New Caledonia
Warnings and insurance
Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). Consular support is also severely limited where FCDO advises against travel.
FCDO advises against all but essential travel to New Caledonia
Given ongoing tensions, we advise against all but essential travel to New Caledonia.
Further information is detailed in the Safety and security section.
Help abroad in an emergency
There is no British Embassy in New Caledonia and the British Embassy in Paris, France, supports British nationals who need emergency help from the UK government.
If you are in New Caledonia and in need of UK consular assistance, please contact the British Embassy in Paris which operates a 24/7 consular telephone service.
Telephone: +33 (0) 1 44 51 31 00
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 FCDO travel advice
FCDO provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice.
Follow and contact FCDO travel on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. You can also sign up to get email notifications when this advice is updated.
Update history
2025-04-02 16:23
FCDO no longer advises against all but essential travel to New Caledonia (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).
2024-09-26 18:56
Updated information on public restrictions (‘Safety and security’ page).
2024-08-22 11:45
Updated information on overnight curfews (‘Safety and security’ page).
2024-08-07 13:57
Updated information on the overnight curfew (‘Safety and security’ page).
2024-06-18 17:09
The international airport at Nouméa-La Tontouta has reopened (‘Warnings and insurance’ page) and the overnight curfew has been shortened (‘Safety and security’ page).
2024-06-03 20:29
The international airport at Nouméa-La Tontouta is closed until further notice (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).
2024-05-31 18:08
Updated information: The state of emergency has been lifted (‘Safety and security’ page). The international airport at Nouméa-La Tontouta is closed until at least 2 June (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).
2024-05-31 16:04
Evacuation flights have now ended and the international airport at Nouméa-La Tontouta is closed but will be reassessed after 2 June (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).
2024-05-27 12:34
Latest information on options for leaving New Caledonia; evacuation flights are likely to end soon (Warnings and insurance)
2024-05-25 18:19
Latest information on options for leaving New Caledonia
2024-05-24 10:34
Latest update: Information on evacuation flights (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).
2024-05-22 10:02
France, Australia, and New Zealand are carrying out evacuation flights (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).
2024-05-21 12:35
New information on the situation in New Caledonia (‘Warnings and insurance’ page).
2024-05-17 18:18
Addition of request for British nationals in New Caledonia to register their presence (Warnings and insurance).
2024-05-17 11:25
FCDO now advises against all but essential travel to New Caledonia (‘Warnings and insurance’ and ‘Safety and security’ pages).
2024-05-15 20:17
Information on the State of Emergency declared for New Caledonia (‘Warnings and insurance’ and ‘Safety and security’ pages).
2024-05-15 18:58
Following ongoing protests and blockades, the French Government has announced a State of Emergency for New Caledonia, which will take effect from 05:00 16 May (Local Time). (‘Safety and Security’ page)
2024-05-15 10:51
Information on the airport closure at Nouméa-La Tontouta (‘Safety and security’ page).
2024-05-14 10:33
Information regarding the ongoing protests in New Caledonia (‘Safety and security’ page).
2024-04-19 13:09
This travel advice has been rewritten to make it easier to read and understand.
2023-06-22 10:11
Information about the global terrorism risks to British nationals abroad on all FCDO travel advice pages.
2022-10-18 14:01
Updated information on Consular support contact information (‘Summary’ page).
2022-08-12 13:54
Updated information on end of COVID-19 restrictions for travel between France and New Caledonia (‘Entry requirements’ page)
2022-05-19 14:03
Updated information on relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions for entry to New Caledonia (‘Entry requirements’ page)