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Travelling through Chile

You can travel to or from the Falkland Islands through Chile. If you choose this route you must make sure you meet Chile’s entry requirements, see Chile travel advice.

Passport validity requirements

To enter the Falkland Islands, your passport must be valid for the duration of your stay.

Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.

You 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.

Visa requirements

You can visit the Falkland Islands without a visa. Visitors are granted permission to stay for one month upon arrival. Those wishing to stay longer are advised to apply in advance. See Falkland Islands visitor permit.

To work you must have a Falkland Islands work permit.

Vaccine requirements

For details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see TravelHealthPro’s Falkland Islands guide.

Customs rules

There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of the Falkland Islands. You must declare any goods that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.

Customs rules

There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of the Falkland Islands. You must declare any goods that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.

Emergency services in the Falkland Islands

Telephone: 999 (ambulance, fire, police)

Contact your travel provider and insurer

Contact 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.

Refunds and changes to travel

For 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.

Find out more about changing or cancelling travel plans, including:

• where to get advice if you are in a dispute with a provider
• how to access previous versions of travel advice to support a claim

Support from the Falkland Islands government

If you’re in the Falkland Islands and you need emergency help, contact the relevant department of the Falkland Islands Government.

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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.

Get travel advice updates

Sign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated. 

Follow FCDO:   

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• Travel Aware on Instagram

Laws and cultural differences

The Falkland Islands are a British Overseas Territory and have their own laws.    

Illegal drugs and prison sentences

Drug trafficking and possession are illegal in the Falkland Islands and can lead to a prison sentence.    

Using cameras at Mount Pleasant Airport

You must have a permit to take photos at Mount Pleasant Airport as it is a military site. The UK Ministry of Defence only issues permits for work purposes or in exceptional circumstances. Taking unauthorised photography at the Mount Pleasant military site could result in a lengthy prison sentence.   

LGBT+ travellers

Same-sex marriage was legalised in 2017. LGBT+ travellers are unlikely to encounter difficulties in the Falkland Islands. Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers.

Unexploded weapons

Although the UK completed its Falkland Islands Demining Programme in 2020, landmines and unexploded weapons from the 1982 conflict can still be found on major battlefields and, occasionally, washed up on beaches. If you find any suspicious object, follow the guidance of the Royal Falkland Islands Police. You should:

• not touch or approach the item
• clearly mark the area
• take a picture if it is safe to do so
• call 999 from a safe distance and wait for the police to arrive

Further advice on what to do if you find a suspicious object is on the Falkland Islands Government website.

Money

Credit and debit cards are becoming increasingly accepted across the Falkland Islands. However, visitors are still advised to carry some cash as a precaution, in British pounds or US dollars.

There is only one ATM on the Islands, at the petrol station. If it’s not working, you can get a cash advance from the bank in Stanley, using a Visa or Mastercard or by using the cashback facility at a grocery shop.

Some travellers have experienced difficulties exchanging Falkland Islands currency in the UK. Limit the amount of Falkland Islands currency you leave with.