North and Central America and Caribbean

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
 

• There is no British High Commission in Dominica.  British nationals requiring  emergency consular assistance should contact the British Honorary Consul, Tina Alexander, on 1(767) 275 7800.  If the Honorary Consul is not available and for all other non-consular related matters please contact the British High Commission in Bridgetown, Barbados.
  
  
• Around 5,000 British nationals visit Dominica each (Source: Dominican Immigration).  Most visits to Dominica are trouble free.  However, you should be aware that cases of robbery and other crimes do occur. See Safety and Security - Crime.
  
  
• 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.
  
  
• You should take out 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 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. For more general information see our Terrorism Abroad page.

Safety and Security - Crime

Around 5,000 British tourists visit Dominica each year (Source: Dominica Immigration) and the vast majority of visits are trouble free. However, there have been incidents of violent crime including murder. These tend to occur within the local community but can sometimes affect tourists.

You should maintain at least the same level of security awareness as you would in the UK and ensure that your living accommodation is secure. Apply the same measures if you are staying on a yacht. Avoid walking alone in isolated areas, including beaches after dark.  Do not carry large amounts of cash or jewellery. Valuables and travel documents should be left, where possible, in safety deposit boxes and hotel safes.

For more general information see our Victims of crime page.
 

Safety and Security - Local Travel

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Road Travel

Motorists drive on the left in Dominica.  Most roads are paved but driving can be difficult due to blind corners, and poor road surfaces lacking grip. Speed limits are posted in kilometres per hour and although there is no enforced limit in rural areas, you should take extra care. Outside of the capital and larger towns roads are unlit, so driving at night can be extremely hazardous. Caution should be exercised when driving on the main road from Melville Hall airport which is prone to landslides following bad weather and has a number of sheer drops where the road has fallen away.  Driving on this road at night is not recommended as road signs warning of landslides are not visible. Road signs are poor and a map is essential. Pedestrians walk on the roads because of a lack of pavements. In the event of an accident, stop your vehicle and call the police.

For more general information see our Driving Abroad page.
 

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Air Travel

You will have to pay a departure tax when leaving Dominica of 54 East Caribbean Dollars (for each traveller aged 12 years or older).  The equivalent in US dollars (US$21) is accepted.

Safety and Security - Political Situation

Dominica Country Profile 

There are severe penalties for all drug offences.  Pack all luggage yourself and do not carry anything through Customs for anyone else. You should be aware that it is an offence for anyone, including children, to dress in camouflage clothing. For more general information for different types of travellers see our Your trip page.

Entry Requirements - Visas

British Passport holders do not require visas to visit Dominica and can stay in the country for up to six months.

Entry requirements may change from time to time and should be checked with the Office of the High Commissioner for the Commonwealth of Dominica.

Entry Requirements - Passport Validity

You must hold a valid passport to enter Dominica. 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 - Return Air Ticket

You must hold a return air ticket.  If you fail to do so, you may be refused entry to Dominica.

Entry Requirements - Foot and mouth disease

You are banned from bringing meat products into Dominica from the United Kingdom in your personal luggage.

Dengue fever is common across the Caribbean and can occur throughout the year. Dengue is a mosquito-borne infection that can cause a feverish illness associated with headache, muscle aches and pains, and rash.  Some cases of dengue are severe. Dengue can be prevented by avoiding being bitten by the disease-carrying mosquitoes that feed predominately during daylight hours. For more information on prevention, see the National Travel Health Network and Centre website:  http://www.nathnac.org/pro/factsheets/dengue.htm 

You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. For more general information on how to do this see our HIV and AIDS page.

You should seek medical advice before travelling to Dominica 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  NaTHNaC or NHS Scotland's Fit For Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

For more general health information see our Travel Health and Swine flu pages.

Natural Disasters - Hurricanes
The hurricane season in the Caribbean normally runs from June to November. You should monitor local and international weather updates from the World Meteorological Organisation and the US National Hurricane Centre. For more general information see Tropical Cyclones.  Earthquakes   Dominica is susceptible to periodic earth tremors.

General - Insurance

You should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance, which includes medical evacuation by air ambulance, before travelling.  Check for any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake.  For more general information see our Travel Insurance page.

If things do go wrong when you are overseas see When Things go wrong.

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 - Passports

Keep a copy of the photopage of your passport and relevant entry stamp in case your documents are stolen.

The passport service for British nationals in Dominica has now moved from Barbados to the UK Passport Service Centre for the Americas and Caribbean in Washington D.C. (http://ukinusa.fco.gov.uk/passports).  

If you are applying for a renewal of your UK passport and you are in Dominica, your application, with the appropriate passport fee plus a return courier fee of US $21, should be sent direct to:

The UK Passport Service for the Americas and Caribbean
British Embassy
19 Observatory Circle, NW
Washington, DC 20008

The British High Commission in Bridgetown will continue to issue Emergency Passports for people who have lost their passports and who have an urgent need to travel to the UK.