Reunion travel advice

This advice has been reviewed and reissued with editorial amendments throughout. The overall level of the advice has not changed.

Travel Summary

• Réunion is a French Overseas Territory. There is no formal British diplomatic or consular representation on the island. All requests for consular assistance must therefore be referred to the British Embassy in Paris. See the General section of this Travel Advice.
  
  
• There is a low threat from terrorism but you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate attacks which could be in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
  
  
• Most visits to Réunion are trouble-free. Only one British National required consular assistance in Réunion in 2008. Although the risk from crime is low, it does exist and you should take precautions..
  
  
• The cyclone season in Réunion normally runs from December to April. See the Natural Disasters section of this advice and Tropical cyclones.
  
  
• 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.
  
  
• 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

The threat from terrorism is low. But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks, which could be against civilian targets, including places frequented by foreigners. For more general information see Terrorism Abroad.

Local laws and customs

Drugs, alcohol-related and traffic incidents are dealt with similarly to mainland France (see FCO Travel Advice for France).

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

Entry requirements

Visas

Réunion is an Overseas Department of France (départements d’outre-mer).

If your passport describes you as a British Citizen or British Subject with Right of Abode in the United Kingdom, you will not need a visa to enter Réunion. Other British passport holders should confirm the current entry requirements with the nearest French Diplomatic mission.

Passport Validity

You should ensure that your passport is valid for the proposed period of your stay.

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 French Embassy in London.

Health

General health care facilities in Réunion, including emergency services in health service general hospitals, and the availability of doctors (GPs) are good. Some specialist treatment is also available.

British nationals making short term visits to Réunion should obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before leaving the UK. The EHIC is not a substitute for medical and travel insurance, but entitles you to emergency medical treatment on the same terms as French nationals. It also does not cover you for medical repatriation, on-going medical treatment or treatment of a non-urgent nature. For more general information see EHIC.

The EHIC provides emergency health cover for treatment in Réunion by the French State health service for which you will have to pay but for which you will be able to claim back up to 70% of the costs on your return to the UK.

British nationals planning to move to Réunion, especially those who have not yet reached retirement age, are advised consult the UK Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for advice on their longer-term entitlement as residents to health care provision under the French national system. Please call DWP Overseas Medical Benefits help-line on 00 44 191 218 1999 which is open on Mondays to Fridays from 08.00 to 20.00 daily. More information can be obtained direct from the English language service of the Caisse Primaire d’Assurance Maladie (French social security service) on 00 33 8 20 90 42 12 or CLEISS (the Help desk in France for international mobility and social security) on 00 33 1 45 26 33 4. Information is also available on the website of the British Embassy in France at: http://www.ukinfrance.fco.gov.uk.

Réunion may experience outbreaks of Chikungunya during the rainy season (December-February).

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 Reunion 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.

Natural disasters

The cyclone season in Réunion normally runs from December to April. You should monitor local and international weather updates from French Weather Service (in French) for more detailed information in Réunion and follow any advice issued by the local authorities. You can also access the International Cyclone Centre for updates. Please also see Tropical cyclones for more detailed information and advice should you be involved in a cyclonic situation.

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.

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.