North and Central America and Caribbean

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

• Health
• Natural disasters
• General
 

Travel Summary

• There is currently a dengue fever epidemic in Guadeloupe. See the Health section of this Travel Advice.
  
  
• Guadeloupe is a French Overseas Territory.  There is no formal British diplomatic or consular representation.  See the General section of this Travel Advice.
  
  
• Several hundred British nationals visit Guadeloupe each year. Most visits to are trouble-free. The main type of incident for which British nationals required consular assistance in Guadeloupe in 2007 was dealing with arrests or detentions. Although the risk from crime is also low, it does exist and you should take normal common-sense precautions. See the Crime section of this Travel Advice.
  
  
• The threat from terrorism is low.  But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be against civilian targets, including places frequented by foreigners.
  
  
• Although the risk from crime is also low, it does exist and you should take precautions.  See the Crime section of this Travel Advice.
  
  
• The hurricane season in Guadeloupe normally runs from June to November.  See the Natural Disasters section of this advice for more details. See the Natural Disasters section of this Travel Advice.
  
  
• We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling to Guadeloupe. See the General (Insurance) section of this Travel Advice.

Safety and security

Terrorism

The threat from terrorism is low.  But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks, which could be against civilian targets, including places frequented by foreigners. For more general information see our Terrorism abroad page.

Crime

You should take sensible precautions and avoid isolated areas, including beaches, after dark.  Do not carry large amounts of cash or jewellery.  Valuables and travel documents should, where possible, be left in safety deposit boxes and hotel safes.  For more general information see our Victims of crime abroad page.

Local laws and customs

For more general information for different types of travellers see our Your trip page.

Entry requirements

Visas

 Guadeloupe is an Overseas Department of France (départements d’outre-mer). If you are a British Citizen or British Subject with Right of Abode in the United Kingdom, you will not need a visa to enter Guadeloupe.  Other British passport holders should confirm the current entry requirements with the nearest French Diplomatic mission.  All British passport holders require a valid passport.  There is no minimum passport validity requirement but you should ensure that your passport is valid for the proposed period of your stay.  

Travelling with children

 Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country. For further information on exactly what will be required at immigration please contact the French Embassy in London.

Health

General health care facilities, including emergency services in health service hospitals and the availability of doctors (GPs), in Guadeloupe are very good and of an equivalent standard to those found in mainland France.  Specialist treatment is also available.    

You should obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before leaving the UK.  The EHIC is not a substitute for medical and travel insurance, but entitles you to emergency medical treatment on the same terms as French nationals.  It also does not provide you for medical repatriation, on-going medical treatment or treatment of a non-urgent nature.  For more general information see EHIC.

The EHIC provides emergency health cover for treatment in Guadeloupe by the French state health service for which you will have to pay but for which you will be able to claim back up to 70% of the costs on your return to the UK. Visitors travelling (or being air lifted) to Guadeloupe from other non-French islands specifically for medical treatment should be aware that such treatment will not necessarily be covered.

British nationals planning a permanent move to Guadeloupe, especially those who have not yet reached retirement age, should consult the UK Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) at the earliest opportunity to obtain advice on their longer-term entitlement as residents to health care provision under the French national system.  Enquiries should be made to the DWP Overseas Medical Benefits help-line on 00 44 191 218 1999 which is open on Mondays to Fridays from 08.00 to 20.00 daily. Alternatively, information can be obtained direct from the English language service of the Caisse Primaire d’Assurance Maladie (French social security service) on 00 33 8 20 90 42 12 or CLEISS (the Helpdesk in France for international mobility and social security - english version available) on 00 33 1 45 26 33 4.

There is currently a dengue fever epidemic. Symptoms include severe headache, muscle and joint pains and severe pain and bright red rash. There may also be gastritis with a combination abdominal pain, nausia vomiting, or diarrhoea. Should travellers to Guadeloupe believe they are suffering such symptoms, they should consult a doctor.

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 Guadeloupe 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.

For more general health information see our Travel Health page.

Natural disasters

Hurricanes

The hurricane season in Guadeloupe normally runs June to November. You should monitor local and international weather updates from the World Meteorological Organisation and the National Hurricane Centre. Please see Tropical Cyclones for more detailed information about what to do if you are caught up in a hurricane.

General

Insurance  We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling to Guadeloupe. You should check 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 page.

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 can be found here.

Consular Assistance

There is no resident British Diplomatic Mission in Guadeloupe.  Routine consular matters are covered by the British Embassy in Paris.  In case of emergency, contact the Honorary British Consul in Guadeloupe, 23 rue Sadi Carnot, 97110 Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe; (tel:  00 590 590 825 757; fax:  00 590 590 828 933).