South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands (British Overseas Territory) travel advice

This advice has been reviewed and reissued with an amendment to the Summary (removal of Swine Flu information). The overall level of the advice has not changed.

Travel Summary

• South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands is a British Overseas Territory. There is no formal British diplomatic or consular representation in South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands; the local authorities based in Stanley, Falkland Islands deal with all requests for consular assistance. See the General (Consular Representation) section of this Travel Advice.
  
  
• You must apply in advance of your visit for permission to land on the Islands. You should check with your tour operator/visit organiser who will normally do this on your behalf (applications available online at South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands website).
  
  
• You should be aware of the risks posed by the harsh climatic conditions in this isolated sub-Antarctic Territory.
  
  
• 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.
  
  
• There are no medical (or search and rescue) facilities and you are recommended to 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 Travel Advice and Travel Insurance .

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 Terrorism Abroad. Crime There is no evidence of crime or disorder in South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands. For more general information see Victims of Crime Abroad.
Political Situation

South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands Country Profile Local Travel There are no air links to South Georgia. You can only land on the island by sea. There are no road links on any of the Islands. You must apply in advance of your journey to the Commissioner for permission to land on the Islands. This is irrespective of your nationality or mode of transport. You can obtain application forms from the Commissioner’s Office (see contact details) or on-line from the South Georgia & South Sandwich Islands website. Individual tourists or visitors on cruise ships, yachts or expeditions need not complete personal applications providing your tour operator/visit organiser has done so. Changeable weather conditions and other factors may affect plans. You should provide details of all places at which you may wish to land even if, in the event, some are not visited. The South Sandwich Islands have a wholly Antarctic climate. In winter the Islands may be surrounded by pack ice. The prevalent westerly storms and lack of sheltered anchorages make landing very difficult.

Local laws and customs

The Commissioner, South Georgia & the South Sandwich Islands, based in Stanley, Falkland Islands regulates all access to the Territory (see contact details).

For more general information for different types of travellers see Your Trip.

Entry requirements

Visas Visas are not required. Passport validity You must carry a passport valid for a minimum of six months. Travelling services There are no scheduled travel services to South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, other than those provided by cruise ships, yachts or expedition companies. On arrival in South Georgia waters, you must report to the Government Officer at King Edward Point, Cumberland Bay East. Visitor fee A Visitor Fee of £100 is charged to all visitors to South Georgia over the age of 16 years, with the exception of professional crew and cruise ship expedition staff. Refer to the “Information for Visitors to South Georgia” booklet and “South Georgia Tourism Management Policy”, which may be downloaded from the website: http://www.sgisland.gs

Health

There are no search and rescue facilities in the Territory and medical facilities are not available so you are therefore strongly advised to take out comprehensive medical insurance

You should take precautions against sunburn, which can be a problem in this sub-polar region.

All of the historic buildings of the former whaling stations at Prince Olav Harbour, Leith Harbour, Stromness and Husvik are in a dangerous state of disrepair. Wind-blown debris including asbestos dust presents a significant health risk at all times. You are prohibited from entering or approaching within two hundred metres of the former whaling stations, unless directed otherwise by the Commissioner’s Office or the Government Officer at King Edward Point. Grytviken whaling station has undergone an extensive programme of remedial works to remove asbestos and make the buildings safe. Access to part of the site is presently restricted.

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 South Georgia & Sandwich Islands 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) and NHS Scotland’s Fit for Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

For more general health information see Travel Health.

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. For more general information see Travel Insurance.

If things do go wrong when you are overseas then this is How We Can Help.
The conditions and terrain of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands are harsh, the interior is not fully mapped and nearby waters are not always accurately or completely charted. The operators of cruise vessels must make fully adequate insurance arrangements to cover any liability of their own or of the Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands against any claim for liability in respect of anything occurring to any of their passengers or crew members in South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands or their waters. Permission for visits by cruise vessels is given on that basis.

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.

Consular representation South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands is a British Overseas Territory and as such there is no formal British Consular representation. In an emergency, the Government Officer can provide basic assistance but he/she and the Commissioner’s Office in Stanley, Falkland Islands, cannot issue replacement passports. Money You can purchase stamps from the Post Office and stamps and gifts from the Museum shop on South Georgia. Both accept Pounds Sterling and US dollars cash and travellers’ cheques. The Museum shop accepts VISA and Mastercard credit cards but not American Express.