Foreign travel advice

St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha

Entry requirements

This page has information on travelling to St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha.

This page reflects the UK government’s understanding of current rules for people travelling on a full ‘British Citizen’ passport from the UK, for the most common types of travel.

The authorities in St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha set and enforce entry rules. If you’re unsure how the entry requirements apply to you, contact the St Helena Government UK Office for St Helena, for Tristan da Cunha contact Cynthia Green in the Administration Office and for Ascension contact Douglas Smith, Chief Immigration Office.

All travellers

There are different rules depending on whether you are travelling to St Helena, Ascension or Tristan da Cunha.

St Helena

Foreign nationals are permitted to enter St Helena provided they meet the immigration rules. These include the requirement for visitors to have medical insurance which must cover the cost of evacuation to a value of £175,000.

On entering St Helena, the Biosecurity for Visitors will advise what items are permissible to St Helena and those which are strictly prohibited.

Ascension

All travellers to Ascension Island require an entry permit visa unless exempted by their occupation, such as active members of His Majesty’s Armed Forces travelling there for work. Failure to enter with a valid visa is an offence under the Entry Control Ordinance and may result in a fine and imprisonment. Individuals may also be refused permission to land and be required to leave on the aircraft or vessel that they arrived on.

Tristan da Cunha

All visitors to Tristan da Cunha require the authority of the Island Council in advance.

If you’re fully vaccinated

Entry to St Helena if you’re fully vaccinated

St Helena has lifted its coronavirus travel restrictions and you no longer need to have a COVID-19 test on arrival or undergo quarantine.

Entry to Ascension if you’re fully vaccinated

Ascension Island has lifted its coronavirus travel restrictions; there is no requirement to undertake testing nor quarantine on arrival. For further information on Ascension’s coronavirus related entry measures please refer to the Ascension government website.

Entry to Tristan da Cunha if you’re fully vaccinated

Any visitors travelling to Tristan da Cunha must be able to prove their fully vaccinated status (i.e. initial vaccination and booster) before they will be given permission to travel.

Proof of vaccination status

St Helena

You do not need to present proof that you have been fully vaccinated to enter St Helena.

Ascension

You do not need to present proof that you have been fully vaccinated to enter Ascension.

Tristan da Cunha

You need to present proof before you travel that you have been fully vaccinated in order to enter Tristan da Cunha.

Tristan da Cunha will accept the UK’s proof of COVID-19 recovery and vaccination record. Your NHS appointment card from vaccination centres is not designed to be used as proof of vaccination and should not be used to demonstrate your vaccine status.

If you’re not fully vaccinated

There are different rules depending on whether you are travelling to St Helena, Ascension or Tristan da Cunha.

Entry to St Helena if you’re not fully vaccinated

St Helena has lifted its coronavirus travel restrictions and you no longer need to have a COVID-19 test on arrival or undergo quarantine.

Entry to Ascension if you’re not fully vaccinated

You should follow the same rules as set out for fully vaccinated passengers.

Entry to Tristan da Cunha if you’re not fully vaccinated

Entry to Tristan da Cunha is not possible if you are not fully vaccinated. Any visitors must be able to prove their fully vaccinated status.

If you’ve had COVID-19 in the past year

There are different rules depending on whether you are travelling to St Helena, Ascension or Tristan da Cunha.

St Helena

St Helena has lifted its coronavirus restrictions; there is no requirement to present documented evidence of recovery from a previous COVID-19 infection.

Ascension

Ascension has lifted all coronavirus related travel restrictions, there is no requirement to present documented evidence of recovery from a previous COVID-19 infection.

Tristan da Cunha

All travellers planning to enter Tristan da Cunha must show that they have been fully vaccinated. There are no exceptions for those who have tested positive for COVID-19 in the previous 12 months.

Children and young people

There are different rules depending on whether you are travelling to St Helena, Ascension or Tristan da Cunha.

St Helena

St Helena has lifted its coronavirus restrictions and there are no testing or quarantine requirements for adults or children.

Ascension

Children aged 17 and under should follow the rules as they apply to adults.

Tristan da Cunha

Children who are too young to receive a vaccination will be allowed into Tristan with their parents. Children aged 12 to 17 should show vaccinated status.

If you’re transiting through St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha

The rules set out above also apply to travellers wishing to transit through St Helena and Ascension. There is no transit through Tristan da Cunha.

Exemptions

There are different rules depending on whether you are travelling to St Helena, Ascension or Tristan da Cunha.

Exemptions for St Helena

There are no exemptions to the entry rules for St Helena.

Exemptions for Ascension

There are no exemptions to the entry rules for Ascension.

Exemptions for Tristan da Cunha

You need to get permission from the Tristan Island Council for any proposed exemptions before you travel. Otherwise you might be refused entry and have to return to Cape Town.

Check your passport and travel documents before you travel

There are different rules depending on whether you are travelling to St Helena, Ascension or Tristan da Cunha.

Passport validity for St Helena

If you are visiting St Helena, your passport should be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the date you arrive.

If you are a resident in St Helena, and do not hold a British passport, your passport must be valid for 6 months from the date you arrive.

The Immigration Service in St. Helena only issues and renews British Overseas Territory Citizen passports and British Emergency travel documents.

Passport validity for Ascension

If you are travelling to Ascension, your passport should be valid for a minimum period of six months from the date of entry into Ascension

Passport validity for Tristan da Cunha

Your passport must be valid for the proposed duration of your stay. No additional period of validity beyond this is required. However, it’s always sensible to have a short period of extra validity on your passport in case of any unforeseen delays to your departure. Tristan da Cunha cannot issue passports or ETDs. You should check the requirements for transit through South Africa.

If you are a resident in Tristan da Cunha, your passport must be valid on arrival.

Visas for St Helena

An Entry Permit for St Helena costs £20 and allows a stay of up to 183 days. The fee can be paid in British pounds, Euros, US dollars or South African rand. You will need to provide evidence of a return ticket, or funds for a return ticket, medical insurance, adequate accommodation and sufficient funds for your stay.

If you wish to stay for longer than 183 days you should apply to the St Helena Immigration Control Board.

Entry permit applications should be completed via the St Helena Island E-Visa website.

If you need a visa for South Africa you should make sure it is valid for the date of your planned return journey. There are no facilities to issue international visas on the island.

Visas for Ascension

You must get permission to visit Ascension Island from the Administrator before travel. Entry permit applications should be completed via the Ascension Island Government E-Visa website. You must be able to produce evidence of holding comprehensive travel and medical insurance which includes pandemic and coronavirus cover. You must also be able to produce on request evidence of a return air ticket (or other evidence of pre-paid onward travel), pre-booked accommodation and sufficient funds to cover your stay on the island. 

Visitors are prohibited from taking employment, paid or unpaid, without first obtaining permission to do so from the Administrator. 

Background checks are required for all those employed on Ascension.

Visas for Tristan da Cunha

You will need the prior permission of the Island Council to land on Tristan. You should apply to the Administrator’s office: tdcenquiries@tdc-gov.com. You must have a confirmed and fully paid return passage; comprehensive travel and medical insurance that cover the cost of medical treatment and evacuation to Cape Town; and sufficient funds to cover the cost of your visit. A police clearance/vetting certificate must also be provided for stays beyond two months. A small landing fee is payable on arrival at the Island.

Yellow fever certificate requirements

Check whether you need a yellow fever certificate by visiting the National Travel Health Network and Centre’s TravelHealthPro website.