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 Grenada. British nationals requiring emergency consular assistance should contact the British High Commission in Barbados. For all for other non-consular related matters please also contact the British High Commission in Bridgetown, Barbados.
  
  
• The hurricane season in Grenada normally runs from June to November.  See Natural Disasters - Hurricanes .
  
  
• Around 25,000 British nationals visit Grenada each year (Source: Grenada Tourist Authority). Most visits to Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique are trouble-free. The main types of incident for which British nationals required consular assistance in Grenada in 2009 were: replacing lost and stolen passports and dealing with arrests and detentions, mostly for drugs offences. 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. 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

Around 25,000 British tourists visit Grenada each year (source: Grenada Tourist Authority) and the vast majority of visits are trouble-free. Despite the relaxed atmosphere, 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.

See our Victims of crime abroad page.

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Road Travel

Driving standards in Grenada are not as high as in the UK and you need to be tolerant of the more relaxed attitude to the rules of the road of many Grenadian drivers.  In some areas, there are open drains at the side of roads; extra care is needed to negotiate potential hazards to tyres and bodywork.  Take particular care at pedestrian crossings, traffic lights and roundabouts even if you think you have the right of way.  Use only designated bus stops to ride the local mini buses; the practice of flagging down buses on busy roads is responsible for many accidents.  Many roads are steep, with hairpin bends and potholes in places; drive slowly and vigilantly.

Mini bus services are operating throughout the island, which provide relatively cheap and fast (often dangerously so) travel within Grenada. Water taxi and ferry services are alternative forms of travel.  Standard taxi fares exist for most destinations but it is sensible to clarify the fare with the driver before beginning a journey.  Self-drive cars can be hired locally.  Given the steepness of many roads in the mountainous hinterland, automatic four-wheel drive vehicles are popular, particularly following the damage to many roads caused by the Hurricanes.  You are required to purchase a local driving permit (East Caribbean Dollars 30 for a three-month permit) and will need to produce a full UK driving licence to obtain one.

See our Driving abroad page.

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Air Travel

You will have to pay a departure tax when leaving Grenada. The cost is East Caribbean Dollars 50 per person which can also be paid in US Dollars ($20). For more general information see Airline security.

Safety and Security - Political Situation

Grenada Country Profile

You should note that there are severe penalties for all drug offences. Pack all luggage yourself and do not carry anything through customs for anyone else.

Be aware that it is an offence for anyone, including children, to dress in camouflage clothing.

Certain homosexual acts are illegal under Grenadian laws.

See our Your trip page.

Entry Requirements - Visas

British passport holders do not need visas to enter Grenada for visits up to three months. You should note that overstaying without permission is an offence and paid employment is prohibited without a work permit.

Entry Requirements - Passport Validity

You must hold a valid passport to enter Grenada. Your passport must be valid for a minimum period of six months from the date of entry into Grenada.

Entry requirements may change from time to time and should be checked with the Grenada High Commission, London.

Entry Requirements - Foot and mouth disease

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

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. 

Make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad and repatriation.

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.

If you need emergency medical assistance during your trip, dial 434 / 440 2041 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.

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 our Tropical Cyclones page.

General - Insurance

You should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling.  It is particularly important that this includes air ambulance charges and medical costs in a third country as serious medical cases are often referred overseas. 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 then see our When things go wrong page.

General - Consular 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.  More information about registering with LOCATE

General - Passports

Keep a copy of the photopage of your passport and relevant entry stamp in case your documents are lost or stolen. The passport service for British nationals in Grenada 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 Grenada, 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.