Asia and Oceania

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
 

 

• 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.
  
  
• The tropical cyclone season normally runs from November to May. During this period strong winds, heavy rains and rough seas can be expected. See Natural Disasters – Tropical Cyclones.
  
  
• Fresh and salt water crocodiles and sharks are common in Solomon Islands’ waters. Large crocodiles have recently been sighted offshore at Bonegi Beach near Honiara.
  
  
• Solomon Islands will host the 11th Festival of Pacific Arts from 1 to 14 July 2012. Some 3,000 performers and their supporting delegations are expected to visit Honiara during this period. There will also be an unknown number of tourists from the Pacific region. This will put heavy demands on Honiara’s infrastructure, utilities and hotel and other tourist accommodation.
  
  
• 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.
  
  
• Few British nationals visit Solomon Islands. Most visits are trouble-free. 
  
  
• Medical facilities are very basic throughout Solomon Islands, including Honiara.
  
  
• You should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. See 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 Royal Solomon Islands Police Force has limited resources and response times to calls for assistance can be slow. Incidents of robberies involving violence, handbag snatching, pick-pocketing and harassment, particularly around the Central Business District and Market, have been reported.

There is the potential for trouble owing to both civil unrest and drunken behaviour. Foreigners and expatriates may be attractive targets for violence. Exercise caution if going to local nightclubs and be aware that such venues rarely have adequate fire precautions in place.

Take security precautions at all times, and maintain a high state of personal awareness. Where possible avoid travel around Honiara at night. Particular care should be taken in the squatter settlements around Honiara, White River and the Lungga Bridge, Sun Valley, Matanikau Bridge and Henderson area. Recent security incidents in these areas have included improvised road blocks, sporadic rock throwing and more serious violent criminal acts, including sexual assault, robbery and vehicle hijacking. These areas should be avoided. If you plan to visit rural Guadalcanal, take day trips outside Honiara or visit the island of Malaita you are advised to check this advice before travelling. Visits to other provinces in Solomon Islands are generally trouble-free.

See our Victims of Crime Abroad page.

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Road Travel
There are few roads in Solomon Islands, 90% of these are on Guadalcanal and Malaita.  Many are very heavily potholed and in some areas bridges have collapsed. Standards of driving and vehicle maintenance are poor. Be especially careful when overtaking any vehicle. Many Solomon Islanders chew betel nut and frequently open vehicle doors, including on the driver's side, when travelling at speed, in order to spit onto the road. Drivers should also be particularly careful when driving in and around town. The combination of poor pedestrian discipline and cars travelling at speed has resulted in a number of fatal accidents. Driving at night requires even more care as street lighting is often non-existent.

If you are involved in a road accident the law requires you to stop and stay at the scene until the police arrive. There may however be circumstances where this is not safe, such as the gathering of a large and hostile crowd. If you feel this is the case, then you should drive immediately to the nearest police station to report the incident and the police may accompany you back to the scene of the accident.

See our Driving Abroad page.

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Air Travel
Air safety has been good but reliability of services can be patchy and cancellations
occur.  Domestic flights are particularly prone to disruption and visitors with international connections should take note and plan accordingly.

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Sea Travel
Ferry services are usually crowded and safety regulations not always strictly applied.  It is advisable to bring your own lifejacket if contemplating sea journeys.  Journeys to small and/or remote islands are usually in small-motorised “canoes”. See River and Sea Safety.

Salt water crocodiles are native to many parts of Solomon Islands, and there are regular sightings on beaches.  Local advice should be sought before entering unfamiliar waters, including lakes. There are also large species of shark (such as Bull, Hammerhead and Tiger sharks) in the coastal waters.

Safety and Security - Political Situation

Solomon Islands Country Profile

The National Coalition for Rural Advancement (NCRA) government came to power following the general election on 4 August 2010. The NCRA government fell on 11 November 2011 when Prime Minister Danny Philip resigned. Honourable Gordon Darcy Lilo was elected as the new Prime Minister on 16 November 2011. Following his election there were a number of protest marches in Honiara and some civil unrest, including stone throwing. Order was quickly restored by the police.

Drug use is illegal in Solomon Islands, and can lead to prison sentences. Swearing is a crime and can lead to large compensation claims and even jail.

Dress codes, particularly for women, are modest and you will gain respect by dressing appropriately. In certain areas there are ‘taboo’ sites only visited by men.

Land ownership in Solomon Islands is an important and sensitive issue. Walking and trekking off the beaten track, or the use of many of the beaches around Honiara, may require payment of a “kastom” fee to the landowner.

Homosexuality is illegal in Solomon Islands and the penalties can include custodial sentences. Open displays of affection are likely to offend local inhabitants. See our Your Trip page.

Entry Requirements - Visas 
Visas are not required for British nationals visiting Solomon Islands. However, you should be in possession of a return or onward ticket. We advise all British nationals (including those residing in the Solomon Islands) to obtain a multi-entry visa for Australia. See the Travel Advice for Australia for more details. Check with the Solomon Islands Immigration Department at: http://www.commerce.gov.sb for any other visa related questions, including how to apply for research, business or residency permits.

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

Entry Requirements - Travelling with children
For information on exactly what will be required at immigration, both on entry and exit, contact The High Commission of Solomon Islands, Avenue Edouard Lacombe 17B, 1040 Brussels, Belgium; Tel: (00 32 2) 732 7085; Fax: (00 32 2) 732 6885.

Medical facilities are very basic. There are limited hospital facilities and medical supplies are not always available. The National Referral Hospital in Honiara frequently runs out of blood supplies and often has a very limited stock of oral re-hydration salts, paracetamol and basic antibiotics. Take a basic medical kit with you when visiting rural and remote areas.

Dengue fever and malaria occur in Solomon Islands; these diseases are transmitted by mosquitoes. There are no vaccinations against these diseases but there are preventative measures that you can take, as advised on the National Travel Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) website. Visit your GP to discuss appropriate anti malarial medication.

Scuba divers should be aware that there is a decompression chamber in Honiara, which is manned by volunteers. Registered dive operators can provide information on access arrangements.

Exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. For more general information on how to do this see HIV and AIDS.

Seek medical advice before travelling to Solomon Islands and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date. For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention visit the websites of the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) or 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 Solomon Islands are a part of the Pacific "Ring of Fire"; earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic activity can occur at any time. The 'ring-of-fire' is a horse-shoe-shaped zone of frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions that surrounds the basin of the Pacific Ocean. It is 40,000km long and is associated with a nearly continuous series of oceanic trenches, island arcs, and volcanic mountain ranges and/or plate movements. It is understood that 90% of the world's earthquakes and 81% of the world's largest earthquakes occur along the Ring of Fire, which is a direct consequence of plate tectonics and the movement of collisions of crustal plates. The island of Savo, 35 kilometres North West of Honiara, is a cyclically active volcano.

Natural Disasters - Earthquakes
Earthquakes occur frequently in Solomon Islands. Two earthquakes occurred in the Western Province on the morning of 4 January 2010 causing a local tsunami to hit the islands of Tetepare and Rendova causing significant structural damage. There were no reported deaths.

Sometimes localised tsunamis are caused by larger undersea earthquakes. The Solomon Islands authorities are responsible for providing tsunami warnings and alerts, usually through radio broadcasts. You can get up to date information from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre at: http://www.prh.noaa.gov/ptwc/. 

Natural Disasters - Tropical cyclones  
The tropical cyclone season in Solomon Islands normally runs from November to May. You should monitor local and international weather updates from the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and Solomon Islands Meteorological Service.

Heavy rain and flooding can affect the Solomon Islands. Travellers should be sure to check on local weather forecasts before travelling and should take appropriate precautions if travelling during the cyclone season. Bridges are often washed away as a result.

General - Insurance

You should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling, for the Solomon Islands this should include a provision for medical evacuation, and ensure that your policy covers you for all the activities that 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 - Registering with the British High Commission

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 - Replacement Passports

The British High Commission in Honiara does not issue full passports. Applications for a new passport can be sent to the Regional Passport Processing Centre at the British High Commission in Wellington, New Zealand. Apply at least two months before your passport is due to expire. Please be aware that you will not be allowed to retain your old passport while waiting for a replacement to be processed and returned. Your application will be processed as quickly as possible but, owing to the distances involved, delays can occur.

If you need to travel urgently and your normal passport is not available you should contact the High Commission in Honiara. You will be asked to supply evidence of your need to travel at short notice.

General - Mobile telephone network and Internet access

There are two mobile telephone networks operating in Solomon Islands. Coverage is limited but is being extended to smaller islands outside of the larger centres (Honiara, Auki, Gizo, Munda and Noro). Contact your service provider for further details. Your UK mobile phone is highly unlikely to work in the Solomon Islands at present. But local SIM cards and handsets are available. Solomon Telekom offers a hire service for satellite phones.

There are several internet cafes in Honiara; costs range from SB$16.00 (£1.28) to SB$120.00 (£9.60) per hour.  

General - Money

There are three banks operating in the Solomon Islands, but access to banking facilities is difficult in rural areas. ATMs are available in Honiara, Honiara Airport, Gizo, Munda and Auki.

General - Consular Assistance Statistics

Few British nationals visit the Solomon Islands each year. Most visits are trouble-free. Three British nationals required consular assistance in the period 01 April 2010 - 31 March 2011, including for two deaths.