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Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha

What the governments of the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada tell their own citizens about travelling to Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, in their own words, plus practical help with packing.

Travel advice levels

Each government rates the risks for its own citizens, on its own scale. The levels are shown exactly as published; they are not equivalent to each other and are not combined here.

United KingdomForeign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Advice for St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha

Does not advise against travel

No numbered levels

Updated 10 September 2026

Latest change, in the source's words: New information on getting to Ascension Island ('Safety and Security' page)

Full advice on GOV.UK

United StatesU.S. Department of State

The U.S. government publishes no separate advice for Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha in its data.

CanadaGlobal Affairs Canada

The Canadian government publishes no separate advice for Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha in its data.

Emergency numbers

From the section “Emergency services on St Helena and Ascension” of the UK government's travel advice for St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, written for British travellers. Reproduced without changes to the wording; formatting adapted.

Telephone: 999 (ambulance, fire, police)

Local laws and customs

From the section “Laws and cultural differences” of the UK government's travel advice for St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, written for British travellers. Reproduced without changes to the wording; formatting adapted.

St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha are British Overseas Territories and have their own laws.

Illegal drugs and prison sentences

Do not become involved with drugs of any kind. There are severe penalties for possessing or importing even small amounts of drugs.

Alcohol bans

You are not allowed to drink alcohol in public in the Jamestown area of St Helena. 

Travelling with medicines

From the section “Medication” of the UK government's travel advice for St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, written for British travellers. Reproduced without changes to the wording; formatting adapted.

Make sure you bring enough prescription medication for the duration of your trip.

The legal status and regulation of some medicines prescribed or bought in the UK can be different in other countries.

Read best practice when travelling with medicines on TravelHealthPro.

Extreme weather and natural disasters

From the section “Extreme weather and natural disasters” of the UK government's travel advice for St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, written for British travellers. Reproduced without changes to the wording; formatting adapted.

Volcanic eruptions

Ascension is a dormant volcanic island which has not erupted for 600 years.

Tristan da Cunha is a volcanic island but has not had an eruption since 1961.

What to pack

Practical suggestions from Trip Rulebook, based on open data and fixed rules. They are not safety or legal advice: rules on clothing, medicines and restricted items are covered only by the official text on this page.

Chargers and plugs

Plug typesG
Voltage230/400 V
Frequency50 Hz

Plug and voltage data: Wikipedia, “Mains electricity by country”, CC BY-SA 4.0 (licence), retrieved 2026-09-29. Sockets in hotels can differ; the label on your charger (for example “INPUT 100–240V”) tells you which voltages it accepts.

Clothes for the weather

JFMAMJJASOND

Rainfall Average temperature

January

Average
20 °C (68 °F)
Lows
18 °C (64 °F)
Highs
22 °C (72 °F)
Rain
88 mm (3.4 in)
  • Light clothes, with a light layer for the evenings.
  • Some rain on average: a compact umbrella.

February

Average
21 °C (69 °F)
Lows
18 °C (65 °F)
Highs
23 °C (73 °F)
Rain
76 mm (3.0 in)
  • Light clothes, with a light layer for the evenings.
  • Some rain on average: a compact umbrella.

March

Average
21 °C (69 °F)
Lows
18 °C (65 °F)
Highs
23 °C (73 °F)
Rain
106 mm (4.2 in)
  • Light clothes, with a light layer for the evenings.
  • Frequent rain on average: a rain jacket or umbrella.

April

Average
20 °C (67 °F)
Lows
18 °C (64 °F)
Highs
22 °C (71 °F)
Rain
111 mm (4.4 in)
  • Light clothes, with a light layer for the evenings.
  • Frequent rain on average: a rain jacket or umbrella.

May

Average
19 °C (65 °F)
Lows
17 °C (62 °F)
Highs
21 °C (69 °F)
Rain
116 mm (4.6 in)
  • Light clothes, with a light layer for the evenings.
  • Frequent rain on average: a rain jacket or umbrella.

June

Average
17 °C (63 °F)
Lows
15 °C (60 °F)
Highs
19 °C (66 °F)
Rain
142 mm (5.6 in)
  • Light jacket or fleece and long sleeves.
  • Frequent rain on average: a rain jacket or umbrella.

July

Average
16 °C (62 °F)
Lows
15 °C (58 °F)
Highs
18 °C (65 °F)
Rain
114 mm (4.5 in)
  • Light jacket or fleece and long sleeves.
  • Frequent rain on average: a rain jacket or umbrella.

August

Average
16 °C (60 °F)
Lows
14 °C (57 °F)
Highs
18 °C (64 °F)
Rain
129 mm (5.1 in)
  • Light jacket or fleece and long sleeves.
  • Frequent rain on average: a rain jacket or umbrella.

September

Average
16 °C (61 °F)
Lows
14 °C (57 °F)
Highs
18 °C (64 °F)
Rain
112 mm (4.4 in)
  • Light jacket or fleece and long sleeves.
  • Frequent rain on average: a rain jacket or umbrella.

October

Average
17 °C (62 °F)
Lows
15 °C (58 °F)
Highs
19 °C (65 °F)
Rain
100 mm (3.9 in)
  • Light jacket or fleece and long sleeves.
  • Some rain on average: a compact umbrella.

November

Average
18 °C (64 °F)
Lows
15 °C (60 °F)
Highs
20 °C (67 °F)
Rain
86 mm (3.4 in)
  • Light jacket or fleece and long sleeves.
  • Some rain on average: a compact umbrella.

December

Average
19 °C (66 °F)
Lows
17 °C (62 °F)
Highs
21 °C (70 °F)
Rain
85 mm (3.4 in)
  • Light clothes, with a light layer for the evenings.
  • Some rain on average: a compact umbrella.

National averages for 1991-2020. Coasts, mountains and regions can be very different, and any given year can be warmer, colder or wetter. Suggestions come from fixed rules based on these averages. Climate data: World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal, observed climate data (CRU TS), CRU TS (cru_ts4.09), Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia, CC BY 4.0 (licence).

What is acceptable to wear is a matter of local law and custom: read Local laws and customs. For seasonal hazards such as storms, floods or extreme heat, read the official section Extreme weather and natural disasters.

Packing checklist

A general list for any trip. Ticks are not saved.

Documents
Health
Tech
Clothes and belongings

Entry requirements and visas

Visa and entry rules depend on your nationality and change often, so Trip Rulebook does not summarise them. Each government explains the rules for its own citizens. If you travel on another passport, check with the embassy or the official immigration website of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha.

About this page

This page is guidance, not legal advice. Laws and advice change without notice and are written for each government's own citizens, so they may apply to you differently. Confirm everything with the official source before you travel. Terms of use.