Haiti travel advice

This advice has been reviewed and reissued with an amendment to the Summary and the Political Situation section (inauguration of Jean-Max Bellerive as Prime Minister. The overall level of the advice has not changed.

Travel Summary

• The inauguration of Jean-Max Bellerive as Haiti's Prime Minister on 11 November 2009 passed fairly smoothly with some reports of demonstrations turning violent but no major incidents. Generally, demonstrations occur in Haiti from time to time, sometimes with little warning. They can become violent and disrupt movement. You are advised to avoid all demonstrations or large gatherings and leave the area immediately should you get caught up in one. You should continue to monitor local news reports.
  
  
• We advise travellers to exercise a high degree of caution whilst travelling in Haiti, because of the threat to personal security. Although the overall security situation has improved in recent months, political tensions remain and there are still incidences of violence and kidnappings for ransom. See the Crime and Political Situation sections of this advice.
  
  
• The hurricane season in Haiti normally runs from June to November. A series of hurricanes and tropical storms affected Haiti during the 2008 hurricane season, resulting in widespread flooding, mudslides and substantial loss of life. The recovery effort has been slow. You should pay close attention to local and international weather reports and follow the advice of local authorities. See the Natural Disasters section of this advice and our Tropical Cyclones page.
  
  
• There is no British Embassy in Haiti. Routine enquiries should be directed to the British Embassy in the Dominican Republic . For emergency consular assistance please contact the Honorary Consul in Port-au-Prince. See the General (Representation in Haiti) section of this advice.
  
  
• There is a low threat from terrorism. But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
  
  
• 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 our Travel Insurance page.

Safety and security

Terrorism

There is a low threat from terrorism. But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. For more general information see our Terrorism abroad page.

Crime

There have been random shootings of civilians in incidents of street robbery. Foreign nationals have also occasionally been caught in the crossfire of gang violence.

In Port-au-Prince you are advised to exercise caution while walking in the streets during the day, and especially at night; not to leave property in vehicles and always to travel with doors locked and windows up. You are advised to park close to any venues that you visit and not to leave a venue alone and always check your surroundings. It is not advisable to go out after dark in down town Port-au-Prince and particular care should be exercised there during daylight hours. The area around the National Palace and Champs de Mars can be a focal point for local demonstrations. Some areas should be avoided whenever possible such as the “bidonvilles” (slum areas) of Martissant, and Cite Soleil.

The security situation is better in cities outside the capital, with the exception of Gonaives and to a lesser extent, Cap Haitien. The areas of Petionville and Bourdon are inhabited by expatriates and, although regarded as relatively safe during daylight hours, care should be taken at night.

Across Haiti, pickpockets and theft of valuables are common.

Security guards are recommended at the homes of long-term foreign residents.

Kidnapping

Kidnapping for ransom and armed robbery reached a high during 2008. Since then, the threat has reduced markedly but still exists. These are usually targeted at Haitian nationals, although some foreign nationals have been held hostage and subsequently released. The most vulnerable areas appear to be at venues following meetings and receptions where kidnappers target individuals as they return to their vehicles.

For more general information see our Victims of crime abroad page.

Political Situation

Haiti Country Profile

The political situation in Haiti is continuing to improve slowly, but remains fragile and requires continued supportfrom UN peacekeeping forces. The appointment of Jean-Max Bellerive as Prime Minister and a change of government on 11 November 2009 passed fairly smoothly with some reports of demonstrations turning violent but no major incidents. This marked another important step forward in Haiti's democratic process since the inauguration of President Rene Preval in May 2006.

Generally, demonstrations occur in Haiti from time to time, sometimes with little warning. They can become violent and disrupt movement. You are advised to avoid all demonstrations or large gatherings and leave the area immediately should you get caught up in one. You should continue to monitor local news reports.

Local Travel

We advise those travelling in Haiti to exercise a high degree of caution. You should take the following precautions:

• You should travel with a knowledgeable and reliable guide
• You should avoid all public transport and only use rented cars with a local driver from a reliable agency (Avis, Budget etc)
• You should be aware that the security situation in Haiti can change at short notice

Road Travel

A UK driving licence is only valid for three months in Haiti. Visitors who intend to remain in Haiti longer than this period should obtain an International Driving licence.

The standard of both roads and driving is very poor in Haiti. Many of the tarmac roads are in a state of disrepair whilst other roads, particularly in the countryside are little more than dirt tracks. Drainage is poor and flooding is common after rainfall. Roads are often unlit and it is not uncommon after dark to encounter cars, trucks or motorcycles driving without lights. Drivers often pay little regard to the laws of the road and you should therefore drive with extreme caution at all times. Standards of car maintenance are also low.

It is possible to drive between the Dominican Republic and Haiti but be prepared for long queues at the four crossing points to deal with the bureaucracy of customs and immigration.

A luxury bus service operated by Caribe Tours runs daily between Santo Domingo and Petionville (not Port au Prince) and vice versa. It is comfortable and the journey takes about six hours.

For more general information see our Driving Abroad page.

Air Travel

According to the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Government of Haiti's civil aviation authority has been assessed at Category 2 which does not meet ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation) safety standards for the oversight of Haiti's air carrier operations.

Internal flights between the capital and some provincial towns are available. For security reasons, staff from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office are not allowed to use the Haitian domestic airline Caribintair for any official journeys. You should take this into consideration when making travel plans.

For more general information see Airline security.

Local laws and customs

You are advised not to become involved with illegal drugs of any kind. Pack all luggage yourself and do not be tempted to carry any items through customs for anyone else. If you are caught in possession of drugs or suspected of drug trafficking at any point whilst in Haiti, you may be arrested and jailed for weeks or months before appearing before a magistrate. Prison conditions in Haiti are very poor.

You should always carry proof of your identity. Keep a copy of the photopage of your passport and relevant visa stamp in case your documents are stolen.

Homosexuality is legal but not widely accepted.

For more general information for different types of travellers see our Your trip page.

Entry requirements

Visas

British passport holders do not require a visa to visit Haiti for periods of up to 90 days. For up-to-date advice, visitors are advised to contact the Haitian Embassy in Paris at Rue Théodule Ribot 10, 75827 Paris, France (telephone: +33 01 47634778) before travelling.

You will be issued with a card on arrival at the airport, which you must keep and surrender to Immigration on departure.

Passport Validity

Passports must have at least six months validity remaining from the date of entry.

Departure tax

Departing tourists are currently required to pay 25 American dollars in departure taxes. However, the Haitian authorities may change departure tax requirements without warning, so it is advisable to have some spare American Dollars and a little local currency available on departure.

Health

Medical facilities are very limited in Haiti and they offer a poor standard of care. You should bring adequate supplies of essential medicines, especially for specific medical conditions such as diabetes, etc.

Malaria, dengue fever, parasitic infections, other intestinal problems and hepatitis are not uncommon in Haiti. You should drink or use only boiled or bottled water and avoid ice in drinks. If you are ill whilst in Haiti or immediately after your return you should seek prompt medical advice.

In the 2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 110,000 adults aged 15 or over in Haiti were living with HIV; the prevalence rate was estimated at around 2.2% of the adult population. This compares to the prevalence rate in adults in the UK of around 0.2%. You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. For more general information on how to do this see our HIV and AIDS page.

You should seek medical advice before travelling to Haiti 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 Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) or NHS Scotland’s Fit for Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

For more general health information see our Travel health and Swine Flu pages.

Natural disasters

Hurricanes

The hurricane season in Haiti normally runs from June to November. You should pay close attention to local and international weather reports and follow the advice of local authorities. A series of hurricanes and tropical storms affected Haiti during the 2008 hurricane season, resulting in widespread flooding and substantial loss of life. Recovery has been slow, with some communities being cut off by road for a considerable time. Waterlogged ground was thought to be a contributing factor to the collapse of two schools, killing many children and adults, in Port-au-Prince in November 2008.

If you are staying in Haiti when a hurricane occurs you should listen to information given on the television/radio stations and follow the advice of hosts or hotel management. You should monitor local and international weather updates from the World Meteorological Organisation and the National Hurricane Centre. For more general information see our Tropical Cyclones page.

Emergency services are ill equipped to cope with a major disaster. Should a hurricane strike Haiti, basic services - transport and communications -could be severely disrupted.

Earthquakes

The Caribbean plate runs off the north coast of Haiti and slight earth tremors occur occasionally. There have been no major earthquakes in recent times.

General

Insurance

We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. This should cover medical evacuation by air ambulance. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. For more general information see our Travel insurance page.

If things do go wrong when you are overseas then this is our When Things Go Wrong page.

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.

Representation in Haiti

There is no British Embassy in Haiti. An Honorary Consulate is located at 337 Route de Delmas 72/73 opposite the ERF building and close to the Canadian Embassy – its hours of service are restricted. If contact cannot be made then consular enquiries should be directed to the British Embassy in the Dominican Republic.

Communications

Telephone and e-mail communications in Haiti are erratic. Mobile telephones are widely used and roaming is available for some service providers (e.g.Orange, Codetel, Digicel). Signal reception varies according to location but is improving, especially around Port-au-Prince. Local SIM cards and prepaid cards can be purchased at outlets throughout the main centres.

Money

You can exchange American Dollars cash or travellers' cheques for local currency in commercial banks. Other foreign currencies may be exchanged at the discretion of the bank. Some hotels and shops accept payment in American Dollars. Most credit cards may be used in major hotels, and in some shops and businesses in the capital. You are advised not to change money on the street.