South America and South Atlantic Islands

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 places, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. For further information and advice see our Terrorism Abroad page.

Political Situation

 

Falkland Islands Country Profile

Crime

There is little crime or disorder on the Falkland Islands.

For more general advice see our Victims of Crime page.

 

Local Travel

For longer distances, the Falkland Islands Government Air Service operate three Britten Norman "Islander" aircraft from Stanley Airport to other destinations throughout the Islands.  Due to weather and other restrictions it is always worth checking that your flight is confirmed before travelling to Stanley Airport.

Road Travel

Four wheel drive vehicles are most commonly used.  Roads in Stanley are metalled, as is much of the 35-mile Mount Pleasant Airport to Stanley road.  In addition, there are some around 200 miles of unsurfaced roads on the islands. Coach and taxi services are available to and from Mount Pleasant Airport for the RAF and LAN Chile arrivals and departures.  Taxi services are available in Stanley.  Local transport should be booked in advance.

 

Speed limits are 25 miles per hour in the Stanley area and 40 miles per hour on other roads.  Because of the condition of most roads and the strong winds, extreme care must be exercised when driving outside Stanley, especially on the road between Mount Pleasant Airport and Stanley.

 

Self-drive four-by-four vehicles are available for hire and a UK driving licence is sufficient.  Seat belts should be worn on all roads.   Laws on drinking and driving are strictly enforced.

For more general information see Driving Abroad.

 

Mines

 

You should be aware that unexploded ordinance from the 1982 conflict remains on the Falkland Islands  This is in well-mapped and fenced-off areas; it is illegal to enter one of these areas. Detailed maps of minefield locations are available locally on request.

Customs officers are on duty at all inward international flights. Travellers are warned that drug trafficking is considered a serious offence and will be dealt with severely.

Mount Pleasant Airport is a military site and photography is not permitted.

For more general advice for different types of travellers see Your trip.

On arrival in the Falkland Islands you must have:

Travellers who intend to visit or stay on the Falkland Islands should also check if an entry visa for the UK or Chile is required for the journey (see Air Services below). A Direct Airside Transit Visa cannot be used for travelling to the Islands via the UK.

If a UK or Chilean visa is required it is essential that it is also valid for the date of the planned return journey. There are no facilities to issue UK or Chilean visas on the Islands.

Passengers travelling on the RAF service may also require an entry permit for Ascension Island. Permission to visit Ascension Island must be obtained in advance from the Administrator by the submission of an Entry Permit Application which can be downloaded from the website:  Ascension Island Government or by e-mail to: enquiries@ascension.gov.ac. Completed forms should be returned either by e-mail or by fax to +247 6152.

Visitors are prohibited from obtaining paid employment without first obtaining a work permit.

For further information on entry requirements and RAF ticket services, you are advised to check with the Falkland Islands Government Office, Falkland House, 14 Broadway, Westminster, London SW1H OBH; Tel: 020 7222 2542; Fax:  020 7222 2375; e-mail: mailto:representative@falklands.gov.fk.

The general standard of healthcare in the Falkland Islands is good.  Treatment is free to UK Citizens but you will have to demonstrate proof of residence in the UK (e.g. medical card or driving licence).  The only hospital is located in Stanley and offers very modern facilities with a full complement of medical, dental and nursing staff.  There is no resident qualified optician. More complex treatments might require medical evacuation. You should ensure that your travel insurance is sufficient to cover this.

RAF Brize Norton - Testing for Swine Flu

In order to protect MOD operational capability, it has become mandatory for all passengers arriving at RAF Brize Norton Passenger Terminal for check-in to automatically have their temperature tested as a preventative measure against the further spread of Swine Flu, this includes all civilian passengers travelling southbound to Ascension Island and the Falkland Islands.  Although this testing is quick and easy, please be aware that it will inevitably cause a slight disruption and delay to the check-in process. If your temperature is found to be of a high enough degree to cause concern you will be given 30 minutes 'cool-down' to allow for re-testing and temperature verification. This could cause some passengers to miss their flight check-in if they arrive too close to the 'Latest Arrival Time' to allow for the completion of this procedure. Therefore, it is recommended that all passengers programme extra time into their travel plans to allow for any possible false negative tests and cool down period.

If any passenger fails the second temperature test after 30 minutes, they will be refused boarding the flight and unable to travel again for a further seven days. Consequently, it is suggested that all passengers keep their transport available until after the testing is completed and civilian passengers are strongly advised to ensure they take out adequate travel insurance to cover such an eventuality. 

MOD have advised that they will keep the screening programme under constant review by balancing medical and operational advice accordingly.  Anyone who is due to depart from RAF Brize Norton should direct any questions to the Passenger Flight Information Line on 01993 896050.

A (H1N1) (Swine Flu)

There are confirmed human cases of the H1N1 virus - Swine Flu in the Falkland Islands.  You can check for  a statement on the overall situation on the Falkland Islands Government website.  There is a dedicated  Swine Flu page.  Guidance on Pandemic Flu can be obtained on the UK Department of Health website.

Yellow Fever

The Ministry of Defence recommends inoculation against Yellow Fever for passengers travelling on the RAF service in case flights are diverted to a risk area.

HIV and AIDs

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

General

You should seek medical advice before travelling to Falkland 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 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.

Insurance

 

Falkland Islands Government regulations state that you obtain 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. For more general information see our Travel Insurance page.

Here's how we can help if things go wrong.

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.
 

Consular representation

The Falkland Islands is a British Overseas Territory and as such there is no formal British Consular representation.  In an emergency, Government House in Stanley will assist British nationals.

The Falkland Island pound is fixed at a rate of one pound Sterling.  Bank of England coins and notes are fully accepted in the Islands at full value.

Air services

LANChile Airlines currently operate a once weekly service to Mount Pleasant Airport from Punta Arenas in southern Chile.  Onward air connections from Punta Arenas are available to Puerto Montt and Santiago de Chile, and onward from Santiago to other international destinations.  Once a month this service stops in Rio Gallegos, on the southern coast of Argentina.  The service will pick up passengers in Rio Gallegos on one week (usually the second Saturday of the month), and drops off passengers in Rio Gallegos the following week.  You should check with LANChile in advance for up to date information on Chile/Falkland Islands air services.

The RAF operate a fare-paying service from RAF Brize Norton (via Ascension Island) to Mount Pleasant Airport twice weekly.  This service can be subject to delays due to poor weather conditions, especially during the Southern Hemisphere winter.  The total journey time is approximately 20 hours. For further information, and how to book this service visit the Falkland Islands website or contact Falkland Islands Government House (see below for contact details).  You are advised to carry some currency in US$ in case the flight is diverted to South America or North Africa.

Weather

Beware of weather changes. The weather can change rapidly and it is often possible to experience several seasons in a single day. The sun can be very strong. Wearing of good sunglasses, hats and a high-factor sunscreen is recommended.

Departure tax

There is a £22 departure tax on leaving the Islands.

London office

The Falkland Islands Government maintains an office in London that can provide further information for people wishing to visit the islands.  Their contact details are:

Falkland Islands Government Office
Falkland House
14 Broadway
Westminster
LONDON
SW1H OBH

Tel:  020 7222 2542
Fax:  020 7222 2375
E-mail:  representative@falklands.gov.uk

 

Money

 

The Falkland Island pound is fixed at a rate of one pound Sterling.  Bank of England coins and notes are fully accepted in the Islands at full value. However, some travellers have experienced difficulties in exchanging Falkland Islands’ notes at their bank on return to the UK. You should therefore limit the amount of Falkland Islands currency you carry on departure.

 

In Stanley, many of the main shops, hotels and restaurants will accept MasterCard or Visa.  However, credit cards are not widely acceptable in Camp (the countryside).  You should check when making bookings.  There are no ATM cash machines on the Islands.  UK cheques can be cashed (for a fee).