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French Guiana - Consular Information Sheet
August 23, 2001
COUNTRY DESCRIPTION: French Guiana is an overseas Department
of France. It is a sparsely populated tropical wilderness located
on the northeastern coast of South America. Tourist facilities
are available, especially in the larger cities such as Cayenne
and Kourou, but in some instances are not highly developed. Kourou
is home to the Guiana Space Center, from which Ariane rockets
are launched.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: Passports are required of U.S. citizens
entering French Guiana. Visitors who arrive on a commercial air
carrier with a return ticket may enter for up to 90 days without
a visa. For further information on entry requirements, travelers
can contact
the Embassy of France at 4101 Reservoir Road, N.W., Washington,
DC 20007; telephone 1-202-944-6000; or the nearest French Consulate
in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New
York, New Orleans or San Francisco. Internet: http://www.info-france-usa.org.
DUAL NATIONALITY: In addition to being subject to all French
laws affecting U.S. citizens, dual nationals may also be subject
to other laws that impose special obligations on French citizens.
For additional information, visit the Dual
Nationality flyer.
SAFETY AND SECURITY: Demonstrations occur periodically,
but in general do not target foreigners. Should protests occur,
American citizens should take common-sense precautions, maintain
a low profile and avoid street crowds. Be careful when traveling
throughout the country and in urban areas; travel should be undertaken
on main routes whenever possible. Additional advice about demonstrations
may be obtained from the U.S. Embassy in Paramaribo, Suriname,
which covers French Guiana, at the telephone numbers listed below.
CRIME: Petty street crime occurs occasionally in French
Guiana. Individuals should keep valuables out of sight, especially
if left unattended in an automobile. Motorcycles are a high-theft
item.
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. U.S. citizens may refer to the Department of State's
pamphlet, A
Safe Trip Abroad, for ways to promote a more trouble-free
journey. The pamphlet is available by mail from the
Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office,
Washington, DC 20402, via the Internet at http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs,
.
MEDICAL FACILITIES: Medical care in French Guiana is limited.
Hospital facilities are available only in larger urban areas.
Windows in patients' rooms frequently are not glass-paned but
are fitted with wooden slats.
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. U.S. medical insurance plans seldom cover health costs
incurred outside the United States unless supplemental coverage
is purchased. Further, U.S. Medicare and Medicaid programs do
not provide payment for medical services outside the United States.
However, many travel agents and private companies offer insurance
plans that will cover health care expenses incurred overseas including
emergency services such as medical evacuations.
When making a decision regarding health insurance, Americans
should consider that many foreign doctors and hospitals require
payment in cash prior to providing service and that a medical
evacuation to the U.S. may cost well in excess of $50,000. Uninsured
travelers who require medical care overseas often face extreme
difficulties, whereas travelers who have purchased overseas medical
insurance have, when a medical emergency occurs, found it life-saving.
When consulting with your insurer prior to your trip, ascertain
whether payment will be made to the overseas healthcare provider
or whether you will be reimbursed later for expenses you incur.
Some insurance policies also include coverage for psychiatric
treatment and for disposition of remains in the event of death.
Useful information on medical emergencies abroad, including overseas
insurance programs, is provided in the Department of State's Bureau
of Consular Affairs brochure, Medical
Information for Americans Traveling Abroad,
or autofax: (202) 647-3000.
OTHER HEALTH INFORMATION: Information on vaccinations
and other health precautions 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); fax 1-888-CDC-FAXX
(1-888-232-3299), or via CDC's
Internet site at http://www.cdc.gov.
TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS: While in a foreign
country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ
significantly from those in the U.S. The information below concerning
French Guiana is provided for general reference only, and may
not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.
Safety of Public Transportation: Fair
Urban Road Conditions/Maintenance: Good
Rural Road Conditions/Maintenance: Fair
Availability of Roadside Assistance: Fair
Primary roads in French Guiana are well paved and well maintained.
Emergency call boxes are available at regular intervals on the
main highways. Roads in rural areas are less developed; those
leading to more remote regions in the interior are often improved
dirt roads. French Guiana has a relatively moderate to high volume
of traffic, and police enforce traffic safety. Night driving can
be dangerous, especially in the remote interior regions or on
less-developed rural roads. Public transportation in the form
of taxis and vans is relatively safe.
For
additional general information about road safety, including links
to foreign government sites, see the Department of State,
Bureau of Consular Affairs home page at http://travel.state.gov/road_safety.html.
For specific information concerning French Guiana driver's permits,
vehicle inspection, road tax and mandatory insurance, contact
the French
National Tourist Organization offices at http://www.franceguide.com/.
AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT: The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA) has assessed the government of France's Civil Aviation Authority
as Category 1 -- in compliance with international aviation safety
standards for oversight of French air carrier operations. For
further information, travelers may contact the Department of Transportation
within the U.S. at 1-800-322-7873, or visit the
FAA's Internet website at http://www.faa.gov/avr/iasa.
The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) separately assesses some
foreign air carriers for suitability as official providers of
air services. For information regarding the DOD policy on specific
carriers, travelers may contact DOD at 1-618-229-4801.
CUSTOMS REGULATIONS: French customs authorities may enforce
strict regulations concerning temporary importation into or export
from French Guiana of items such as firearms, medications, animals,
etc. It is advisable to contact the Embassy of France in Washington
or one of the French consulates in the U.S. for specific information
regarding customs requirements.
Customs authorities encourage the use of an ATA (Admission Temporaire/Temporary
Admission) Carnet for the temporary admission of professional
equipment, commercial samples, and/or goods for exhibitions and
fair purposes. ATA Carnet
Headquarters, located at the
U.S. Council for International Business, 1212 Avenue of the
Americas, New York, NY 10036, issues and guarantees the ATA Carnet
in the U.S. For additional information, call (212) 354-4480, send
an e-mail to atacarnet@uscib.org, or visit http://www.uscib.org.
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 U.S. 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 U.S. for similar offenses. Persons violating French laws,
even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. Penalties
for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in French
Guiana are strict and convicted offenders can expect jail sentences
and heavy fines.
CONSULAR ACCESS: As there is no U.S. Embassy or Consulate
in French Guiana, U.S. citizens are encouraged to carry a copy
of their U.S. passports with them at all times, so that, if questioned
by local officials, proof of identity and U.S. citizenship are
readily available. The U.S. Embassy at Paramaribo, Suriname provides
consular services, therefore it may not be immediately possible
for consular officers to visit American citizens who have been
detained in French Guiana.
CHILDREN'S ISSUES: For
information on international adoption of children and international
parental child abduction, please refer to our Internet site
at http://travel.state.gov/children's_issues.html or telephone
(202) 736-7000.
REGISTRATION/EMBASSY AND CONSULATE LOCATIONS: There is
no U.S. Embassy or Consulate in French Guiana. Americans living
in or visiting French Guiana are encouraged to register at the
Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Paramaribo, Suriname,
and obtain updated information on travel and security within French
Guiana. The U.S. Embassy is located at Dr. Sophie Redmondstraat
129, Paramaribo; telephone (011) (597) 472-900. The Consular Section
is open for American Citizens Services from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00
a.m., Mondays and Wednesdays, except local and U.S. holidays,
or by appointment. In an emergency after normal business hours,
American citizens may contact the duty officer by pager at (011)(597)
088-0338.
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This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated September
14, 1999, to add or update sections on Dual Nationality, Safety
and Security, Crime, Medical Insurance, Traffic Safety and Road
Conditions, Customs Regulations, Criminal Penalties, Consular
Access, and Registration/Embassy and Consulate Locations, and
to delete the section on Y2K Information.
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