niger

No restrictions in this travel advice

Avoid all but essential travel to part(s) of country

Avoid all but essential travel to whole country

Avoid all travel to part(s) of country

Avoid all travel to whole country

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

• Health
• Natural disasters
• General
 

• We advise against all travel to the following parts of Niger: all areas of the country north of the city of Abalak, including the Aïr Massif region; the province of Agadez (including the road linking Assamakato Agadez and the city of Agadez); areas of Tahoua province north of the city of Tahoua, including the city itself; the area of Tillabéri province north of Niamey, including the road from Niamey to Gao and the road from Niamey to Menaka. We advise against all but essential travel to the rest of Niger, including the capital city Niamey.
  
  
• There is a high threat from terrorism. Terrorists have been involved in kidnaps in the region and we believe that further kidnap attacks are likely. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. See Safety and Security - Terrorism. 
  
  
• You should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling.  See General - Insurance.
  
  
• There is no British Embassy in Niger. The British Ambassador to Niger resides in Bamako, Mali. We are unable to provide you with formal consular assistance in Niger. The British Embassy in Bamako offers consular advice and assistance. For passport services, applications should be made to the British Embassy. See General - Consular assistance.

Safety and Security - Terrorism
There is a high threat from terrorism. Terrorists have been involved in kidnaps in the region and we believe that further kidnap attacks are likely. On 19 April 2011 the Embassy of France in Bamako (Mali) alerted its nationals of a "very high risk" of being kidnapped in Mali and Niger and on 27 July 2011 the US Embassy in Niamey issued an emergency message to US citizens in Niger urging them to heighten their vigilance.

Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQ-M) operates directly or through criminal gangs who carry out kidnappings on their behalf or pass on their kidnap victims for monetary gain. Attacks have occurred across a wide area of the Sahel region, including Mali.

Since 2008, AQ-M has taken over 25 hostages of a variety of nationalities, primarily European. A number of these hostages are still being held, including a group of French nationals kidnapped in September 2010. A British citizen was amongst a group of tourists who were kidnapped in Mali in January 2009. He was killed some months later. See our Sahel page for further information on the regional threat.

Recent attacks in Niger include:
 

• On 8 January 2011, French authorities confirmed that two French nationals kidnapped from Niamey had been killed near the border with Mali.
• On 16 September 2010 the French authorities confirmed that five French nationals, one Togolese and one Malagasay national had been kidnapped in northern Niger. It has been reported that they were taken in the town of Arlit which is on the N25 road about 150km south east of the border with Algeria. Al Qaeda in the the Islamic Maghreb (AQ-M) have claimed responsibility for the kidnapping.
• On 26 July 2010 the French government confirmed that a French national who was kidnapped on 22 April near Arlit in north-western Niger, had been murdered.

You should be aware that the long-standing policy of the British Government is not to make substantive concessions to hostage takers. The British Government considers that paying ransoms and releasing prisoners increases the risk of further hostage taking. . 

See our Terrorism Abroad page.

Regularly consult our Sahel page for more information on the threat from AQ-M.

Safety and Security - Crime
There is a risk to travellers from criminal elements throughout the country.

We advise increased caution when travelling out of Niamey by road.  Armed bandits are believed to operate outside of Niamey and have kidnapped Westerners in the past (two Canadian diplomats were abducted 25 miles outside of Niamey on 14 December 2008). Foreign nationals have been kidnapped before in Niger, mainly in the north and east of the country and in the areas bordering Mali (where a British national was abducted in January 2009). As with travel to other parts of Niger (see Local Travel below) you should travel in convoy with a local guide, and seek advice from the police for all travel out of Niamey.

Extreme poverty means that levels of crime, especially in the capital Niamey, are high.  Thefts, robberies and residential break-ins can occur at any time. The main type of incident for which British nationals require consular assistance in Niger is theft. You should therefore take precautions to keep safe important items such as money, passports, jewellery and mobile phones. The areas around the Gaweye Hotel, National Museum and Petit Marché in Niamey are particularly prone to muggings and you should not walk alone there, or cross the Kennedy Bridge on foot at any time.  Walking at night is not recommended due to the lack of street lighting.

Car thieves often target off-road vehicles. Take elementary precautions such as ensuring car doors are locked at all times. Do not walk alone after dark, even in town.

Banditry, smuggling and other criminal activity remains in border areas (e.g. Algeria-Mali-Niger, Nigeria-Chad-Niger) and can constitute a real risk to travellers, especially after dark.

Bandits are thought to be operating in the border area with Nigeria south of Zinder. You should take special care and avoid crossing the border with Nigeria during the hours of darkness.

Attacks against tourists are known to take place at El Meki between Agadez and Timia. The Aïr and Ténéré regions are particularly prone to attacks. Whenever possible, you should travel in a convoy of at least two vehicles accompanied by a local guide and a member of the security forces. (See also ‘Local Travel’). There have also been incidents of Nigeriens being killed in the course of hold-ups and robberies on public transport buses travelling between Tahoua and Agadez and between Agadez and Arlit.

Safety and Security - Scams
British nationals resident in the UK and European nations are increasingly becoming targets by scam artists operating in West Africa. The scams come in many forms: romance and friendship, business ventures, work and employment opportunities, the facilitation of money (for internet dating scams see below), and can pose great financial loss to victims. Relatives or friends in the UK should first check with the person who has travelled to West Africa before becoming involved in the transfer of money. If you are concerned about a British national who has travelled to Niger you should contact the Consular Section of the British High Commission, Accra. Schemes in operation by West African criminal networks are designed to facilitate victims parting with money.

British nationals are also being targeted by West African scam artists through internet based dating sites. The scam artists assume the false identity of a foreign national (sometimes British) working and living in West Africa. In some instances the impostor has informed their foreign friend that they have been hospitalised or arrested and need money quickly. In other cases foreigners have come to West Africa to meet the person with whom they have been in contact only to be kidnapped and become the victim of financial extortion.

You will wish to treat with considerable caution any requests for funds, a job offer, a business venture or a face to face meeting from someone you have been in correspondence with over the internet who lives in West Africa. For further information on advance fee fraud please see Metropolitan Police Service - Fraud Alert.

See Victims of Crime Abroad.

Safety and Security - Local Travel
Travel in Niger can be difficult, and conditions are poor for overland travel. You should take all necessary safety precautions, especially outside of main urban areas, have confidence in your security arrangements and maintain a high level of vigilance.

If you plan to travel within Niger you should be aware that the local authorities are extremely sensitive with regard to foreigners travelling out of Tahoua to other parts of Niger in the East and the North. There is a risk of arrest and deportation for even enquiring about travel to Agadez, given the local security situation in that region.

Due to continued sporadic incidents of banditry, you should avoid all travel between towns by road at night. Following attacks by the MNJ armed group in the North involving the use of land mines, we advise against all travel to the Aïr Massif region (including Iferouane) and on the road linking Assamaka, Arlit and Agadez. The Governor of the city of Agadez has banned vehicles without a security forces escort from leaving the city after 1600 hrs. Following an attack on Agadez airport in June 2007 and the abduction, south of Agadez, of a foreign engineer by the MNJ armed group (subsequently released) you are also advised against all travel to Agadez and north of the city of Abalack. In addition you are advised against all travel to the province of Talak, the area north of Tahoua, the area of Niamey province north of Niamey, including the road from Niamey to Gao and the road from Niamey to Menaka.

The roads listed below in northern Niger are permanently closed to tourists, except with special authorisation:

• Chirfa (Djado) / Djanet (Algeria)
• Achouloma (north Djado) / Salvador Pass (Libya)
• Adrar Bous (north Aïr) / Djanet (Algeria)
• Adrar Bous (north Aïr) / In Azawa (Algeria)
• Agadez / Arlit / Iferouane
• Agadez / Tahoua

You should always seek local advice and use local travel agents and guides when travelling outside main towns and in desert areas. We recommend using an approved local travel agent who can arrange all the necessary permits for your journey and leave details of your itinerary with the local authorities. You should carry an independent satellite phone when travelling off the beaten track. You should prepare well in advance for any journey and ensure that you have a sufficient supply of drinking water and food.

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Road Travel
UK driving licences are not valid.  If you plan to drive in Niger, you should obtain an international driving licence. This is valid for a period of three months, after which you need to obtain a Niger licence. To obtain this you are required to hand over your UK (not international) licence, which will be returned to you at the end of your stay. It is important to carry car papers and ID when travelling, especially on journeys outside of the main towns.

The main roads between Niamey and other large towns are generally satisfactory by African standards.  Buses operate on routes between Niamey and other large towns, but distances are long and buses are prone to mechanical failure. Other risks include potholes, poorly lit oncoming vehicles and the lack of medical facilities in the case of an accident. In Niamey only main roads are tarmacked and street lighting is poor. Taxis are available but, like other vehicles, are often in unsound mechanical condition. Driving standards are poor. On 8 January 2008, a car drove over a landmine in Niamey, killing one person and injuring another. There have also been reports of land mines being used in Burkina Faso on the road between Ouagadougou and Niamey. Local advice should be sought before making this journey.
In the case of an accident, you should go immediately to the nearest police station to file a report: remaining on the spot risks being taken to task, sometimes violently, by the local population.

See our Driving Abroad page.

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Air Travel
International commercial flights from Europe serve Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey and Mano Dayak International Airport in Agadez.

You should re-confirm onward or return flights not less than 72 hours before departure. Check your airline's policy on re-confirmation when you make your booking.

For more general information see Airline Security.

Safety and Security - Political Situation
Niger Country Profile

A military coup d’état took place Niger in February 2010, replacing President Mamadou Tandja with the self-styled Supreme Council for the Restoration of Democracy. Although calm appears to have returned to the country, prudence should be practiced until Niger has fully returned to democratic stability.

A rebel group, the MNJ, has been active in the North around Agadez since January 2007. The government has declared a state of emergency covering the area where the MNJ is active which imposes movement restrictions and media controls.

Niger is a Muslim country and their laws and customs are very different to those in the UK. You should respect local traditions, customs, laws and religions at all times 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 or if you intend to visit religious areas. See our page on Travelling during Ramadan.

You should not photograph military or government installations. You should carry some form of identification at all times. This would normally mean your passport or residence permit. If you intend to drive outside of the main towns, the likelihood of having to produce some form of identification is high. Visitors who commit criminal offences, for example drugs trafficking, can expect to be subjected to local law. Local prison conditions are harsh. Homosexuality is illegal, but in practice is tolerated if discreet.

See our Your Trip page.

Entry Requirements - Visas
You will require a valid visa to enter Niger.  Visas are obtainable from the Nigerien embassy in Paris, located at 154 rue de Longchamp, 75116 Paris; Telephone: +00 33 (1) 4504 8060; Fax: +00 33 (1) 4504 7973.

The Niger Honorary Consulate in Bamako, Mali is no longer authorised to issue visas for Niger. Even if a visa is issued by the Consulate, it is unlikely to be recognised, and travellers will risk being denied entry or deported without a valid visa.

Entry Requirements - Yellow Fever vaccination certificate
You will require a Yellow Fever vaccination certificate to enter Niger.

Entry Requirements - Passport Validity
You must hold a valid passport to enter Niger. Your passport must be valid for the proposed duration of your stay. No additional period of validity beyond this is required. However, it is always sensible to have a short period of extra validity on your passport in case of any unforeseen delays to your departure. You do not have to wait until your old passport expires to apply to renew it. Any time left on your old passport when you apply will be added to your new passport, up to a maximum of nine months. For passport applications in the UK, you should apply to the Identity and Passport Service.

Entry Requirements - Travelling with children
For information on exactly what will be required at immigration please contact the Embassy of Niger in Paris.

Medical facilities are poor, even in Niamey. Serious medical treatment would require evacuation to Europe. Your health insurance should therefore cover medical evacuation by air ambulance.

Malaria, cholera and other water-borne diseases are common to Niger. Epidemics of this kind are particularly common in the rainy season from July to October. You should drink or use only boiled or bottled water and avoid ice in drinks. Food purchased from local street vendors may not meet adequate hygiene standards. If you suffer from diarrhoea during a visit to Niger you should seek immediate medical attention.

Meningitis outbreaks frequently occur, particularly in the dry season from February to July.

In the 2010 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 53,000 adults aged 15 or over in Niger were living with HIV; the prevalence percentage was estimated at around 0.8% of the adult population compared to the prevalence percentage in adults in the UK of around 0.2%. You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. See our HIV and AIDS page.

You should seek medical advice before travelling to Niger 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.

See our Travel Health and Swine Flu pages.

Natural Disasters - Rainy Season

The rainy season in Niger is from May to November.  Torrential rains can cause floods and landslides. You should monitor local weather reports and expect difficulties when travelling to affected areas during this season

General - Insurance
You should take out comprehensive medical and travel insurance before travelling. This should include cover for medical treatment and evacuation, accidents, cancelled flights and stolen cash, credit cards, passport and luggage. Check for 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 then see our When things go Wrong page.

General - Consular Assistance and Registration in Niger
There is no British Embassy in Niger. The British Ambassador to Niger resides in Bamako, Mali. The British Embassy in Bamako offers consular advice and assistance. For passport services, applications should be made to the British Embassy. 

We recommend that British passport holders travelling to Niger register with the British Embassy using 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 - Money
Niger is a cash based society. Credit cards are rarely accepted even in the best hotels and restaurants. There are no ATMs. Banks accept travellers' cheques: you will have to produce your passport and the receipt for the cheques from the issuing bank.

General - Passports

The British High Commission in Accra no longer issues passports for British nationals in Niger. Passports are processed and printed at the British High Commission in Pretoria, the guidance is at http://ukinsouthafrica.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-british-nationals/passports/east-west-africa-rationalisation/