Foreign travel advice

St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha

Summary

Before you travel, check the ‘Entry requirements’ section for St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha’s current entry restrictions and requirements. These may change with little warning. Monitor this advice for the latest updates and stay in contact with your travel provider.

If you plan to pass through another country to return to the UK, check the travel advice for the country you’re transiting.

It is more important than ever to get travel insurance and check it provides sufficient cover. See the FCDO’s guidance on foreign travel insurance.

St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha are British Overseas Territories. There is no formal British diplomatic representation on any of the islands and the local authorities deal with all requests for emergency assistance. See Emergency Assistance

Although there’s no recent history of terrorism in St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, attacks can’t be ruled out. See Terrorism

Travel to Tristan da Cunha is by sea only.

Weekly flights between St Helena and Johannesburg are provided by Airlink. Between the end of November and February these flights will be twice weekly.

The South Atlantic Airbridge has returned to Ascension Island. There is also a monthly charter flight between Ascension and St Helena. You should contact your travel agent, local tour booking office or Ascension Island employer for the latest up-to-date information on entitlements to flight access to Ascension. See Getting to St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha

An adequate standard of medical care is available on Ascension Island, but it is limited and is not free to visitors. Medical evacuations are possible but expensive so medical insurance cover, including cover for COVID-19, is mandatory. An adequate standard of medical care is available on St Helena but costs for major treatment can be high. Medical treatment on Tristan da Cunha is limited, not free and major treatment can be very expensive, especially if repatriation to Cape Town is needed. All visitors should carry health insurance to cover the costs of repatriation and medical treatment. See Health

You can contact all the emergency services (fire, police, ambulance) in St Helena and Ascension by calling 999.