St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
Warnings and insurance
St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha are British Overseas Territories. There are no British Embassies, and the St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha governments will support you if you need emergency assistance.
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
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice.
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Update history
2026-02-06 21:22
The St Helena Government has announced the airport is unable to operate as normal. (Warnings and insurance)
2026-01-30 10:38
Removal of information about the need to present a yellow fever certificate to enter St Helena if you are arriving from a country listed as a transmission risk (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2025-06-26 16:53
This travel advice has been updated for style and accuracy with minor edits throughout.
2025-02-19 16:01
New information about flights to St Helena (‘Safety and security’ page).
2024-08-05 13:35
Addition of a new email address for the Ascension Immigration Office, information on the risk of shark attacks and on fines for killing a land crab (‘Entry requirements’ and ‘Safety and security’ page).
2024-03-25 12:15
This travel advice has been rewritten to make it easier to read and understand.
2023-10-10 11:03
Frequency of flights between Johannesburg and St Helena. Clarification of speed limits on St Helena (‘Summary’, ‘Coronavirus’ and ‘Safety and security’ pages).
2023-06-22 11:45
Information about the global terrorism risks to British nationals abroad on all FCDO travel advice pages
2023-06-06 16:41
Updated information on contact details for emergency services in St Helena and Ascension (‘Summary’ page).
2023-05-09 11:23
Updated information on the South Atlantic Airbridge and accommodation on Ascension (‘Summary’, ‘Coronavirus’ and ‘Safety and security’ pages).
2023-02-23 14:56
Information on entry requirements to St Helena, and Tristan da Cunha, where you no longer need to quarantine (‘Entry requirements’ page). Updated information on weekly flights between St Helena and Johannesburg (‘Summary’ and ‘Safety and security’ pages).
2022-08-24 15:31
Updated information on quarantine requirements for entry into Tristan de Cunha (‘Entry requirements’ page).
2022-08-10 17:05
Updated information to reflect that St Helena and Ascension have now lifted their COVID-19 travel restrictions (‘Coronavirus’ and ‘Entry requirements’ pages)
2022-06-07 13:52
Update to information on entry to Ascension (‘Entry requirements’ page)
2022-05-12 16:22
Updated information on St Helena’s COVID-19 regulations for testing and quarantine (‘Coronavirus’ and ‘Entry requirements’ pages)
2022-04-06 14:32
Updated information on getting to St Helena and Ascension (‘Summary’, ‘Safety and security’ and ‘Coronavirus’ pages)