Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Visa Policy

There are different types of visas available for Saint Helena. You will be required a visa even if you are transiting through Saint Helena unless you are from a visa-exempt group.

You can realize your planned trip to Saint Helena by obtaining a Saint Helena visa. Foreign nationals can apply to Saint Helena Short Term Entry Permit (Single, Multiple entries) for temporary reasons (tourism, business, employment, accompanying/joining spouse or life partner, accompanying a relative, visiting family friends and other short-term purposes).

Note: Single and Multiple Entry Permits are valid for 183 days (6 months).

Exemption from the Entry Permit & Work Permission Requirement

An exemption from the requirement for an Entry Permit & Permission to Work is required for employees involved by a contractor providing services or goods to the Government of St. Helena (the Crown) and is valid until the end of the contract.

A letter confirming the exemption may be sent to a person who:

• Has a Statement of Exemption from the Requirement for an Entry Permit and Permission to Work from the contracting organization
• Has a satisfactory police verification certificate for the country of residence
• Any other supporting evidence, as requested, may be produced.

Please contact evisaenquiries@sainthelena.gov.sh for further information.

Required Documents for Saint Helena Short Term Entry Permit E-visa

1. Application Form 

• Fully completed in English and signed and dated by the applicant (signed by both parents in case of minors, below the age of 18)

2. Passport

• Validity minimum of six months beyond the date of your departure from Saint Helena.
• Signed by bearer
• Passport not older than 10 years (issued in the last 10 years)
• At least one or three free “visa pages.”
• Undamaged pictures securely affixed with/to passport.

3. Photo

• Format – JPG, PNG
• Minimum 10 KB
• Maximum 1 MB
• The height and width of the Photo must be equal.
• The photo should present full face, front view, eyes open and without spectacles
• Center head within frame and present full head from the top of hair to bottom of the chin
• The background should be a plain, light-colored, or white background.
• No shadows on the face or the background.
• Without borders.
• 45x35 mm

4. Residence Permit/Visa Copy (if your country of residence and citizenship are different)

5. Photocopies

• Copy of the main page of your passport
• Copies of previous visas

6. Travel Itinerary 

• Flight reservation (return ticket must be included), (in case of transit – onward return ticket)
• Pre-booked hotel/accommodation booking/reservation with the full address (name, street, city, zip code, contact information, booking ref.)

7. Medical Insurance

• All visitors must have a valid medical insurance policy of at least £175,000, which includes aeromedical evacuation or other means of payment for treatment to cover themselves for the duration of their stay, proof of which must be provided upon arrival.

8. Proof of Sufficient Funds

• Bank statements
• Building society book
• Evidence of earnings, such as a letter from the employer confirming the details of employment (start date of employment, salary, role, company contact details)

9. Employment Details or Studies (where you are employed or in a full-time study)

• A letter from your employer on the company's paper detailing your role, salary, and length of employment
• A letter from your education provider, on the front page, confirming your enrolment and leave of absence
• If self-employed: business registration documents confirming the name of the owner of the business and the date on which the business started trading

10. Business Activities

• If you are coming to St. Helena to carry out work related to your occupation/work outside of St. Helena, you should submit information about what you are going to do in St. Helena, including any letters from inviting organizations
  • Any business activities, e.g. a letter from your employer outlining the reason for your visit, which you will meet, and any payment/expenses details.
  • For performances and entertainment visitors, whether you're working in this area as a professional or amateur, and what and where you're performing.

11. Documents Confirming The Purpose of The Travel

12. For Minors:

• Copy and English translation of either birth certificate/proof of adoption/custody decree if parents are divorced/death certificate of parent
• Letter of consent from parent/s or legal guardian/s, if traveling unaccompanied

13. When You Arrive in Saint Helena, You Must Present also:

• Printed Saint Helena e-Visa
• Medical Insurance
• Travel Itinerary including:
  • Flight reservation
  • Valid (existing) hotel/accommodation booking/reservation with the full address (name, street, city, zip code, contact information, booking ref.)

NOTE: All persons arriving at St. Helena are required to complete the Arrival Declaration form. Please click here to download a copy of the form ("Form E").

* If you submit a document, not in English, it must be accompanied by a complete translation that can be independently verified. Each translated document must contain the following:

• Confirmation from the translator that the translation of the original document is accurate
• The Translation Date
• Full name and signature of the translator
• Contact details of the translator

Processing Time for Saint Helena Short Term Entry Permit E-visa

The average processing time for Saint Helena Short Term Entry Permit e-Visa is 21 calendar days. Complicated cases may take longer, but all applications will be identified within six weeks.

Saint Helena Short Term Entry Permit E-visa Application Fee

Saint Helena Short Term Entry Permit e-Visa fee is £50 GBP depending on the category of e-Visa (They can vary depending on your country and nationality).

 Where to Apply for Saint Helena Short Term Entry Permit E-visa Application?

You will apply to Saint Helena Short Term Entry Permit e-Visa online. You can apply for an e-Visa through this website.

Even if your country is exempt from visa requirements for a short-term period, if you intend to stay longer in Saint Helena, you may need to apply for a Long-term Entry Permit from your home country before coming to Saint Helena. Saint Helena Long-term Entry Permit is issuable for a period not exceeding five years.

Required Documents for Saint Helena Long-term Entry Permit

1. Application Form 

• Fully completed in English and signed and dated by the applicant himself (signed by both parents in case of minors, below the age of 18)

2. Passport

• Validity minimum of six months beyond the date of your departure from Saint Helena.
• Signed by bearer
• Passport not older than 10 years (issued in the last 10 years)
• At least one or two free “visa pages.”
• Undamaged pictures securely affixed with/to passport.

3. Photo

• Format – JPG, PNG
• Minimum 10 KB
• Maximum 1 MB
• The height and width of the Photo must be equal.
• The photo should present a full face, front view, eyes open and without spectacles.
• Center head within frame and present full head from the top of hair to bottom of the chin
• The background should be plain light-colored or white background.
• No shadows on the face or the background.
• Without borders.
• 45x35 mm

4. ID Card Copy

5. Residence Permit/Visa Copy (if your country of residence and citizenship are different)

6. Photocopies

• Copy of the main page of your passport
• Copies of previous visas

7. Travel Itinerary 

• Flight reservation
• Valid (existing) hotel/accommodation booking/reservation with the full address (name, street, city, zip code, contact information, booking ref.)

8. Medical Insurance

• All visitors must have a valid medical insurance policy of at least £175,000, which includes aeromedical evacuation or other means of payment for treatment to cover themselves for the duration of their stay, proof of which must be provided upon arrival.

9. Proof of Financial Means

• Bank statements
• Building society book
• Evidence of earnings, such as a letter from the employer confirming the details of employment (start date of employment, salary, role, company contact details)

10. For Minors:

• Copy and English translation of either birth certificate/proof of adoption/custody decree if parents are divorced/death certificate of parent
• Letter of consent from parent/s or legal guardian/s, if traveling unaccompanied

11. Documents Confirming The Purpose of The Travel

12. When You Arrive in Saint Helena, You Must Present also:

• Printed Saint Helena e-Visa
• Medical Insurance
• Travel Itinerary including:
  • Flight reservation
  • Valid (existing) hotel/accommodation booking/reservation with the full address (name, street, city, zip code, contact information, booking ref.)

*Additional documents can be required by the Immigration Officer.

Please contact evisaenquiries@sainthelena.gov.sh  for further information.

Processing Time for Saint Helena Long-term Entry Permit

The average processing time for a Saint Helena Long-term Entry Permit is 21 calendar days. Complicated cases may take longer, but all applications identify within six weeks.

Saint Helena Long-term Entry Permit Fee

Saint Helena Long-term Entry Permit fee is 25 – 100 GBP (it can vary depending on your country and nationality). Additionally, you may also need to pay other Administrative fees such as the Visa Application center fee, courier service fee, etc., depending on the country and location of your documents' submission.

Where to Apply for Saint Helena Long-term Entry Permit?

You will apply for a Saint Helena Long-term Entry Permit online through this website (official governmental website).

A Work Permit is required to work on a self-employed basis in St. Helena for a period of more than six months. It does not allow the entrance to St. Helena. A Long-Term Entry Permit is required to enter St. Helena. The Work Permit must be submitted to the Immigration Control Board, which, upon receipt of the request, must have regard to:

• The condition of the local labour market in general and the extent of any specialized skills or experience that the prospective employer seeks to recruit.
• Any special skills or experience of the applicant relevant to the work to be carried out
• Passes a point-based system.
• Is satisfied that it is not in the public interest to do so
• A fee is payable
• It already holds or applies for a Long-term Entry Permit at the same time.

An extension of up to five years may be given if the conditions set out above are met, and the application is made three months before the expiration of the current Work Permit.

A Work Permit may cease to be valid if the employee is absent from St Helena for a period lasting more than six months or if he ceases to be the holder of a valid Entry Permit or an Entry Permit Exemption.

Required Documents for Saint Helena Work Permit

1. Application Form 

• Fully completed in English and signed and dated by the applicant 

2. Passport

• Validity minimum of six months beyond the date of your departure from Saint Helena.
• Signed by bearer
• Passport not older than 10 years (issued in the last 10 years)
• At least one or two free “visa pages.”
• Undamaged pictures securely affixed with/to passport.

3. Photo

• Format – JPG, PNG
• Minimum 10 KB
• Maximum 1 MB
• The height and width of the Photo must be equal.
• The photo should present a full face, front view, eyes open and without spectacles.
• Center head within frame and present full head from the top of hair to bottom of the chin
• The background should be a plain light-colored or white background.
• No shadows on the face or the background.
• Without borders.
• 45x35 mm

4. ID Card Copy

5. Residence Permit/Visa Copy (if your country of residence and citizenship are different)

6. Photocopies

• Copy of the main page of your passport
• Copies of previous visas

7. Travel Itinerary 

• Flight reservation (return ticket)
• Valid (existing) hotel/accommodation booking/reservation with the full address (name, street, city, zip code, contact information, booking ref.)

8. Medical Insurance

• All visitors must have a valid medical insurance policy of at least £175,000, which includes aeromedical evacuation or other means of payment for treatment to cover themselves for the duration of their stay, proof of which must be provided upon arrival.

9. Proof of Financial Means

• Bank statements
• Building society book
• Evidence of earnings, such as a letter from the employer confirming the details of employment (start date of employment, salary, role, company contact details)

10. Documents Confirming The Purpose of The Travel

11. When You Arrive in Saint Helena, You Must Present also:

• Printed Saint Helena e-Visa
• Medical Insurance
• Travel Itinerary including:
  • Flight reservation
  • Valid (existing) hotel/accommodation booking/reservation with the full address (name, street, city, zip code, contact information, booking ref.)

*Additional documents can be required by the Immigration Officer.

Please contact evisaenquiries@sainthelena.gov.sh  for further information.

Processing Time for Saint Helena Work Permit

The average processing time for a Saint Helena Work Permit is 21 calendar days-3 months. Complicated cases may take longer. (it depends on your country and nationality).

Saint Helena Work Permit Fee

Saint Helena Work Permit fee is 50 – 100 GBP (it can vary depending on your country and nationality). Additionally, you may also need to pay other Administrative fees such as the Visa Application center fee, courier service fee, etc., depending on the country and location of your documents' submission.

Where to Apply for Saint Helena Work Permit?

You will apply for a Saint Helena Long-term Entry Permit online through this website (official governmental website). The Work Permit must be submitted to the Immigration Control Board.