Asia and Oceania

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

• Health
• Natural disasters
• General
 

• There is no British consular representation in Kiribati. Routine consular services for British nationals on the island of Tarawa (the Gilbert Islands) are provided by the Australian High Commission in Tarawa. The British High Commission in Fiji is responsible for non-routine consular matters and matters on all other islands of Kiribati. See General - Representation.
  
  
• The tropical cyclone season in Kiribati normally runs from November to April.  Throughout this period there is a high risk of strong winds and heavy rains with associated flooding, landslides and road closures.  Travellers are advised to monitor the latest weather bulletins for the Pacific Region, including Kiribati, via the Fiji Meteorological Service, World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and in local newspapers.  See Natural Disasters.
  
  
• There is a low threat from terrorism.   Attacks can be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
  
  
• Only a handful of British nationals visit Kiribati each year and we are not aware of any recent incidents when British nationals have required consular assistance. However, you should be aware that petty theft can occur and you should take care with personal possessions. Women travelling on their own should exercise caution, particularly at night.

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 further information see our terrorism abroad page.
 

Safety and Security - Crime
Incidents of petty theft occur. Women travelling on their own should exercise caution to ensure their safety.

See our victims of crime abroad page.

Safety and Security - Local travel - Road travel
You may hire a car using a full, clean UK driving licence. Residents should present their UK licence through their employer to obtain a Kiribati driving licence. Road conditions are poor on Tarawa, but driving standards are reasonable. Minibuses can be dangerously overloaded at times. Exercise caution and do not board if you think this is the case. There are regular services on Tarawa until about 2100 hours.

See our driving abroad page.

Safety and Security - Local travel - Inter-island travel
It is not always possible to travel direct from one part of Kiribati to another. For example, if you need to get to Kiritimati (Line Islands) from Tarawa (Gilbert Islands) you have to fly via Nadi, Fiji.

Safety and Security - Local travel - Swimming
We recommend that you do not swim in the lagoon in south Tarawa as it is highly polluted. Exercise extreme caution when swimming in the sea around Kiribati, as there are very strong rip tides along coast and reef areas. Suitable safety equipment should be worn at all times during boating trips. Squalls can occur at very short notice. A number of people have drowned in recent years.

Safety and Security - Political Situation
Kiribati country profile

The Republic of Kiribati (pronounced Kiribas) is an independent republic within the Commonwealth. It is also a full member of the United Nations and Pacific Islands Forum, which it successfully hosted in October 2000. Politics are currently stable with the current President, Anote Tong, being elected for his third and final term in January 2012. Further information is available on the Kiribati country profile

Possession or trafficking in narcotics is a serious offence under the Kiribati penal code and prison sentences may be heavy.

Homosexual relations are illegal.

Local laws forbid nudity and revealing swimming costumes.

Kiribati operates a strict quarantine regime for the import of food, plants and animal (including fish) products, carriage of which should be declared by visitors on arrival. Further information on restricted or prohibited imports can be obtained from:-

Biosecurity Services
SPC-Plant Protection Service
Private Mail Bag
Suva, Fiji Islands.
Tel: (679) 3370 733
Fax: (679) 3370 021
Email:  pps@spc.int
Website
 
On departure, (prior to any transit of Australia or New Zealand) you should be aware some local handicrafts (including straw products and shells) may be subject to strict Australian/NZ import regulations. Phyto-sanitary Certificates should be obtained when items are purchased in Kiribati. Items should be declared but may nevertheless be confiscated by the Authorities concerned.

Please note Departure Tax of AU$20 is applicable for both adults and children.

See our your trip page.

Entry Requirements - Visas
Tourist/visitor entry visas are not required from British passport holders provided you hold a return/onward ticket and sufficient funds for the intended visit. As a UK passport holder you will normally be granted a one month stay. This can be extended, on application to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration in Bairiki, for additional one month periods for a maximum three additional months, provided your passport remains valid. British passport holders arriving for employment must obtain a visa in advance by arrangement with their prospective employer.

Entry Requirements Passport Validity
You must hold a valid passport to enter Kiribati. 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: Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Immigration, PO Box 68,Bairiki, Tarawa, Kiribati. Telephone: +686 21342, Fax: +686 21466.

Medical facilities at the general hospital in Tarawa are modest and elsewhere generally consist of island clinics staffed by nurse practitioners. Pharmaceuticals and prescription medicines are generally not available and all requirements for existing medical conditions should be brought with you. Medical evacuation from Kiribati is required for most non-basic medical problems. Ensure your insurance policy covers you for medical evacuation by air ambulance.

Dengue Fever, which is transmitted by mosquitoes, occurs in Kiribati. Since the beginning of March 2012 there have been reports of an outbreak in Tarawa. There is no vaccination against dengue, but there are preventative measures that you can take.

Drink or use only boiled or bottled water and avoid ice in drinks. You should also avoid eating local shellfish or lagoon fish on Tarawa. If you suffer from diarrhoea during a visit to Kiribati you should seek immediate medical attention.

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

Seek medical advice before travelling to Kiribati 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 Heath Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) and NHS Scotland's Fit For Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

See our travel health and eat and drink safely pages.

The tropical cyclone season in Kiribati usually runs from November until April.  Throughout this period there is a high risk of strong winds and heavy rains with associated flooding, landslides and road closures.

You should monitor regional and international weather updates from the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), the National Hurricane Centre, and the Fiji Meteorological Service, as well as checking local newspapers.  See our tropical cyclones page for more detailed information about what to do if you are caught up in a tropical cyclone.

Kiribati is subject to periodic spells of drought. These can be severe, and water restrictions may be put in place.

General - Insurance
You should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before leaving UK. Check for any exclusions, and ensure your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake, including cover for medical evacuation by air ambulance particularly if you plan to engage in adventure sports. See our travel insurance page.

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

General - Representation
There is no British consular representation in Kiribati. Routine consular services for British nationals on the island of Tarawa are provided by the Australian High Commission in Tarawa. The British High Commission in Fiji is responsible for non-routine consular matters and matters on all other islands of Kiribati.

Australian High Commission contact details are:

Australian High Commission
Bairiki
Tarawa
Kiribati

Telephone: (686) 21 184

Facsimile: (686) 21 904

Postal address
PO Box 77
Bairiki, Tarawa

Office hours: GMT
2000 - 0430

Local time:
0800-1630

General - Replacing your passport
If your passport is lost, stolen or expired, there are no facilities to issue full validity UK passports in Kiribati; these are all issued at our Regional Passport Processing Centre in New Zealand. Details on how to complete the application process can be seen on the UK in New Zealand website.

In the event of a lost or stolen passport the Kiribati authorities will allow your departure on the strength of a 'to whom it may concern' letter. You will also need to present a report confirming that you have informed the local police of the loss of your passport. A 'to whom it may concern' letter can only be issued once enquiries have been completed to verify the passport holder's identity, a process that may take several days. Such a letter would only allow you to travel as far as Australia or Fiji, where you will then need to apply for a replacement passport, from the Regional Passport Processing Centre in New Zealand, within two to three weeks.

If your need to travel falls within the minimum full validity passport processing time of 3 – 4 weeks, you should contact the British Consulate-Generals in Brisbane, Sydney or Suva and they will do their best to help you. You may be eligible for an Emergency Travel Document (ETD). We make every effort to make sure that compassionate cases are processed quickly.  

Keep a photocopy of the relevant pages of your passport to avoid any complications.