Question 1

Do I need to provide valid passport?

Accepted Answer

You need a passport or travel document valid for the length of your stay. The Government recommends at least 6 months' validity remaining when you arrive.

Question 2

Do I need to provide embarkation tax when you leave?

Accepted Answer

Most people over 2 pay an embarkation tax when leaving the Islands (some categories are exempt). It is GBP 40 now and rises to GBP 41 on 1 January 2027. You can pay in advance at the Customs & Immigration Office in Stanley or at Mount Pleasant Airport when you leave. The Government's pages differ on which currencies are accepted, so check before you travel.

Question 3

Do I need to provide enough money for your stay?

Accepted Answer

You need proof of sufficient funds for the whole of your intended stay. The Government doesn't state an amount.

Question 4

Do I need to provide pre-booked accommodation?

Accepted Answer

You need proof of pre-booked accommodation in the Islands, and the Government says all visitors must tell the Customs & Immigration team where they will stay for the whole of their time there. Form 2 asks for your address in the Falkland Islands.

Question 5

Do I need to provide medical insurance covering evacuation?

Accepted Answer

You need adequate medical insurance for your whole stay that covers aero-medical evacuation, to a minimum value of USD 2,000,000 equivalent. The Government says land-based travellers need travel insurance including medical evacuation, and that visitors who are not UK residents must pay for any medical care they receive. UK residents entitled to NHS treatment have reciprocal cover with the Islands, but the FAQ says this does not include medical repatriation.

Question 6

Do I need to provide no work on a visitor permit?

Accepted Answer

A visitor permit doesn't let you take a job. Taking employment without permission is an offence with a fine of up to GBP 3,000. The Government lists some business activities that are allowed, such as visiting medical consultants or inspection and repair work, for up to three months in any twelve; contact Customs & Immigration if you think this applies to you.

Question 7

Do I need to provide check whether you need a visa, and get a visitor permit?

Accepted Answer

The Falkland Islands Government publishes a list of nationalities that need a visa (its 'visa national list'). If you are on it, you need a visa in addition to a visitor permit, and visas must ordinarily be secured before you arrive. If you are not on it, you don't need a visa, but you still need a visitor permit. The Government says the permit is normally issued as a stamp in your passport on arrival, and the application is normally completed on arrival. A visa national does not need a visa if they already hold Falkland Islands status, a permanent residence permit (and return within two years of leaving), a work, dependent or volunteer permit, or fall into a few other groups the FAQ lists, such as transit passengers, contract seamen and aircrew, UK armed forces personnel and UN passport holders. If in doubt, contact the Customs & Immigration Service.

Question 8

Do I need to provide proof of onward travel?

Accepted Answer

The visitor permit requires proof of onward travel arrangements, such as a return flight ticket, or enough funds to buy one. The Government also tells land-based travellers to have a return ticket.

Question 9

Do I need to provide declare any criminal convictions if you apply in advance?

Accepted Answer

Everyone applying for a permit in advance of arrival must declare all criminal convictions from the age of 16, even if they are spent where they were issued. A declaration doesn't automatically mean refusal; each application is considered on its merits. The visa form also asks about cautions, fixed penalty notices, past deportation or refusal of entry, and dangerous contagious disease. A police criminal record check issued within the previous 6 months is required only for permits longer than 150 days (5 months).

Question 10

Do I need to provide visa application (visa nationals only)?

Accepted Answer

If you need a visa, fill in Form 1, 'Application for Visa to enter the Falkland Islands', and email it to permits@customs.gov.fk, as the form instructs. It asks for your personal and passport details, other nationalities, occupation, previous travel, dates and reason for your visit, how you will travel, where you will stay, whether you have the required travel insurance, and details of any children under 18 travelling with you (adults complete their own form). The form's checklist lists copies of all passports, your medical insurance and, if relevant, children's birth certificates. An application fee is charged for each applicant, with a further charge for each child named on the form; the amount is not stated on the form. The form says issuing a visa does not guarantee entry.

Question 11

Do I need to provide visa fee, processing time and visa validity: not published?

Accepted Answer

The Government pages and forms we read don't state the visa application fee, how long a visa takes, how long it is valid, or how long it lets you stay. Contact the Customs & Immigration Service (+500 27340, or the permits address on Form 1) before you book. No Electronic Travel Authorisation is needed to visit.

Question 12

Do I need to provide visitor permit application and how long it lasts?

Accepted Answer

Form 2, 'Application for Visitor Permit', asks for your personal and passport details, your address in the Islands, why you are visiting (for example holiday or tourism, or visiting friends or relatives), how long you want to stay and what you intend to do, plus a declaration that you have enough funds, a paid return ticket or the means to buy one, and the required medical insurance. A permit issued on arrival lasts at most one month and an Immigration Officer can issue it without referral. For a longer stay, the Government recommends applying in advance: you can apply for up to 6 months, and the most a visitor permit can be issued or extended to, counting earlier ones, is nine months in twelve. Family members of residents have a separate twelve-months-in-twenty-four limit.

Djibouti → Falkland Islands: Short-stay tourist

Required documents

Identity

Financial

Accommodation

Insurance

Employment

Travel

Other

Why applications on this route get refused

Sources