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Haiti
Country Specific Information
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June 02, 2008
COUNTRY DESCRIPTION:
Haiti is one of the least developed and least stable countries in the Western Hemisphere. The availability of consumer goods
and services is barely adequate in the capital, Port-au-Prince, but other parts of the country experience chronic shortages.
Most consumer products are imported and expensive. Some tourism facilities in the large cities and resort areas are satisfactory,
but many are rudimentary at best, and are difficult to find in most rural areas and small towns. Read the Department of State
Background Notes on Haiti for additional information.
ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS: All Americans traveling by air outside of the United States are required to present a passport or other valid travel document to enter or re-enter the United States. Haitian law requires U.S. citizens to have a passport to enter and exit Haiti. Once in Haiti, an undocumented U.S. citizen can experience delays of several weeks for the issuance of a passport, as it is often more difficult to establish identity and citizenship overseas than in the United States. The Haitian government requires foreigners to pay a departure fee. U.S. citizens are encouraged to contact the Embassy of the Republic of Haiti for more details regarding current entry, departure and customs requirements for Haiti. The Embassy of the Republic of Haiti is located at 2311 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008; the telephone number is (202) 332-4090, and the Internet address is http://www.haiti.org/. There are Haitian consulates in Miami and Orlando, Florida; Boston, Massachusetts; New York, NY; Chicago, Illinois and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
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: U.S. citizens should exercise extreme caution and are strongly encouraged to register online at https://travelregistration.state.gov prior to travel.
Travel in Haiti can be dangerous and all visitors are urged to exercise vigilance and caution. In some cities and towns ordinary
services such as water, electricity, police protection and government services are either very limited or unavailable. While
U.N. personnel from several countries have been in Haiti since 2004, their presence does not guarantee absolute security for
residents or visitors.
During 2007 and early April 2008, the Embassy issued several security related messages warning U.S. citizens in Haiti of violent
or unstable conditions. On occasion, the U.S. mission in Haiti was forced to suspend service to the public or close because
of security concerns. These concerns have also prevented Embassy personnel from traveling to or through some areas. Since
October 2004 Embassy personnel have been prohibited from entering central Port-au-Prince after dark due to security concerns.
The Embassy has also imposed a curfew on its officers from time to time. If situations occur where the Embassy must suspend
operations or when officers are unable to travel freely, the Embassy will continue to be available by telephone to offer emergency
services to U.S. citizens.
In early April 2008, there were violent demonstrations, looting, transportation disruptions, and up to seven reported deaths
in Les Cayes and Port-au-Prince. Some American citizens were temporarily stranded in isolated locations and could not safely
travel until calm was restored. Because political and economic conditions precipitating the civil unrest have not been entirely
resolved, American citizens should defer non-essential travel to Haiti.
U.S. citizens in Haiti should avoid all large gatherings, as crowd behavior can be unpredictable. Visitors encountering roadblocks,
demonstrations, or large crowds should remain calm and depart the area quickly and without confrontation. Assistance from
Haitian officials, such as the police, is often unavailable. Overseas visitors must be particularly cautious on the days of
planned political activities. U.S. citizens are urged to take common-sense precautions and avoid any event where crowds may
congregate.
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 Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts, as well as the Worldwide Caution, 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: There are no "safe areas" in Haiti. Crime, a chronic problem over the years, has increased in recent years and can be subject
to periodic surges sometimes not obviously explained by other events or conditions. The U.S. estimates that up to 8% of the
cocaine entering the United States passes through Haiti. The state of law and order has steadily deteriorated as a result.
Reports of kidnapping, death threats, murders, drug-related shootouts, armed robberies, break-ins or carjackings are common.
These crimes are primarily Haitian against Haitian, though several foreigners and U.S. citizens have been victimized. In 2007,
there were 29 reported kidnappings of American citizens, including two victims who were killed. Many American citizens reported
that they were beaten and or raped by their hostage takers. Kidnapping remains the most critical security concern; kidnappers
frequently target children.
U.S. citizens who travel to Haiti should exercise extreme caution throughout the country. Travelers should keep valuables
well hidden, ensure possessions are not left in parked vehicles, use private transportation, alternate travel routes, and
keep doors and windows in homes and vehicles closed and locked. U.S. citizens should avoid all night-time travel due to poor
road conditions and increased criminal activity after dark. They should be alert for suspicious onlookers when entering and
exiting banks, as criminals often watch and subsequently attack bank customers. Withdrawals of large amounts of cash should
be avoided.
Criminal perpetrators often operate in groups of two to four individuals, and are disposed occasionally to be confrontational
and gratuitously violent. Criminals sometimes will seriously injure or kill those who resist their attempts to commit crime.
In robberies or home invasions, it is not uncommon for the assailants to beat or shoot the victim in order to limit the victim's
ability to resist. If an armed individual demands the surrender of a vehicle or other valuables, the U.S. Embassy recommends
compliance without resistance. This recommendation also applies in the event of a kidnapping. Visitors to Haiti should exercise
caution at all times and review basic personal security procedures frequently.
U.S. citizens in Haiti must be particularly alert when arriving from overseas at the Port-au-Prince airport, as criminals
have often targeted arriving passengers for later assaults and robberies. Some recent incidents have resulted in death. The
use of public transportation, including "tap-taps" (private transportation used for commercial purposes), is not recommended.
Visitors to Haiti should arrange for someone known to them to meet them at the airport.
U.S. citizens should decline all requests to carry items for others to or from Haiti. Traffickers of illegal drugs have duped
unsuspecting travelers into helping transport narcotics aboard commercial airlines.
Certain high-crime zones in the Port-au-Prince area should be avoided, including Croix-des-Bouquets, Carrefour, Martissant,
the port road (Boulevard La Saline), urban route Nationale #1, the airport road (Boulevard Toussaint L'Ouverture) and its
adjoining connectors to the New ("American") Road via Route Nationale #1 (which should also be avoided). This latter area
in particular has been the scene of numerous robberies, carjackings, and murders. Embassy employees are prohibited from remaining
in the downtown area after dark or entering Cite Soleil and La Saline and their surrounding environs due to significant criminal
activity. Neighborhoods in Port-au-Prince once considered relatively safe, such as the Delmas road area and Petionville, have
been the scenes of an increasing number of violent crimes.
Cameras and video cameras should only be used with the permission of the subjects; violent incidents have followed unwelcome
photography. Their use should be avoided altogether in high-crime areas.
Holiday periods, especially Christmas and Carnival, often bring a significant increase in criminal activity. Haiti's Carnival
season is marked by street celebrations in the days leading up to Ash Wednesday. In recent years, Carnival has been accompanied
by civil disturbances, altercations and severe traffic disruptions. People attending Carnival events or simply caught in the
resulting celebrations have been injured and killed. Random stabbings during Carnival season are frequent. Roving musical
bands called “rah-rahs” operate during the period from New Year's Day through Carnival. Being caught in a rah-rah event may
begin as an enjoyable experience, but the potential for injury and the destruction of property is high. A mob mentality can
develop unexpectedly leaving people and cars engulfed and at risk. During Carnival, rah-rahs continuously form without warning;
some rah-rahs have identified themselves with political entities, lending further potential for violence.
The Haitian police are understaffed, poorly equipped and unable to respond to most calls for assistance. There are continued
allegations of police complicity in criminal activity. The unsatisfactory response and enforcement capabilities of the Haitian
national police and the weakness of the judiciary frustrate many victims of crime in Haiti. In the past, U.S. citizens involved
in business and property disputes in Haiti have been arrested and detained without charge, and have been released only after
intervention at high levels of the Haitian Government.
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: Medical facilities in Haiti are scarce and for the most part sub-standard; outside the capital standards are even lower. Medical care in Port-au-Prince is limited, and the level of community sanitation is extremely low. Life-threatening emergencies often require evacuation by air ambulance at the patient's expense. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services.
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 Haiti is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in
a particular location or circumstance.
Cars are supposed to be driven on the right side of the road in Haiti, but few roads have lane indicators and drivers use
whatever part of the road is open to them, even if it is not the correct side of the road. Traffic is extremely congested
in urban areas, and hours-long traffic jams develop throughout the country.
Driving in Haiti must be undertaken with extreme caution. The situation on the roads can be described as chaotic at best,
and it is advisable for those with no knowledge of Haitian roads and traffic customs to hire a driver through a local hotel.
Roads are generally unmarked, and detailed and accurate maps are not widely available. Lanes are not marked and signs indicating
the direction of traffic flow seldom exist. This lack of organization, along with huge potholes that occur without warning,
may cause drivers to execute unpredictable and dangerous maneuvers in heavy traffic. The Haitian government lacks adequate
resources to assist drivers in distress or to clear the road of accidents or broken-down vehicles blocking the flow of traffic.
Drinking and driving is illegal in Haiti, but people frequently drive after drinking, especially at night.
Public transportation as it is usually defined does not exist in Haiti. While Haitians use buses, "tap-taps" and taxis, which
may observe regular routes, much like public transportation, none of these should be considered reliable. The Embassy strongly
discourages their use.
Those who drive in Haiti should do so defensively and conservatively, avoid confrontations such as jockeying for position,
and remain aware of the vehicles around them. Drivers should carry the phone numbers of people to call for assistance in an
emergency, as Haitian authorities are unlikely to respond to requests for assistance. When traveling outside of Port-au-Prince,
drivers should caravan with other vehicles to avoid being stranded in the event of an accident or breakdown.
Although written and driving tests are required to qualify for driver's licenses, road laws are not generally known or applied.
Signaling imminent actions is not widely practiced, and not all drivers use turn indicators or international hand signals
properly. For instance, many drivers use their left blinker for all actions, including turning right and stopping in the road,
and others flap their left arm out the window to indicate that they will be taking an unspecified action. Drivers do not always
verify that the road is clear before switching lanes, turning, or merging.
Speed limits are seldom posted and are generally ignored. Speeding is the cause of many of the fatal traffic accidents in
Haiti, as are overloaded vehicles on winding, mountainous roads and vehicles without brakes. Poor maintenance and mechanical
failures often cause accidents as well. Drivers should be particularly cautious at night, as unlighted vehicles can appear
without warning.
Right of way is not widely observed in Haiti, and there are few operational traffic lights or traffic signs. It is advisable
at most intersections to stop and verify that there is no oncoming traffic even if it appears that you have the right of way.
Drivers can be quite aggressive and will seldom yield. Walls built to the edge of roads frequently make it impossible to see
around corners, forcing drivers to edge their cars into the road at intersections to check for oncoming traffic.
In addition to vehicles, a variety of other objects may appear on the road in Haiti, such as wooden carts dragged by people,
small ice cream carts, animals, mechanics working on vehicles parked on the street, and even vendors and their wares. Vehicles
are often abandoned in the road or by the side of the road. There are few marked crosswalks and sidewalks, and pedestrians
often wend their way through traffic in urban areas.
Please refer to our Road Safety page for more information.
AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT: The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the Government of Haiti’s Civil Aviation Authority as not being
in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards for the oversight of Haiti'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: The official currency of Haiti is the gourde, which has a variable exchange rate. Visitors will notice that most establishments
in Haiti price items in an unofficial currency known as the “Haitian dollar.” (One Haitian dollar is equivalent to five gourdes.)
Others give prices in gourdes or even in U.S. dollars. It is always a good idea to clarify with vendors which currency --
the gourde, Haitian dollar, or U.S. dollar -- is being used in a given transaction, as price tags often bear a number without
indicating currency. The currency itself shows a value in gourdes. U.S. dollars are the currency of choice at the Labadee
Beach cruise ship port-of-call.
Travelers' checks are often difficult to change in Haiti, but credit cards are widely accepted and some establishments accept
or cash personal checks. At least one local bank chain has ATMs around Port-au-Prince that are compatible with some U.S. ATM
cards. These ATMs are frequently out-of-order, and there have been reports of over-charging accounts.
Haiti, like most Caribbean countries, can be affected by hurricanes and other storms. Hurricane season runs from approximately
June 1 - November 30 each year. Extensive flooding as a result of heavy rainfall has occurred in the past. Daily weather information
in Haiti is available from national and international media. The Haitian meteorological service provides hurricane warnings
via national radio. Both media and government information is only in Kreyol and/or French. Warnings are also available on
the internet from many sources among which is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) at hurricanes.noaa.gov.
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/.
Please see our 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 offences. Persons violating Haiti's laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Haiti are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. The judicial process in Haiti can be extremely long; progress is often dependent on considerations not related to the specific case. Detainees may wait months or years for their cases to be heard before a judge or to have legal decisions acted upon by the authorities. Bond is not usually available to those arrested for serious crimes with the result that often suspects remain in custody for many months before formal indictment. Engaging in illicit 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 Haiti are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the State Departments travel registration web site so that they can obtain updated information on travel and security within Haiti. Americans without Internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency. The Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy is located at Boulevard du 15 October, Tabarre 41, Tabarre, Haiti. The main Embassy switchboard number is: (509) (2) 229-8000. The America Citizens Services (ACS) Unit fax number is (509) (2) 229-8027, the email address is acspap@hotmail.com. Web site: http://haiti.usembassy.gov/. ACS Unit office hours are 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Consular Section is closed on U.S. and local holidays.
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This replaces the Country Specific Information for Haiti dated April 27, 2007 to update sections on Exit/Entry Requirements, Safety and Security, Crime, and Registration/Embassy Location.
