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
 

• Montserrat is a British Overseas Territory.  There is no formal British diplomatic or consular representation in Montserrat and the local authorities deal with all requests for consular assistance.  See General - Consular Representation.
  
  
• The Soufriere Hills Volcano has been intermittently active since 1995. Around one third of the island is virtually unaffected by volcanic activity. The other two-thirds are vulnerable to volcanic hazard.  See the Natural Disasters (Soufriere Hills Volcano) section of this advice for more details.
  
  
• 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.
  
  
• The hurricane season in Montserrat normally runs from June to November. See the Natural Disasters - Hurricanes.
• You should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling.  See General - Insurance.

Safety and Security - Terrorism
The threat from terrorism is low, but you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate attacks which could be in public places, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.  For more general information see Terrorism Abroad. 

Safety and Security - Crime
There is a low rate of crime in Montserrat.  Nevertheless, take the same sensible precautions against petty crime as you would at home.  Do not leave valuables lying around; keep them in your hotel safety deposit box. See our Victims of Crime Abroad page.
 
Safety and Security - Local Travel - Air Travel
There are two companies offering flights from Antigua’s VC Bird International Airport to the John A. Osborne Airport in Montserrat. They are FLY MONTSERRAT (www.FlyMontserrat.com. ) and SVG Air (www.svgair.com/), both operate 9-seater Islander Aircraft. Between them they offer five flights per day in each direction. Baggage space is limited and each passenger is only allowed one piece of checked baggage no heavier than 20kgs. Oversized bags cannot be carried due to the small baggage hold on these flights. Check in times at both airports in Antigua and Montserrat is 90 minutes before the flights depart.

Passengers are charged an embarkation tax and security charge when leaving Montserrat. Please see the Entry Requirements section of this travel advice for more details.

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Road Travel
Minibuses are available along a number of routes in Montserrat (minimum fare EC$3), but with no regular schedules.
 
Car rental is available.  To rent a car, or to drive in Montserrat, you will need to obtain a temporary Visitor’s Driving Licence.  These are available from any police station on production of a valid driving licence and on payment of a fee of EC$50.  The Temporary licence is valid for three months.  When driving a vehicle, remember to drive on the left, as in the UK. There is a speed limit of 20 mph due to multiple hairpin bends.  Do not drink and drive. See our Driving Abroad page.

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Sea Travel
There is a ferry service between Port Little Bay in Montserrat and the Deep Water Harbour in Antigua. The ferry runs each day from Wednesday to Saturday in each direction and travel time is two hours. Check in time is ninety minutes before departure at both ports. Ferry times & prices can be found at: www.visitmontserrat.com.

Ferry passengers are charged similar embarkation & security charges as airline passengers.

Safety and Security - Local Travel - Political Situation
Montserrat Country Profile
The last General Elections were held on 8 September 2009 and the Movement for Change and Prosperity won the majority of seats in the Legislative Council and formed a Government.

There are harsh penalties if you are caught with drugs of any kind. You should observe the customs regulations on the importation and exportation of agricultural products and the protection of marine and animal life. There are a number of marine and animal specimens that may not be taken from the islands. If in doubt check with the local customs authorities prior to the purchase, importation or exportation of such items. For those returning to the UK, please observe the UK Customs and Excise rules on the illegal importation of meat and animal products.  For more general information for different types of travellers see Your Trip page.

Entry Requirements - Visas
You do not require a visa for Montserrat if you are either a full British passport holder or a British Overseas Territory passport holder.
 
For visa enquiries, non-British passport holders should contact the Identity and Passport Service at the Home Office on 020 7901 2334 from 1000 to 1600 GMT (Mon-Fri).

Entry Requirements - Passport validity
You must hold a valid passport to enter Montserrat. 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 - Embarkation Tax
When you leave Montserrat you will be charged an embarkation tax.  For residents this is EC$25 and for non-residents it is EC$45.  In addition, there is a security charge of EC$10 for every passenger departing from John A Osbourne Airport. This is payable at check-in.

Entry Requirements - 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.

Montserrat has a small hospital with limited facilities. Anyone requiring specialist medical treatment may need to travel to a neighbouring island.

There is currently no private dental practice on the Island however there is an evening and weekend practice available to all.

If you suffer from asthma or other respiratory problems you could be affected by airborne dust, volcanic ash and gases.

Dengue fever is common to Latin America and the Caribbean and can occur throughout the year.  In October 2011, there were three cases of dengue fever in Montserrat.  You should exercise normal precautions to prevent insect bites.

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

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

See our Travel Health page. 

The Soufriere Hills Volcano has been active since 1995, with a fluctuating level of activity. In that time, the activity has been mainly pyroclastic flows on the eastern and western flanks of the volcano. An area around the volcano, containing approximately two-thirds of the island, is vulnerable to volcanic hazard and is a no-go area. In addition there are three areas around the coastline which are designated Maritime Exclusion Zones where no shipping should enter. Visitors should seek local advice as to safety precautions and access restrictions.

A Hazard Level System was introduced in August 2008. The Hazard Level System divides the southern two-thirds of Montserrat, into six zones with two Maritime Exclusion Zones. Access permission for each of these zones is dependent on the level of volcanic activity. The current Hazard Level is 2, on a scale of 1 to 5. Please see the Montserrat Volcano Observatory website for further information on the Hazard Level System and for a map showing the zones.  Leaflets and maps are also available in the arrivals hall at John A Osborne Airport. You should ensure that you take a copy of these leaflets on arrival.

To enter controlled access areas, you will require a police licence from the Royal Montserrat Police Force. Applications should be made at the Salem Police Station and should contain the reasons why access is being requested.

Homeowners in Zones A and B which can be vulnerable to volcanic activity have been advised to be ready to relocate at short notice if necessary should the volcanic threat increase. The volcanic situation remains under constant review. 

Natural Disasters - Maritime Exclusion Zone
There are three areas around Montserrat's coastlines designated as Maritime Exclusion Zones. Shipping should not enter these zones. The largest of these extends for 4km on the eastern side of the island and there are two on the western side of the island. The most southerly of the two extends for 2km off shore and the third for a half kilometre off shore. Maps showing these zones along with their GPS co-ordinates are available to mariners at the Montserrat Port Authority at Port Little Bay.

Natural Disasters - Other general information  
An island-wide siren system is installed to warn of volcanic activity. If the sirens sound, please tune in immediately to Radio Montserrat (ZJB) for a related safety message on FM 88.3 or 95.5. ZJB also provides regular scientific updates and advice. High levels of ash can occasionally lead to cancellations of flights into and out of the island with little notice. Visits to the public areas of the Montserrat Volcano Observatory (MVO) are permitted.  Further details of such visits and the status of the volcano can be obtained from the MVO's website.

Natural Disasters - Hurricanes
The hurricane season in the Caribbean normally runs from June to November. Monitor local and international weather updates from the World Meteorological Organisation and the US National Hurricane Centre. See our Tropical cyclones page.

General - Insurance  
You are advised to obtain adequate medical insurance before travelling. This should cover the cost of medical evacuation to, and other medical costs in a third country. Check for any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. For more general information see Travel Insurance.

If things do go wrong when you are oversees then this is How We Can Help.

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 - Consular Representation
Montserrat is a British Overseas Territory and as such there is no formal British Consular Representation. The Governor's Office in Brades will assist you in providing contact details of where to go in an emergency.

General - Passport Queries
All enquiries regarding passport services should be made to the UK Passport Centre in Washington D.C, as this is the office which deals with passport queries from Montserrat. 

The mailing address is:

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

Further information, guidance and copies of application forms can be obtained online at www.ukinusa.fco.gov.uk.

General - Money
Few shops, hotels or restaurants accept credit cards. The local currency is the Eastern Caribbean dollar. It is fixed to the dollar at 2.68 Eastern Caribbean Dollars to 1 US Dollar. US Dollars are widely accepted. The territory has limited but modern banking facilities.