Mayotte
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Warnings and insurance
Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). Consular support is also severely limited where FCDO advises against travel.
FCDO advises against all but essential travel to Mayotte
Cyclone Chido
Cyclone Chido has caused widespread damage to infrastructure, including the international airport, and severe disruption to services in Mayotte. Stay alert and follow the advice of the . There is a curfew in place between 10pm and 4am local time each night.
Given the widespread damage to infrastructure, including the international airport, and severe disruption to services caused by cyclone Chido, we advise against all but essential travel to Mayotte.
Further information on tropical cyclones is detailed in Safety and security.
Help abroad in an emergency
There is no British Embassy in Mayotte but the British Embassy in Paris, France, supports British nationals who need emergency help from the UK government.
If you are in Mayotte and need UK consular assistance, please contact the British Embassy in Paris which operates a 24/7 consular telephone service.
Telephone: +33 (0) 1 44 51 31 00
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听
听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
Get travel advice updates
Sign up to鈥�get email notifications鈥痺hen this travel advice is updated.鈥�
Follow FCDO:鈥赌�
Entry requirements
This information is for people travelling on a full 鈥楤ritish citizen鈥� passort from the UK. It is based on the UK government鈥檚 understanding of Mayotte鈥檚 current rules for the most common types of travel.听听
Mayotte is an Overseas Department of France (D茅partement d鈥橭utre-Mer鈥�). The authorities in Mayotte set and enforce entry rules. If you鈥檙e not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the .听
Passport validity requirements听
Your passport must have an 鈥榚xpiry date鈥� at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave Mayotte.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
Mayotte is an Overseas Department of France and so is part of the EU.
You can visit Mayotte without a visa for up to 90 days for tourism or business.听To stay longer, to work or study, for business travel or for other reasons, check the on the French visa website.听
UK residents of Mayotte听
Carry your residence document, as well as your passport, when entering or exiting Mayotte. If you鈥檝e applied but not yet received your document, carry your certificate of application. You will have received this as an email.听听
Vaccine requirements听听
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 more details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see .听
Customs rules听
There are strict rules about (in French). You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.听
Taking food into Mayotte听
You cannot take . There are some exceptions such as powdered baby milk, baby food and special foods or pet feed required for medical reasons.听
Taking money into Mayotte听
Check to bring them into Mayotte.
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.鈥���
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.听听
Terrorism in Mayotte听听
Although there鈥檚 no recent history of terrorism in Mayotte, attacks cannot be ruled out.听听听
Outdoor activities and adventure tourism听
Swimming safety听
See from the Royal Life Saving Society.听
Scuba diving听
Diving schools may have limited resources and do not always observe safety and maintenance standards. Always:鈥���
- check a dive operator鈥檚 credentials听
- check the conditions on your insurance policy 鈥� some policies require dive instructors to have certain qualifications听
- make sure safety equipment is available on the boat, particularly oxygen听
- ask about safety precautions, including the ability to transfer divers to a hyperbaric chamber听
If you have not had any previous diving experience, check what to do if something goes wrong, including how to call for help while at sea.听
Transport risks听听
Road travel听
If you are planning to drive in Mayotte, see information on driving abroad and check the as French driving laws apply. The guide lists driving regulations and other legal requirements you need to be aware of.听
Check with the local authorities or your car hire company what documents you need. You may need an international driving permit (IDP) as well as your UK driving licence.听
Sea travel听
There is a significant risk of piracy in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean. The threat assessment of the combined international naval counter-piracy forces is that sailing yachts should not enter the鈥� due to the risk of hijacking.听
Extreme weather and natural disasters听
Find out what you can do to prepare for and respond to extreme weather and natural hazards.听
Tropical cyclones听
The cyclone season in Mayotte normally runs from December to April. Monitor local news and check (in French) and . Follow advice issued by the local authorities.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 15 and ask for an ambulance.听
Contact your insurance company quickly 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 听
- see where to get vaccines and whether you have to pay on the 听
See , including:听
- chikungunya听
- malaria听
- dengue听
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 Mayotte听
Health insurance cards听
To get medically necessary state healthcare in Mayotte, you need a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).听听
The NHS鈥檚 has details about:听
- how to apply for a GHIC听
- how to get temporary cover if you lose your card or it does not arrive in time听
- who qualifies for a new EHIC instead of a GHIC听
- what treatment counts as medically necessary听
A GHIC or EHIC is not an alternative to travel insurance. You may have costs your GHIC or EHIC does not cover, including:听
- changes to travel and accommodation bookings听
- additional standard costs for treatment听
- medical repatriation to the UK听
- treatment that is ruled non-urgent听听
- private healthcare听听
- private clinics听
Healthcare for residents
If you plan to live in Mayotte, consult the UK Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) about long-term entitlement to healthcare under the French national system.听听
DWP Overseas Medical Benefits helpline: +44 (0)191 218 1999听
You can also get English-language or on +33 (0)820 90 42 12. You can get French-language information online about .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 Mayotte听
Telephone: 112 (ambulance, fire, police)听
or
Ambulance: 15听
Fire: 18听
Police: 17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
- getting help if you鈥檙e a鈥�victim of crime听
- what to do if you鈥檙e鈥�in hospital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�