Comoros travel advice

Summary update

• Still current at:
  14 January 2016
• Updated:
  14 August 2015
• Latest update: this advice has been reviewed and re-issued without amendment

There is no British diplomatic representation in Comoros. Consular assistance is provided by the British High Commission in Port Louis, Mauritius.
Crime levels are low, but you should take sensible precautions. Avoid any crowds or political gatherings. See Crime and Political situation
Piracy is a significant threat in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean. Sailing vessels are particularly vulnerable. See Sea travel
There is a low threat from terrorism. See terrorism
Take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before you travel.

Travel Summary

• There is no British Embassy or Honorary Consul in Comoros. Comoros is covered from the British High Commission in Port Louis, Mauritius. You should register with the British High Commission in Port Louis before travelling to Comoros. See the General (Representation) section of this Travel Advice.
  
• There were a very low number of incidents involving British nationals who required consular assistance in Comoros in 2009. However, you should take precautions against pickpockets and muggers. Although uncommon, there have been some instances of sexual assault/rape. Avoid walking alone at night on deserted or public beaches and in town centres.
  
• Piracy is a significant threat in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean, especially for shipping which does not take appropriate precautions or follow agreed shipping industry best practice guidelines. See the Sea Travel section of this Travel 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 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

The three islands which make up the Union of the Comoros, are generally crime-free, but you should take sensible precautions against pickpocketing and mugging. You should not walk around town centres unaccompanied at night. Safeguard valuables and cash. Deposit them in hotel safes, where practicable. Keep copies of important documents, including passports, in a separate place to the documents themselves.

For more general information see our Victims of Crime Abroad page.

Political Situation

Comoros Country Profile

As a result of its colonial history and the ongoing political debate regarding the separate status of Mayotte, there are regular reports of demonstrations and anti-French sentiment throughout Comoros.

National Legislative Assembly Elections have taken place. Visitors should avoid any crowds or political gatherings which may occur during this period. It is always advisable for travellers to monitor local media to keep abreast of local developments/the situation during their stay.

Local Travel

Facilities on Anjouan are basic; visitors to the island usually stay at a hotel in Mutsamudu. Moheli has few facilities for tourists. On Grande Comore (also known as Ngadijza) there are a few hotels of an acceptable standard in or near the capital Moroni.

Always remain vigilant and keep a low profile when moving around

Road Travel

On Grande Comore, the main round-island road is of a reasonable standard, but some other roads are in a poor condition.

You may use either a UK Driving Licence or an International Driving Permit for up to three months. You should consult the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Tel: 00 269 744 100 or E-mail: mirexcab@yahoo.fr) if an extension is required.

For more general information see our Driving Abroad page.

Air Travel

You can travel between the three islands by air. The EU has published a list of air carriers that are subject to an operating ban or restrictions within the community. You should check the following link to see whether this will affect your travel - European Commission Transport - Air.

On 30 June 2009 a Yemeni airliner flying from Sanaa to Moroni crashed in the Indian Ocean near the Comoros islands. There were over 150 passengers on board. No British nationals were involved.

For more general information see Airline Security.

Sea Travel

You can travel between the three islands by boat. You should exercise care at all times when travelling by boat and avoid travel on vessels that are clearly overloaded, in poor condition or do not have life jackets available, as overloaded ferries have capsized in Comoran waters, sometimes with significant loss of life.

Piracy is a significant threat in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean and has occurred as far as 1000 nautical miles from the coast of Somalia. Attacks of piracy and armed robbery against vessels in and around the Gulf of Aden and Somali Basin continue to affect only a very small proportion of overall shipping, but are frequent and continuing, proving successful almost exclusively against shipping which has not complied with agreed shipping industry best practice on self-defence measures, including on routing. All mariners should follow the ‘Best Management Practise for the Gulf of Aden and off Somalia’ (http://www.icc-ccs.org.uk), published by the International Maritime Bureau. We urge mariners to register with the Maritime Security Centre (Horn of Africa) for up to date advice and guidance on passage round the Horn of Africa - www.mschoa.org, and to plan their routing carefully so as to avoid placing themselves in unnecessary danger.

For more general information see our River and Sea Safety page.

Local laws and customs

Comoros is an Islamic country. You should respect local traditions, customs, laws and religions and be aware of your actions to ensure that they do not offend other cultures or religious beliefs, especially during the holy month of Ramadan. For more general information see our Travelling During Ramadan page.

Homosexuality is not illegal in Comoros.

Drug smuggling and the possession of drugs are serious offences, which may result in long prison sentences, fines and deportation.

For more general information see our Your Trip page.

Entry requirements

Visas

Visas are required. They can be obtained on arrival at Hahaya airport, or at other points of entry.

Passport validity

Passports need to have three months’ remaining 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. For further information on exactly what will be required at immigration, please contact the Comoran Embassy in Paris, Rue Marbeau 20, 75116 Paris, telephone: (33) (1) 40679054.

Health

Medical facilities are basic and limited on all three islands, and most are private. You should be aware that electricity and water supplies are subject to frequent interruptions, which can affect hospitals and other public services. Medicines and food may not have been safely stored.

Malaria and cholera are common to Comoros, with malaria affecting all three islands.

You should drink or use only boiled or bottled water and avoid ice in drinks. If you suffer from diarrhoea during a visit to Comoros you should seek immediate medical attention.

In the 2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that less than 200 adults aged 15 or over in Comoros were living with HIV; the prevalence rate was estimated at less than 0.1% 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 Comoros 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 NaTHNaC and NHS Scotland's Fit For Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

For more general information see our Travel Health page.

Natural disasters

Comoros is in the cyclone belt and can be affected by cyclones between January and May.

The Karthala volcano near Moroni on Grande Comore erupts periodically, most recently in January 2007. Although there are no predictions of an imminent eruption, you should check the situation locally before making plans to visit the island.

General

Insurance

We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling and include cover for medical repatriation. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. See our Travel Insurance page.

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

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 on our LOCATE page.

Representation

There is no British Embassy or Honorary Consul in Comoros, nor an Honorary Consul. Comoros is covered from the British High Commission in Port Louis, Mauritius.

The nearest Comoran Embassy to the UK is in Paris, Rue Marbeau 20, 75116 Paris, telephone: (33) (1) 40679054. The Comoran Honorary Consul in the UK, Mr Khaled Chehabi, can be contacted at Flat 6, 24-26 Avenue Road, NW8 6BU; Tel: 0207 491 2098

Money

Cash is the main means of paying for goods and services in Comoros. The Banque International du Comore (affiliated to BNP) is the only established bank on Grande Comore, and banking facilities are minimal to non-existent on the other islands. You can withdraw cash (local currency only) against a credit card from a small Bureau de Change offcie attached to the main BIC branch (on left hand side of main entrance). BFI, one of the local banks, does not exchange sterling cash. Only one or two hotels accept credit cards for payment of bills, but will not provide local currency against credit cards (This can sometimes be problematic due to technical / connection problems with the equipment). Some hotels and restaurants will accept some foreign currencies (Euros and US Dollars preferred). Change may be given in local currency. Credit cards will not work in the only 2 ATMs in Moroni.