sthelena

• Travel Summary
• Safety and security
• Local laws and customs
• Entry requirements

• Health
• General
 

• St Helena is a British Overseas Territory. There is no formal British diplomatic or consular representation in St Helena and the local authorities deal with all requests for consular assistance. See General - Consular Assistance.
  
  
• 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.
  
  
• An adequate standard of medical care is available on St Helena but it is not free. Costs can be high and medical evacuations depend on the schedule of the RMS St Helena. See Health.
  
  
• You must take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. See the General - 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. See our Terrorism Abroad page.

Safety and Security - Crime  
The level of crime on St Helena is low.

Safety and Security - Local Travel
Travel to St Helena is by sea only. There is no air access to the Island and all transport/supplies are brought in by sea. In order to reach the shore from the RMS St Helena or any other ship you have to be transferred by small boat. Heavy swells or bad weather can make this hazardous.

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Road Travel
Many roads on St Helena are single lanes. Vehicles travelling downhill are required to give way to those travelling uphill. Driving is on the left-hand side on the road. The drink drive laws are strictly applied with a limit of 50 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath.

See our Driving Abroad page.

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Sea Travel  
It is only possible to travel to the Island by sea.  The Royal Mail Ship (RMS) St Helena is the only means of access. For further information please contact Andrew Weir Shipping, who are currently responsible for running the shipping service. Contact details: Andrew Weir Shipping Ltd, Dexter House, 2 Royal Mint Court, London. EC3N 4XX.Telephone No. 020 7575 6480 or our Fax No. 020 7575 6200 or refer to the RMS website at http://www.rms-st-helena.com

Due to limited harbour facilities the RMS has to anchor offshore and passengers are ferried by smaller local boats to the landing steps. In heavy swells or bad weather, this transfer can be hazardous. See our River and Sea Safety page.

You should not become involved with drugs of any kind.  Possession or importation of even small quantities attracts severe penalties. 

Consuming alcohol in public in the Jamestown area is not allowed.

See our Your Trip page.

Entry Requirements - Visas
An Entry Permit costs £25 and permits a stay of up to 183 days, evidence will be required that you are in possession of a return ticket, or funds for a return ticket, proof of medical insurance, have adequate accommodation plans, and are able to demonstrate that you have sufficient funds for your stay.

If you wish to stay for longer than 183 days you should apply to the St Helena Immigration Control Board.

If you require a South African visa it is essential that it is obtained before your visit and that it is valid for the date of your planned return journey. There are no facilities to issue international visas on the island.

Entry Requirements - Passport validity
You must hold a valid passport to enter St Helena. Your passport must be valid for a minimum period of six months from the date of entry into from St Helena.

The Immigration Service in St. Helena only deals with issuing and renewing of British Overseas Territory Citizen (BOTC) passports and British Emergency travel documents.

Applications for the renewal of British passports are processed through the UK Home Office. Given the time required for mail to travel to and from the Island the issuing and renewal will take a minimum of two months.

Entry Requirements - Travelling with children
If you intend to send an unaccompanied minor to St Helena you should seek advice from Andrew Weir Shipping prior to making any travel arrangements.

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

Contact your GP around eight weeks before your trip to check whether you need any vaccinations or other preventive measures. Country specific information and advice is published by the National Travel Health Network and Centre, and useful information about healthcare abroad, including a country-by-country guide of reciprocal health care agreements with the UK, is available from NHS Choices.

An adequate standard of medical care is available on St Helena, but all visitors, including UK residents, are charged a fee for medical and dental treatment.  Prescription fees are currently £6.25 an item for UK visitors. As a guide, an emergency major surgical operation in St Helena would cost between £412.65 and £619.50. Hospital ward charges are £49.35 per a day.

Fees for non-UK Residents are much higher, with prescription fees costing £21 per item. An emergency major surgical operation would cost between £2,100 and £3,675 with hospital ward charges being £157.50 per a day. Make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad and repatriation.

Exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. See our HIV and AIDS page. 

If you need emergency medical assistance during your trip, dial 911 and ask for an ambulance. You should contact your insurance/medical assistance company promptly if you are referred to a medical facility for treatment.

Our Travel Health pages offer further advice on how to stay healthy when overseas..

General - Insurance
You must take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. Check any exclusion, 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 then see our When Things Go Wrong page.

General - 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.

General - Consular Assistance
St Helena is a British Overseas Territory and there is no formal Consular Representation. All consular protection services are delivered by the St Helena Police Force. 

General - Money
The local currency in St. Helena is the Saint Helena Pound which is linked at parity to the British Pound (Sterling). Notes and coins are similar in denomination and appearance to their UK counterparts. Banking services on St Helena and Ascension Island are provided by the Bank of St. Helena. For more details about the Bank of St. Helena and the services it offers please refer to their website at Bank of St. Helena.

Credit Cards are not widely used on the island, although a few outlets and business will accept them. Note that you will be charged a commission (variable rate) for using your credit card. Bank of St. Helena can advance cash against Credit or Debit Cards. Please note that all cash advances are subject to charges and you will need identification bearing a photograph and signature. The Bank of St. Helena also offers foreign exchange facilities.

Travellers’ cheques are recommended for visitors and can be encashed at the Bank. It is necessary to change back any surplus local currency before leaving, as it is not possible to exchange St Helenian notes or coins once back in the UK. St Helena currency can however be used on Ascension Island and on the RMS St Helena.

General - Contact Details

The principal points of contact are Overseas Territories Department, Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Governor's Office, Jamestown, St Helena.

UK - Representative for St Helena

Mrs Kedell Worboys MBE
St Helena Government UK Representative
16 Old Queen Street,
London, SW1H 9HP

Telephone: 0203 170 8705 or 0203 170 8706
Fax: 0203 159 5151
Mobile: 07989404 654
e-mail: shgukrep@sthelenagov.com

South Africa - Commercial Representative for St Helena
Mr Adam Kossowski
PO Box 2115
Clareinch
7740
Cape Town
South Africa
Tel: + 27 (0) 741 170 250
Fax: + 27 (0)21 6837430
email: shcommercialrep@gmail.com

Office of Tourism, The Canister, Jamestown, St Helena Island, South Atlantic Ocean, STHL 1ZZ – tel: 00 290 2158; fax: 00 290 2159
email:  enquiries@tourism.gov.sh 
Website: www.sthelenatourism.com 
Office Hours: GMT: (Local Time = GMT): Mon-Fri: 08:30-12:30 and 13:00-16:00.