Suriname
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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 Suriname鈥檚 current rules for the most common types of travel.
The authorities in Suriname set and enforce entry rules. If you鈥檙e not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Surinamese Embassy in Paris, France.听听
Passport validity requirements听
To enter Suriname, 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
Arrival Report
All travellers to and from Suriname are required to complete an up to three days before arrival and departure.
Visa requirements听
You can visit Suriname without a visa for tourism for up to 90 days. You must .听
To stay longer (to work or study, for business travel or for other reasons), you must get a visa and meet the .听
It鈥檚 illegal to overstay the entry period or to work without a work permit.听
Vaccine requirements听听
To enter Suriname, 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 .听听
Customs rules听
There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of Suriname. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.听
Taking money into Suriname听
If you鈥檙e bringing currency with you, bring US dollars or euros. You cannot exchange British pounds.听
Safety and security
This guide also has safety advice for regions of Suriname.
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.
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 Suriname听
Although there is no recent history of terrorism in Suriname, attacks cannot be ruled out.听听
Political situation听
Demonstrations can become violent and lead to roadblocks and travel disruption. Be careful when travelling around the country and avoid large crowds. Monitor media and follow the advice of local authorities.听听
颁谤颈尘别听
There have been incidents of burglary, armed robbery and violent crime in the capital, Paramaribo, and surrounding areas.
Criminals could target you in quiet or secluded areas, including in the Palm Garden (鈥楶almentuin鈥�) and other parts of Paramaribo.
Pickpocketing and robbery are increasingly common in the major business and shopping areas.听听
Protecting yourself and your belongings听
Keep valuables such as your passport, travel documents, driving licence and credit cards secure and keep photocopies in a separate place.听
To reduce your personal risk, avoid wearing expensive jewellery or displaying large amounts of money in public.
Attacks against fishing boats听
There have been reports of attacks against fishing boats in and around the waters of Suriname.听听听
Robberies while travelling in Suriname听听
Tourists have been robbed when travelling in central Suriname, away from the coastal areas. Use a well-established tour company if you intend to travel to these parts of the country.听
Laws and cultural differences 听
Illegal drugs penalties听
There are severe penalties for all drug offences. Pack all luggage yourself and do not carry anything through customs for anyone else.听
惭辞苍别测听
Credit cards are not widely accepted outside major hotels. Check with your hotel whether it accepts credit cards. Some cash machines in Paramaribo will accept international credit and debit cards and dispense Surinamese dollars.听
Transport risks听听
Road travel听听
If you are planning to drive in Suriname, see information on driving abroad.听
You鈥檒l need to have both the correct version of the international driving permit (IDP) and your UK driving licence with you in the car. You cannot buy an IDP outside the UK, so get one before you travel. 听
Hire car companies often have stricter requirements for their customers, such as a year of driving experience, a higher minimum age and holding an IDP.听
Some drivers may have poor road sense, and there may be frequent hazards, inadequate lighting and poor road conditions in some areas. When driving at night, take care to avoid cyclists, pedestrians and animals.听
Only use licensed taxis or those on official hotel taxi ranks. Do not hail taxis from the roadside.听
Air travel听
The UK Air Safety List (ASL) lists all known airlines in Suriname that do not meet international safety standards and are banned from operating commercial air services to, from, and within the UK. Check the UK Air Safety List when considering which airlines to fly with. The list is maintained by the鈥疍epartment for Transport, based on advice from the .听
If you鈥檙e travelling with a tour operator, check whether they have concerns about airlines in Suriname.听
Extreme weather and natural disasters听
Find out what you can do to prepare for and respond to extreme weather and natural hazards.
Flooding 听
Suriname is prone to flooding, particularly in the north and centre of the country, during the rainy season in May to August.听
贬别补迟飞补惫别蝉听
Severe heat can cause problems, particularly with livestock, the young and elderly. Keep in the shade where possible and remain hydrated.
Regional risks
This section has safety advice for regions of Suriname. It only covers regions where the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has specific advice.
You should also read FCDO鈥檚 overall travel advice and safety and security advice.
Suriname-Guyana border
The UN鈥檚 International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea in has ruled on the maritime border dispute between Suriname and Guyana. However, Suriname still claims an area of land (the New River Triangle) in south-east Guyana.
Take care when travelling to this area.
Suriname-French Guiana border
Suriname has a border dispute with French Guiana.
Take care when travelling to this area.
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 113 or 115 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 听听
- see where to get vaccines and whether you have to pay on the 听
See , including:听
- yellow fever
- Zika听virus
- malaria and dengue听
- schistosomiasis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 Suriname听
FCDO has a list of medical providers in Suriname.听听听
Medical facilities are severely limited in Suriname. Make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad and repatriation.听听
Not all medical facilities accept payment from insurance companies. You may need to pay in advance and claim the cost back from your travel insurance.听听
Travel and mental health听
Read FCDO guidance on travel and mental health. There is also .
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 Suriname听
Telephone: 115 (ambulance, fire, police)听
or听
Ambulance: 113听
Fire: 110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 English-speaking and in Suriname听
- dealing with a death in Suriname听
- being arrested or imprisoned in Suriname听
- getting help if you鈥檙e a victim of crime听
- what to do if you鈥檙e 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�
Risk information for British companies听
The鈥疧verseas Business Risk service鈥痮ffers information and advice for British companies operating in Suriname on how to manage political, economic, and business security-related risks.