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Montserrat
Country Specific Information
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April 02, 2008
COUNTRY DESCRIPTION:
Montserrat is a British overseas territory and part of the British West Indies. The island rises in a series of mountain
slopes to a high point of over 3,000 feet at the Soufriere Volcano in the exclusion zone. Montserrat is a highly active volcanic
island. The Government of Montserrat has issued several recent proclamations and warnings urging residents and visitors to
be vigilant and to be prepared to move at short notice. Read the Department of State Background Notes on the United Kingdom for additional information.
ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS: All Americans traveling by air outside the United States are required to present a passport or other valid travel document to enter or re-enter the United States. This requirement will be extended to sea travel (except closed loop cruises), including ferry service, by the summer of 2009. Until then, U.S. citizens traveling by sea must have government-issued photo identification and a document showing their U.S. citizenship (for example, a birth certificate or certificate of nationalization), or other WHTI compliant document such as a passport card for entry or re-entry to the U.S. Sea travelers should also check with their cruise line and countries of destination for any foreign entry requirements.
Applications for the new U.S. Passport Card are now being accepted. Based on current projections, we expect the passport card to be in full production beginning in July 2008. The card may not be used to travel by air and is available only to U.S. citizens. Further information on the Passport Card is available at http://travel.state.gov/passport/ppt_card/ppt_card_3926.html and upcoming changes to U.S. passport policy can be found on the Bureau of Consular Affairs web site at http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html. We strongly encourage all American citizen travelers to apply for a U.S. passport well in advance of anticipated travel. American citizens can visit travel.state.gov or call 1-877-4USA-PPT (1-877-487-2778) for information on how to apply for their passports.
In addition to proof of citizenship and identity, an onward/return ticket and sufficient funds to cover the expected stay are required for entry into Montserrat. There is a departure tax payable upon leaving Montserrat.
For further information, travelers may contact the British Embassy, 19 Observatory Circle NW, Washington, DC 20008; telephone (202) 588-7800; or the nearest consulate of the United Kingdom in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York, Denver, Houston, Miami, Orlando, Seattle, or San Francisco. Visit the British Embassy's web site at http://www.britainusa.com/ for the most current visa information.
Information about dual nationality or the prevention of international child abduction can be found on our web site. For further information about customs regulations, please read our Customs Information sheet.
SAFETY AND SECURITY: For the latest security information, Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs’ web site at http://travel.state.gov, where the current Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, and Travel Alerts can be found.
Up-to-date information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S. and Canada, or for callers outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll-line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
The Department of State urges American citizens to take responsibility for their own personal security while traveling overseas. For general information about appropriate measures travelers can take to protect themselves in an overseas environment, see the Department of State’s pamphlet A Safe Trip Abroad.
CRIME: The crime rate in Montserrat is low. However, travelers should take normal, common sense precautions. Avoid carrying large amounts of cash and displaying expensive jewelry. Use hotel safety deposit facilities to safeguard valuables and travel documents.
INFORMATION FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME: The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. If you are the victim of a crime while overseas, in addition to reporting to local police, please contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate for assistance. The Embassy/Consulate staff can, for example, assist you to find appropriate medical care, contact family members or friends and explain how funds could be transferred. Although the investigation and prosecution of the crime is solely the responsibility of local authorities, consular officers can help you to understand the local criminal justice process and to find an attorney if needed.
See our information on Victims of Crime.
MEDICAL FACILITIES AND HEALTH INFORMATION: St. John’s Hospital (telephone (664) 491-2843), Montserrat’s main hospital, can handle most routine and surgical emergencies. However, there is no hyperbaric chamber in Montserrat. Doctors in private practice are also available. Arrangements can be made quickly to transfer more serious problems off island by helicopter to Antigua or Guadeloupe.
Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect bite protection, may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747) or via the CDC’s web site at http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/default.aspx. For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad consult the World Health Organization’s (WHO) web site at http://www.who.int/en. Further health information for travelers is available at http://www.who.int/ith/en.
MEDICAL INSURANCE: The Department of State strongly urges Americans to consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and whether it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation. Please see our information on medical insurance overseas.
TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS: While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United
States. The information below concerning Montserrat is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate
in a particular location or circumstance.
In Montserrat, vehicles are operated on the left-hand side of the road. There is no organized government roadside assistance,
but local residents are often willing to aid those with car trouble. Roads are narrow, winding and steep. For specific information
concerning Montserrat driving permits, vehicle inspection, road tax and mandatory insurance, please contact the Montserrat
Tourist Board in Montserrat at tel. 1 (664) 491-2230 or 491-8730. You may also email them at info@montserrattourism.ms. The web address for the Tourist Board is http://www.visitmontserrat.com/.
Please refer to our Road Safety page for more information. Visit the web site of the country’s national tourist office and national authority responsible
for road safety at http://www.visitmontserrat.com/.
AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT: Civil aviation operations in Montserrat fall under the jurisdiction of British authorities. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the Government of the United Kingdom’s Civil Aviation Authority as being in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards for oversight of the UK’s air carrier operations. For more information, travelers may visit the FAA’s web site at http://www.faa.gov/safety/programs_initiatives/oversight/iasa.
SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: Ongoing volcanic activity in the south of the island has led to the evacuation and relocation of residents of the so called ‘exclusion zone' since 1995. Additional evacuations may occur when volcanic activity increases. Because the volcano is still active and dangerous, access to the southern part of the island is restricted. Persons entering restricted areas without authorization are subject to fine and/or imprisonment.
In early 2007, Montserrat government authorities warned residents and visitors of volcanic activity and an increase of pyroclastic flows in Tyres Ghaut, Gages Valley and behind Gages Mountain. After placing sections of the lower Belham Valley off limits in January 2007 due to the danger posed by growth of the volcano’s dome, the government of Montserrat lifted those restrictions in September. Access to all areas on the southern flanks of the Belham Valley east of the Belham Bridge and areas south remains prohibited, as is south of Jack Boy Hill to Bramble Airport and beyond.
When in Montserrat, citizens are advised to monitor Radio Montserrat (Radio ZJB) for the latest official guidance.
In addition to the hazards posed by the Soufriere Hills Volcano as outlined above, Montserrat can be affected by hurricanes.
The hurricane season normally runs from June to the end of November, but there have been hurricanes in December in recent
years. General information about natural disaster preparedness is available via the Internet from the U.S. Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) at http://www.fema.gov.
The official Montserrat Volcano Observatory web site, http://mvo.ms/, is helpful for updates on volcanic activity. Updates on volcano activity can also be found on the web site of the Caribbean
Disaster Emergency Response Agency at http://www.cdera.org/.
Please see Customs Information.
CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is subject to that country's laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those in the United States and may not afford the protections available to the individual under U.S. law. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for similar offenses. Persons violating Montserrat laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Montserrat are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime, prosecutable in the United States. Please see our information on Criminal Penalties.
CHILDREN'S ISSUES: For information see our Office of Children’s Issues web pages on intercountry adoption and international parental child abduction.
REGISTRATION / EMBASSY LOCATION: Americans living or traveling in Montserrat are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the State Department's travel registration web site, and to obtain updated information on travel and security within Montserrat. Americans without Internet access may register directly with the U.S. Embassy in Barbados, which has jurisdiction over Montserrat. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency. The U.S. Embassy is located in Wildey Business Park in St. Michael, Barbados. Internet: http://barbados.usembassy.gov/. The Consular Section is open for American Citizens Services from 8:30am to 4:00pm, Monday-Friday, except Barbados and U.S. holidays. For after-hours service, American citizens may contact the U.S. Embassy in Bridgetown, Barbados, telephone 1-246-436-4950. Assistance may also be provided by the U.S. Consular Agent, Rebecca Simon, in Antigua. Her office is located in Suite #2, Jasmine Court, Friars Hill Rd, St. John’s, Antigua. Contact information is as follows: telephone 1-268-463-6531, cellular 1-268-726-6531, or e-mail ANUWndrGyal@aol.com. The mailing address is P.O. Box W-1562, St. John’s, Antigua. The Consular Agent is available by appointment only. The office is closed for local and U.S. Holidays.
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This replaces the Country Specific Information for Montserrat dated June 4, 2007, to update sections on Entry/Exit Requirements,
Safety and Security, Medical Facilities and Health Information, and Special Circumstances.
