South America and South Atlantic Islands

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

• Health
• Natural disasters
• General
 

Travel Summary

• There is no British Embassy in Suriname.  British Nationals requiring  emergency consular assistance  should contact  the British Honorary Consul on (00) (597) 402 558 or (00) (597) 402 870.  If the Honorary Consul is not available and for all other non-consular related matters please contact the British High Commission in Georgetown, Guyana.   See the General section of this Travel Advice.
  
  
• Very few British tourists/nationals visit Suriname every year.  Most visits are trouble-free.  We are not aware of any British nationals who required consular assistance in Suriname in 2008 but burglary, armed robbery and violent crime occur with some frequency in Paramaribo and in outlying areas.  See the Crime section of this Travel Advice.
  
  
• Dengue Fever is endemic to Latin America and the Caribbean and can occur throughout the year.    See the Health section of this Travel Advice.
  
  
• There is a low threat from terrorism.  But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate attacks which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
  
  
• We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. See the General (Insurance) section of this Travel Advice and Travel Insurance .

Safety and security

Terrorism
 
There is a low threat from terrorism.  But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate attacks which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. For more general information see Terrorism Abroad.  

Crime
 
In December 2009, various incidents (fights, arson, looting, theft and rape) occurred in Papatam, an area adjacent to Albina, in the eastern part of Suriname, located on the Marowijne River after a Surinamese national had been stabbed by a Brazilian national.  The situation was immediately brought under control by the Surinamese Authorities.

Burglary, armed robbery and violent crime occur with some frequency in Paramaribo and in outlying areas.  Pickpocketing and robbery are increasingly common in the major business and shopping districts in the capital.  You should avoid wearing expensive jewellery or displaying large amounts of money in public.  Photocopies of valuables such as passport, tickets, driving licence and travellers cheques should be kept separately.
 
You should avoid the Palm Garden (Palmentium) area in Paramaribo, especially at night.  Walking at night is not recommended anywhere in the city.
 
Travel in the interior is generally trouble-free, although there have been reports of tourists being robbed.  If you intend to travel to the interior you are advised to use a well-established tour company.

For more general information see Victims of Crime Abroad.
 
Political Situation

Suriname Country Profile
 
Local Government elections will be held on 25 May 2010. You should avoid large crowds, demonstrations and political gatherings.

Local Travel
 
Although the UN’s International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea in 2007 ruled on the maritime border dispute between Suriname and Guyana, Suriname still claims an area of land (the New River Triangle) in the South East of Guyana.  Suriname also has a border dispute with French Guiana. If you are near border areas, you should keep this in mind and exercise due caution.
 
Sea Travel
 
There have been reports of attacks against fishing boats in and around the waters of Suriname.  Mariners are advised to be vigilant and take precautions. For more general information see River and Sea Safety.

Local laws and customs

Drug trafficking is a serious offence.  Possession and trafficking in drugs leads to lengthy prison sentences and heavy fines.  Pack all luggage yourself and do not carry any items that do not belong to you.

For more general information for different types of travellers see Your Trip.

Entry requirements

Visas  

British visitors require visas to enter Suriname.  They must be obtained in advance.  Visa information can be obtained from the Suriname Consulate in Amsterdam; Telephone: (00) (31) 206 426 137; Fax: (00) (31) 206 465 311; E-mail: mailto:info@consulaatsuriname.nl).

You can also contact the Suriname Honorary Consul in the UK:

Dr.Amwedhkar Jethu
33 Pier House
31 Cheyne Walk
London SW3 5HG
United Kingdom
Tel: (44) (0)20.7521.1139
Mobile: (44) (0)7788-196 326
Email: ajethu@honoraryconsul.info
 
Anyone planning to stay longer than three months in Suriname must apply for an Authorization of Temporary Stay (MVK) before they travel.  It is no longer possible to apply for a short term visa and then extend this in-country. Applications for an MVK should be made at least three months before the intended date of travel.

Yellow Fever vaccination  

If you are arriving from Guyana, French Guiana or Brazil you are required to show proof of a yellow fever vaccination.  

Departure tax  

All passengers leaving Suriname must pay a departure tax.  The current fee is $46/€ 33.  It cannot be paid in Surinamese dollars; only US dollars or Euros are accepted.

Health

Medical facilities are severely limited in Suriname.  You are advised to ensure that your insurance covers the cost of medical evacuation.

Malaria is common to certain areas outside Paramaribo. Dengue fever is common to Latin America and the Caribbean and its frequency is on the rise. Cases can occur throughout the year.

In the 2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 6,700 adults aged 15 or over in Suriname were living with HIV; the prevalence rate was estimated at around 2.4% of the adult population. This compares to the prevalence rate in adults in the UK of around 0.2%.  You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. For more general information on how to do this see HIV and AIDS.

You should seek medical advice before travelling to Suriname 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 Travel Health.

Natural disasters

Much of the north and centre of Suriname is prone to flooding.

General

Insurance

We recommend 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 Travel Insurance.

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

Money

Credit cards are not widely accepted outside the major hotels in Suriname.  You should still check with your intended hotel to confirm that credit cards are accepted and bring sufficient currency to cover your anticipated expenditure.  Please note that sterling cannot be exchanged; you should bring US dollars or Euros.

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.

Registering with the British Honorary Consulate

Long term visitors to Suriname should register their presence with the British Honorary Consulate.
 
British Honorary Consul
c/o VSH United Buildings
Van’t Hogerhuysstraat 9-11
PO Box 1860
Paramaribo
 
Telephone: +597 402558/402870
 
Facsimile: +597 403515/403824
 
Email: britishconsulate@vshunited.com
 
Office hours:  (GMT): Mon-Fri: 11:00-20:15
(Local): Mon-Fri: 08:00-16:15