Sub Saharan Africa

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

• Health
• Natural disasters
• General
 

Travel Summary

• At present, there have been no cases of the A (H1N1) virus (Swine Flu) confirmed in Mayotte. The World Health Organisation (WHO) Pandemic Threat Alert Phase has been raised to Level 6. The WHO website as further details. The French Authorities advise that travellers in Mayotte who think that they have flu symptoms should telephone "15" or contact a local General Practitioner for advice and assistance.  Further information and advice on what to do if you are in Mayotte and think you have flu symptoms . You should also monitor local media reports for any developments and advice. We also have a dedicated swine flu page. Guidance on Pandemic Flu can be obtained on the UK Department of Health website.
  
• Mayotte is a French Overseas Territory.  There is no formal British diplomatic or consular representation. See the General section of this advice for more details.
  
• Most visits to Mayotte are trouble-free. Eight British nationals required consular assistance in Mayotte in the period 01 April 2008 – 31 March 2009 for the following types of incident; deaths (4 cases); hospitalisations (2 cases); and arrests, for a variety of offences (2 cases). During this period assistance was also requested with regard to lost or stolen passports (27 cases).  Although the risk from crime is also low, it does exist and you should take normal common-sense precautions.
  
• 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 cyclone season in Mayotte normally runs from December to April.  See the Natural Disasters section of this advice and Tropical cyclones for more details.
  
• We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling to Mayotte. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. Please see General (Insurance) section and Travel Insurance of this advice for more details.

Safety and security

Terrorism

Local laws and customs

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

Entry requirements

Visas

Passport Validity

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

At present, there have been no cases of the A (H1N1) virus (Swine Flu) confirmed in Mayotte. The World Health Organisation (WHO) Pandemic Threat Alert Phase has been raised to Level6.  The WHO website has further details.  The French Authorities advise that travellers in Mayotte who think that they have flu symptoms should telephone "15" or contact a local General Practitioner for advice and assistance. Further information and advice on what to do if you are in Mayotte and think you have flu symptoms. You should also monitor local media reports for any developments and advice. See also our swine flu page. Guidance on Pandemic Flu can be obtained on the UK Department of Health website at www.dh.gov.uk.

The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) does not provide any health cover in Mayotte.

Chikungunya is a common problem, particularly in the warmer months (October-May).

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 Mayotte 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 Heath 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

The cyclone season in Mayotte normally runs from December to April. You should monitor local and international weather updates from the World Meteorological Organisation and International Cyclone Centre. 

For further information see Tropical cyclones.

General

Insurance

Registration

• More information about registering with LOCATE.
  

Representation in Mayotte

There is no resident British Diplomatic Mission in Mayotte. Routine consular matters are covered by the British Embassy in Paris.

In case of real emergency (death or serious accident), the British High Commission in Port Louis, Mauritius, may be able to provide limited assistance;

British High Commission
Les Cascades Building, ,
Edith Cavell Street,
Port Louise, PO Box 1063
Tel: (230) 202 9400
Fax: (230) 202 9407