influenza, which gives more detailed advice and information.

Natural disasters

East Timor is located in an earthquake zone and major earthquakes can occur at any time. The last significant earthquake occurred in 2005.

The tropical cyclone season in East Timor normally runs from November to April. You should monitor local and international weather updates from the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO). You can also access National Hurricane Center for updates.

Please also see Tropical cyclones for more detailed information about what to do if you are caught up in a tropical cyclone.

General

Insurance

We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake, including cover for medical evacuation by air ambulance. In the event of a medical emergency in East Timor, evacuation to Australia is likely to be the only option for treatment. See Travel Insurance for more details.

If things do go wrong when you are overseas then this is how we can help.

Consular Services

There is no British representation in East Timor. Emergency consular services are provided by the New Zealand Embassy in Dili. The New Zealand Embassy is not able to accept applications for British passports but can issue Emergency Passports if necessary.

If you are applying for a British passport for the first-time you should do so at the nearest passport issuing post. Details on the FCO website can provide information and links to post websites providing these services.

If you are applying for a passport renewal you can apply at the British Honorary Consulate in Bali or at the British Consulate General, Jakarta. You can also apply through a courier service to the British Consulate General, Jakarta. The responsibility for the fee for the courier service both ways, and for any loss in transit rests with the applicant. Both the fee and the passport (see important note) will need to be forwarded to complete the process. Contact details are below. You can also apply at any other British passport issuing post.

Consular Registration

Register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency. More information about registering with LOCATE can be found here.

Travel Documents

You should ensure that your travel documents are up-to-date and available, in case you need to leave at short notice.

We advise you to keep a photocopy of the relevant pages of your passport, to avoid any complications.

Money

You are advised to bring either US dollars in cash or travellers cheques, as the US dollar is the currency in use in East Timor.

The limited banking system in East Timor will not exchange Pounds Sterling cash or sterling travellers cheques. The same often applies to the Euro currency.