No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to:
\n\nIf you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.
\n\nThe Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice.
\n\nSign up to get email notifications when this advice is updated.
\n\nFollow FCDO:
\n\n\n\n","slug":"warnings-and-insurance","title":"Warnings and insurance"},{"body":"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 Eswatini’s current rules for the most common types of travel.
\n\nThe authorities in Eswatini set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Eswatini High Commission in the UK.
\n\nTo enter Eswatini, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 3 months after the date you arrive and at least 2 blank pages for entry stamps.
\n\nIf you’re also travelling to South Africa, your passport must have 2 additional blank pages.
\n\nCheck with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.
\n\nYou 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.
\n\nWhen returning to the UK, British citizens must carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement. See Dual citizenship.
\n\nYou can visit Eswatini without a visa for up to 30 days.
\n\nYou can apply for a 30-day extension from the Ministry of Home Affairs. If you want to stay longer than 60 days, you must apply for a temporary residence permit.
\n\nMake sure you get your passport stamped.
\nCheck the stamp in your passport has the correct date. If you do not have the correct dates, the Eswatini authorities may stop you from re-entering the country for up to a year.
\n\nYou may need to complete a health form if travelling by air. You will be asked health related questions on arrival at the land border and at King Mswati III International Airport.
\n\nTo enter Eswatini, you must have a certificate to prove you’ve had a yellow fever vaccination if you’re coming from a country listed as a transmission risk.
\n\nFor full details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see TravelHealthPro’s Eswatini guide.
\n\nIf you’re travelling with children through a South African airport, see South Africa travel advice for information about the documents you must carry.
\n\nThere are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of Eswatini. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.
\n\nIf your vehicle is not registered in Eswatini, you must complete a customs declaration form at the border post and pay a 150 Swazi emalangeni road fund levy, E80 for a motorcycle and higher amounts for commercial vehicles. These payments can be made with South African Rands. You must always carry proof of your customs declaration and levy payment in the vehicle. Vehicles may be searched at borders.
\n\n","slug":"entry-requirements","title":"Entry requirements"},{"body":"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.
\n\nUK 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.
\n\nAlthough there’s no recent history of terrorism in Eswatini, attacks cannot be ruled out.
\n\nPublic protests, demonstrations, and strikes do occur occasionally in Eswatini, mostly in response to political or economic issues. Security forces police such events heavily and have used force on occasions.
\n\nYou should:
\n\nThere can be casual theft, pickpocketing and occasional muggings, particularly at the edges of towns and cities, and at night. Armed robbery has happened but is not common. You should:
\n\nCriminal activity usually increases during the pre-Christmas festive season.
\n\nPunishments for possessing or smuggling narcotic drugs can be severe. You can be imprisoned for illegal drug offences.
\n\nSame-sex sexual activity is illegal in Eswatini. LGBT+ people experience discrimination, and many are not open about their sexual orientation or gender identity. Showing affection in public will most likely be frowned on by locals. Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers.
\n\nIf you are planning to drive in Eswatini, see information on driving abroad.
\n\nYou’ll need to have both the 1949 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.
\n\nHire car companies often require their customers to have a year of driving experience.
\n\nDrink-driving is a serious offence in Eswatini. If you are tested and found to have more than a 50mg per 100ml of alcohol in your system (in England it is 80mg), you may get a fine and possible imprisonment. The police operate random roadside checks regularly and strictly enforce the law.
\n\nSlow moving lorries can be a problem, particularly on hills, with care needed when overtaking. Minor roads are not well maintained with some potholes, and road markings are poor.
\n\nTake care driving in rural areas as animals stray on to roads and cause serious accidents and deaths. Avoid driving on rural roads at night – there is a risk of hitting abandoned, unlit trailers and poorly lit heavy vehicles, as well as animals.
\n\nTravel by public transport can be dangerous due to poor standards of driving, lack of rest periods for drivers, the poor quality of vehicles and poor road conditions. However, the airport transfer coaches between Johannesburg and Mbabane are generally safe. Minibuses used in urban areas are usually overcrowded and poorly maintained.
\n\nFind out what you can do to prepare for and respond to extreme weather and natural hazards.
\n\nIn the wet summer months from November to April, violent thunderstorms with lightning, heavy rain, and hailstones are common, especially in the highlands (‘Highveld’). These sometimes damage property and road infrastructure and cause flooding in some areas.
\n\n","slug":"safety-and-security","title":"Safety and security"},{"body":"Before you travel check that:
\n\nThis is particularly important if you have a health condition or are pregnant.
\n\nCall 977 or 933 and ask for an ambulance.
\n\nContact your insurance company quickly if you’re referred to a medical facility for treatment.
\n\nAt least 8 weeks before your trip:
\n\nSee what health risks you’ll face in Eswatini.
\n\nIn 2015 UNAIDS estimated that around 210,000 adults, aged 15 or over were living with HIV in Eswatini. This is around 28.8% of adults, compared to 0.2% of adults in the UK. Take the normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV and AIDS.
\n\nThe legal status and regulation of some medicines prescribed or bought in the UK can be different in other countries.
\n\nRead best practice when travelling with medicines on TravelHealthPro.
\n\nBasic healthcare is available in Eswatini, but there are shortages of common medicines. For serious accidents and emergencies or specialised treatment, it’s likely you would need to go to South Africa. Local private hospitals can arrange evacuation if you are fully insured or you can produce funds in advance.
\n\nMake sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of medical evacuation to South Africa and repatriation.
\n\nFCDO has a list of medical providers in Eswatini.
\n\nRead FCDO guidance on travel and mental health. There is also mental health guidance on TravelHealthPro.
\n\n","slug":"health","title":"Health"},{"body":"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.
\n\nAmbulance: 977
\n\nFire: 933
\n\nPolice: 999
\n\nContact 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.
\n\nFor 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.
\n\nFind out more about changing or cancelling travel plans, including:
\n\nFCDO has guidance on staying safe and what to do if you need help or support abroad, including:
\n\nSee how to get help from the UK government abroad including in an emergency.
\n\nYou can call FCDO in London if you need urgent help because something has happened to a friend or relative abroad.
\n\nTelephone: 020 7008 5000 (24 hours)
\n\n\n\nSign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated.
\n\nFollow FCDO:
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