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 travel advice is updated.
\n\nFollow FCDO:
\n\nThis 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.
\n\nFrench 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.
\n\nYour passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 3 months after the date you plan to leave French Guiana.
\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\nFrench Guiana is an Overseas Department of France and is part of the EU.
\n\nYou 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.
\n\nCarry 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.
\n\nTo enter French Guiana, you must have a certificate to prove you’ve had a yellow fever vaccination.
\n\nYou may need a yellow fever certificate for onward travel to some other countries, due to the risk of yellow fever in French Guiana.
\n\nFor full details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see TravelHealthPro’s French Guiana guide.
\n\nThere 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.
\n\nYou 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.
\n\nCheck what cash and valuables you need to declare to bring them into French Guiana.
\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 is no recent history of terrorism in French Guiana, attacks cannot be ruled out.
\n\nCrime levels are low, but there is a risk of being robbed in some areas of Cayenne, especially after dark.
\n\nTo reduce your personal risk:
\n\nSee water safety on holiday from the Royal Life Saving Society.
\n\nDiving schools may have limited resources and do not always observe safety and maintenance standards. Always:
\n\nIf 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.
\n\nIf 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.
\n\nYou 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.
\n\nHire car companies often have stricter requirements for their customers, such as a year of driving experience, a higher minimum age and holding an IDP.
\n\nDrink-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.
\n\nFind out what you can do to prepare for and respond to extreme weather and natural hazards.
\n\nThere’s a risk of tropical storms during the rainy season from December to July.
\n\nMonitor local news and check World Meteorological Organization and US National Hurricane Center weather reports for the region.
\n\n","slug":"safety-and-security","title":"Safety and security"},{"body":"Before you travel check that:
\n\nyour destination can provide the healthcare you may need
\nyou have appropriate travel insurance for local treatment or unexpected medical evacuation
\nThis is particularly important if you have a health condition or are pregnant.
\n\nCall 15 or 112 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 French Guiana, including:
\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\nGeneral health care facilities in French Guiana are very good. The standard of health service hospitals and GP practices is equivalent to mainland France.
\n\nTo get medically necessary state healthcare in French Guiana, you need a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
\n\nThe NHS’s getting healthcare abroad webpage has details about:
\n\nA GHIC or EHIC is not an alternative to travel insurance. You may have costs your GHIC or EHIC does not cover, including:
\n\nIf 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.
\n\nDWP Overseas Medical Benefits helpline: +44 (0)191 218 1999
\n\nYou 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.
\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\nTelephone: 112 (emergency switchboard)
\n\nor
\n\nAmbulance: 15
\n\nFire: 18
\n\nPolice: 17
\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:
\n\n