Everything you need to know about a Haiti Visa
The
Carribean island of Haiti follows a very liberal entry policy.
In fact,
travelers from almost all countries can gain visa-free entry into the nation
and stay here for up to three months.
Certain
countries, such as Colombia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Palestine, and Panama,
don’t fall under the visa-free regime.
However, nationalities from even these
nations, who hold a valid visa or resident permit issued by the US, Canada, or
a Schengen country, can enter Haiti without a visa and stay for up to 90 days.
As
you must already have guessed by now, British passport holders do not need a
visa to travel to Haiti. They can visit the nation for a span, not exceeding 90
days, by availing the visa-exemption facility.
However, upon arrival, you would
need to pay a sum of US $10 as tourist entry fee, payable in cash.
Apart
from this, there are certain simple requirements that you should follow in
order to have a seamless experience at Haiti borders.
One of the primary
documents that you must own is your British citizen passport, which has a
validity of at least six months from the date of entry into the country. It
should also have a minimum of two unused visa pages.
Additionally,
make sure that you carry authentic proof, which specifies your onward or return
travel plans. You are also advised to possess evidence of sufficient funds that
would support your intended stay period in the nation.
Now,
if your travel plans include work- or study-related activities, you should
contact the Embassy of the Republic of Haiti in the UK at the following
address:
Embassy
of the Republic of Haiti, London
21
Bloomsbury Way, London, WC1A 2TH
Telephone:
0203 771 1427
Departure tax
All foreign travelers, including British visitors, need to pay a departure tax of US $55 when they exit Haiti. Usually, this amount is included in the price of your ticket.
It is always better to confirm this information with your airline or tour operator prior to your travel dates.
If in the rare case that the tax is not calculated in your total fare, you should ensure that you carry the required cash in US dollars or local currency while exiting from Haiti.
Additional points to note
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) strongly recommends that foreigners should avoid all kinds of visits to Haiti until the reasons are really urgent and absolutely essential.
This is because of the current volatile and dangerous situation in the country. If you are staying in Haiti, you need to keep close track of your exit plans and should be aware of the ongoing situation.
Although there is a British Embassy in Haiti, it is non-operational due to the absence of UK diplomats. Hence, consular support is severely limited. In the case of an emergency, you can contact the British Embassy in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
As far as the medical scene is concerned, there is no risk of yellow fever transmission in the country.
But you need to produce a certificate if you are arriving from a country that holds a risk of yellow fever transmission. However, health facilities are limited in Haiti and you are advised to carry comprehensive health and medical insurance when you visit the region.
Haiti follows strict laws when it comes to possessing or trafficking illegal drugs. If you are convicted, you will get entangled in never-ending legal proceedings, heavy imprisonment, and hefty fines.
Moreover, in Haiti, the local community has a conservative attitude when it concerns the LGBT community, although same-sex sexual activities are deemed legal by law.