Antigua and Barbuda
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Warnings and insurance
Before you travel听
No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to:听
- 蝉别别听general advice for women travellers
- read our guide on disability and travel abroad
- 蝉别别听general advice for LGBT+ travellers
- read about听safety for solo and independent travel
- see advice on volunteering and adventure travel abroad
Travel insurance听
If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.听
About FCDO travel advice
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice.听
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Entry requirements
This information is for people travelling on a full 鈥楤ritish citizen鈥� passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government鈥檚 understanding of Antigua and Barbuda鈥檚 current rules for the most common types of travel.
The authorities in Antigua and Barbuda set and enforce entry rules. If you鈥檙e not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the .
Passport validity requirements听
To enter Antigua and Barbuda, your passport must have an 鈥榚xpiry date鈥� at least 6 months after the date you arrive.听
Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.听听
You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.听
Visa requirements听
You can visit Antigua and Barbuda without a visa. On entry, you鈥檒l be allowed to stay for a maximum period of 90 days.
Applying for a visa听
To stay longer (to work or study, for business travel or for other reasons), you must apply and pay for an extension of stay through the .听
It is illegal to overstay the entry period or to work without a work permit.听听
Airport tax听
Most airlines include departure tax in their flight costs. If you鈥檙e flying on regional airlines, you should check whether tax is included before you travel.听
Vaccine requirements听听
To enter Antigua and Barbuda, you must have a certificate to prove you鈥檝e had a yellow fever vaccination if you鈥檙e coming from a听.
For full details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see .听
Customs rules听
There are strict rules about . You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.听
Safety and security
罢别谤谤辞谤颈蝉尘听听
There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets. Stay aware of your surroundings at all times.听
UK Counter Terrorism Policing has information and advice on and what to do in the event of a terrorist attack. Find out how to reduce your risk from terrorism while abroad.听
Terrorism in Antigua and Barbuda听
Although there鈥檚 no recent history of terrorism in Antigua and Barbuda, attacks cannot be ruled out.听
颁谤颈尘别听
There have been incidents of violent crime including murder, armed robbery and sexual assault in Antigua and Barbuda.听
Take sensible precautions to protect your personal safety. You should:听听
- make sure your accommodation is secure 鈥� this also applies if you are staying on a yacht听
- take care when walking alone off the busy main roads听
- avoid isolated areas, including beaches, particularly after dark听
- only use licensed taxis听
- take particular care around large gatherings, including street and beach parties, especially after dark or during the festival season
- not carry large amounts of cash or jewellery听
- leave valuables and travel documents in a safety deposit box or secure hotel safe听
Laws and cultural differences听听
Illegal drugs and prison sentences听
It is illegal to possess drugs. There are severe penalties for all drug offences. Pack all luggage yourself and do not carry anything through customs for anyone else.听
Laws on clothing听
It is illegal for anyone, including children, to dress in camouflage clothing.听
LGBT+ travellers听
Attitudes towards the LGBT+ community are mostly conservative in the Caribbean.听听
Antigua and Barbuda no longer has legislation against same-sex sexual acts. However, showing affection in public may attract unwanted and negative attention. It is uncommon for opposite or same-sex couples to show affection in public.听听听
Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers.听
Outdoor activities and adventure tourism听听
Swimming safety听
Take care when swimming. Currents can be deceptively strong and not all beaches have lifeguards or warning flags. Monitor all beaches carefully and follow warnings.听 See .
See from the Royal Life Saving Society.
Transport risks听听
Road travel听
If you are planning to drive in Antigua and Barbuda, see information on driving abroad.听听
You will need a temporary local driving licence to drive in Antigua and Barbuda. Your car hire company will usually help with this process or these can be obtained at the Transport Board or local police stations. You need to present a UK driving licence to get a local temporary licence.听
Driving conditions听
Roads can have potholes and unmarked speed bumps. Minor roads and those in rural areas are narrow and can have blind corners. Pedestrians often walk on the roads. Drivers do not always use indicators.听听
Take extra care when driving at night, as some roads are unlit. Road signs and hazards may not be easily visible.听听
Do not stop if pedestrians flag you down. Keep car doors locked when driving.听
If you have an accident, call the police and do not move the vehicle.听
罢补虫颈蝉听
Taxis are not metered. Standard taxi fares are set by zones. Agree the fare in local currency with the driver before you set off. You can often pay in US dollars as well as Eastern Caribbean dollars.听听
Sea travel听
Visitors arriving by sea must contact the Antigua Port Authority at least 6 hours before arrival using VHF Channel 16. Follow instructions on which port or holding area to use to complete entry formalities.听听
Passengers arriving by cruise liner are subject to the protocols placed on board by their cruise company.听
Extreme weather and natural disasters听
Find out what you can do to prepare for and respond to extreme weather and natural hazards.
贬耻谤谤颈肠补苍别蝉听听
The hurricane season in the Caribbean normally runs from June to November. Monitor local and international weather updates from the , the and the and follow the advice of the local authorities, including any evacuation orders.听听
The island of Barbuda was hit by hurricanes in 2017. Many buildings were destroyed and reconstruction work is still taking place. If you鈥檙e planning to visit Barbuda, you should:听
- monitor local and international weather updates听
- follow the advice of the local authorities听
- make sure your accommodation is secure听
See tropical cyclones for advice about how to prepare effectively and what to do if you are likely to be affected by a hurricane.听
贰补谤迟丑辩耻补办别蝉听
Earthquakes are a risk in Antigua and Barbuda. Tremors are felt occasionally in the Caribbean. The US Federal Emergency Management Agency website has advice about .听听
Health
Before you travel check that:听
- your destination can provide the healthcare you may need听
- you have appropriate travel insurance for local treatment or unexpected medical evacuation听
This is particularly important if you have a health condition or are pregnant.听
Emergency medical number听
Call 999 or 911 and ask for an ambulance.听
Contact your insurance company promptly if you鈥檙e referred to a medical facility for treatment.听
Vaccine recommendations and health risks听
At least 8 weeks before your trip:听
- check the latest information on 听听
- see where to get vaccines and whether you have to pay on the 听
See .
Medication听
The legal status and regulation of some medicines prescribed or bought in the UK can be different in other countries.听
Read .听
Healthcare in Antigua and Barbuda听
The main government hospital can cope with many types of treatment but serious cases may need an emergency evacuation. Medical treatment in Antigua and Barbuda can be expensive.听
Make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment and repatriation.听
Before choosing to be treated at a private facility, check their policies on pre-payment. Private clinics may not accept medical travel insurance as payment for treatment.听
FCDO has a list of medical providers in Antigua and Barbuda.听听
There is also guidance on healthcare if you鈥檙e living in Antigua and Barbuda.听听
Travel and mental health听
Read FCDO guidance on travel and mental health. There is also .听
Getting help
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) cannot provide tailored advice for individual trips. Read this travel advice and carry out your own research before deciding whether to travel.听
Emergency services in Antigua and Barbuda听听
Telephone: 999 or 911 (ambulance, fire, police)听
Contact your travel provider and insurer听
Contact your travel provider and your insurer if you are involved in a serious incident or emergency abroad. They will tell you if they can help and what you need to do.听
Refunds and changes to travel听
For refunds or changes to travel, contact your travel provider. You may also be able to make a claim through insurance. However, insurers usually require you to talk to your travel provider first.听
Find out more about changing or cancelling travel plans, including:听
- where to get advice if you are in a dispute with a provider听
- how to access previous versions of travel advice to support a claim听
Support from FCDO听
FCDO has guidance on staying safe and what to do if you need help or support abroad, including:听
- finding and 鈥� in Antigua and Barbuda听听
- dealing with a death in Antigua and Barbuda听听
- being arrested or imprisoned in Antigua and Barbuda听
- getting help if you鈥檙e a victim of crime听听
- what to do if you鈥檙e in hospital听听
- if you鈥檙e affected by a crisis, such as a terrorist attack听
Contacting听FCDO听
Help abroad鈥�
See听听including in an emergency.听
Help in the UK听听
You can call鈥�FCDO鈥痠n London if you need urgent help because something has happened to a friend or relative abroad.鈥�
Telephone: 020 7008 5000 (24 hours)鈥�
Get travel advice updates鈥�
Sign up to鈥�get email notifications鈥痺hen this travel advice is updated.鈥�
Follow FCDO:鈥�