Essential Information for Cruise Ship Passengers

To cater for the differing needs of tourists arriving by air and sea, the Falkland Islands Customs and Immigration Department have developed two separate sets of entry and exit requirements. Those relevant to cruise visitors are detailed under Entry and Exit requirements in this section.

Important Information for all Travellers:

Biosecurity: All products of animal origin (e.g. meats, dairy products, eggs, unprocessed feathers, leather, wool and bone), plant and plant material (e.g. fruits, flowers, cuttings, bulbs, barks, seeds) are either restricted or prohibited imports.

Communications: The international dialling code for the Falklands is +500. Stanley - Traditional red, British style phone boxes around Stanley accept either local pre-paid cards or coins but not international calling cards. Cable and Wireless, the local telecommunications provider offer mobile/cellphone packages for short term visitors. Phone cards and mobile top-up cards can be purchased from the Cable and Wireless office and in some retail outlets. International roaming services are available for a number of UK pre-paid telephone networks. Some businesses in Stanley offer internet access on a pay-as-you-go basis and there is an increasing number of Wi-Fi hotspots around the town. Camp (outside Stanley) - Mobile coverage extends only to some parts of East Falkland and there are no public phone boxes. Accommodation providers may offer telephone and internet usage on request.

Currency and Banking Services: The local currency is the Falklands pound which has the same value as the British pound. British notes and coins are accepted. Many places accept US dollars and Euros. There is one bank, the Standard Chartered Bank in Stanley which is open weekdays. SCB can change money, transfer funds, cash traveller’s cheques and issue cash advances against Visa and Mastercard. Usually there are charges for these services for which photo ID is needed. Credit and debit cards can be used in many shops, hotels and restaurants in Stanley; however Diners Club and American Express are not widely accepted. Cash is generally the easiest payment option outside Stanley. There is no ATM / cash machine anywhere in the Falklands.

Medical Services: All medical facilities are based in the King Edward Memorial Hospital (KEMH) in Stanley. A reciprocal agreement is in place with the UK National Health Service meaning that UK passport holders have a similar entitlement to Heath Care as in the UK, on production of their passport. Visitors of other nationalities are required to pay for any services they receive. Serious medical conditions or emergencies may require aeromedical evacuation, please be sure that your insurance covers this.