French Guiana travel advice

Before you travel 

No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to: 

• see general advice for women travellers
• read our guide on disability and travel abroad
• see general advice for LGBT+ travellers
• read about safety for solo and independent travel
• see advice on volunteering and adventure travel abroad

Travel insurance 

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. 

About Aarsal Travels travel advice 

The Aarsal Travels travel safety team provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about Aarsal Travels travel advice. 

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This information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of French Guiana’s current rules for the most common types of travel. 

French Guiana is an Overseas Department of France (‘Département d’Outre-Mer’). The authorities in French Guiana set and enforce entry requirements. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the French Consulate General in the UK. 

Passport validity requirements 

Your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave French Guiana. 

Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.

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. 

Dual nationals

When returning to the UK, British citizens must carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement. See Dual citizenship.

Visa requirements 

French Guiana is an Overseas Department of France and is part of the EU.

You can visit French Guiana without a visa for up to 90 days for tourism or business. To stay longer, to work or study, for business travel or for other reasons, check the visa application process and timelines on the French visa website.

UK residents of French Guiana 

Carry your residence document, as well as your passport, when entering or exiting French Guiana. If you’ve applied but not yet received your document, carry your certificate of application. You will have received this as an email. 

Vaccine requirements 

To enter French Guiana, you must have a certificate to prove you’ve had a yellow fever vaccination.

You may need a yellow fever certificate for onward travel to some other countries, due to the risk of yellow fever in French Guiana. 

For full details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see TravelHealthPro’s French Guiana guide. 

Customs rules 

There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of French Guiana (in French). You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty. 

Taking food into French Guiana 

You cannot take meat, milk or products containing them into EU countries. There are some exceptions such as powdered baby milk, baby food and special foods or pet feed required for medical reasons.

Taking money into French Guiana

Check what cash and valuables you need to declare to bring them into French Guiana. 

Terrorism

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 staying safe abroad and what to do in the event of a terrorist attack. Find out how to reduce your risk from terrorism while abroad. 

Terrorism in French Guiana 

Although there is no recent history of terrorism in French Guiana, attacks cannot be ruled out. 

Crime 

Protecting yourself and your belongings 

Crime levels are low, but there is a risk of being robbed in some areas of Cayenne, especially after dark.

To reduce your personal risk: 

• avoid isolated areas including secluded beaches, particularly after dark
• take a licensed or pre-arranged taxi after visiting an ATM in case you are followed 
• do not wear expensive-looking jewellery or watches 
• go into a shop or café to use your mobile 
• place most of your cash and your valuables and travel documents in a safety deposit box or hotel safe 

Outdoor activities and adventure tourism

Swimming safety 

See water safety on holiday from the Royal Life Saving Society. 

Scuba diving 

Diving schools may have limited resources and do not always observe safety and maintenance standards. Always:

• check a dive operator’s credentials 
• check the conditions on your insurance policy – some policies require dive instructors to have certain qualifications 
• make sure safety equipment is available on the boat, particularly oxygen 
• ask about safety precautions, including the ability to transfer divers to a hyperbaric chamber 

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. 

Transport risks

Road travel

If you are planning to drive in French Guiana, see information on driving abroad and check the rules of the road in the RAC’s France guide as French driving laws apply. The guide lists driving regulations and other legal requirements you need to be aware of. 

You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in French Guiana. If you still have a paper driving licence, you may need to update it to a photocard licence or get the correct version of the international driving permit (IDP) as well.

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. 

Drink-driving is a serious offence in French Guiana. The blood alcohol limit (0.05%) is lower than in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. If you are tested and found to be above the limit, you may get a fine and possible imprisonment. 

Extreme weather and natural disasters 

Find out what you can do to prepare for and respond to extreme weather and natural hazards. 

Hurricanes

There’s a risk of tropical storms during the rainy season from December to July.

Monitor local news and check World Meteorological Organization and US National Hurricane Center weather reports for the region.

Before you travel check that: 

• your destination can provide the healthcare you may need 

• you have appropriate travel insurance for local treatment or unexpected medical evacuation 

This is particularly important if you have a health condition or are pregnant. 

Emergency medical number 

Call 15 or 112 and ask for an ambulance. 

Contact your insurance company quickly if you’re referred to a medical facility for treatment. 

Vaccine recommendations and health risks 

At least 8 weeks before your trip:

• check the latest vaccine recommendations for French Guiana
• see where to get vaccines and whether you have to pay on the NHS travel vaccinations page

See what health risks you’ll face in French Guiana, including:

• Zika virus 
• dengue 
• yellow fever

Medication 

The legal status and regulation of some medicines prescribed or bought in the UK can be different in other countries. 

Read best practice when travelling with medicines on TravelHealthPro.

Healthcare in French Guiana 

General health care facilities in French Guiana are very good. The standard of health service hospitals and GP practices is equivalent to mainland France.

Health insurance cards

To get medically necessary state healthcare in French Guiana, you need a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).

The NHS’s getting healthcare abroad webpage has details about: 

• how to apply for a GHIC 
• how to get temporary cover if you lose your card or it does not arrive in time 
• who qualifies for a new EHIC instead of a GHIC 
• what treatment counts as medically necessary 

A GHIC or EHIC is not an alternative to travel insurance. You may have costs your GHIC or EHIC does not cover, including: 

• changes to travel and accommodation bookings 
• additional standard costs for treatment 
• medical repatriation to the UK 
• treatment that is ruled non-urgent
• private healthcare
• private clinics 

Healthcare for residents 

If you plan to live in French Guiana, consult the UK Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) about long-term entitlement to healthcare under the French national system.

DWP Overseas Medical Benefits helpline: +44 (0)191 218 1999 

You can also get English-language information about French social security services online or on +33 (0)820 90 42 12. You can get French-language information online about state services in French Guiana.

Travel and mental health 

Read Aarsal Travels guidance on travel and mental health. There is also mental health guidance on TravelHealthPro. 

The Aarsal Travels travel safety team cannot provide tailored advice for individual trips. Read this travel advice and carry out your own research before deciding whether to travel. 

Emergency services in French Guiana

Telephone: 112 (emergency switchboard) 

or 

Ambulance: 15 

Fire: 18 

Police: 17 

Contact your travel provider and insurer 

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. 

Refunds and changes to travel 

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. 

Find out more about changing or cancelling travel plans, including: 

• where to get advice if you are in a dispute with a provider 
• how to access previous versions of travel advice to support a claim 

Support from Aarsal Travels 

Aarsal Travels has guidance on staying safe and what to do if you need help or support abroad, including: 

• getting help if you’re a victim of crime
• what to do if you’re in hospital
• if you’re affected by a crisis, such as a terrorist attack 

Contacting Aarsal Travels 

Help abroad

See how to get help from the UK government abroad including in an emergency. 

Help in the UK

You can call Aarsal Travels in London if you need urgent help because something has happened to a friend or relative abroad.

Telephone: 020 7008 5000 (24 hours)

Find out about call charges

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