Getting In and Around

Visas: American travelers to Comoros are required to have a visa and a ticket to leave Comoros. Visas can be obtained at the Comoros mission to the United Nations in New York City. The more common practice, however, is to obtain a 24-hour transit visa when one is entering Comoros. Travelers are then required to go to the visa office in Moroni the next day to change their visa status.

Transportation: An international airport sits just outside the capital, Moroni. Taxis are available to take travelers around in the cities and into the rural parts of Comoros; there are no buses or trains. Visitors can also rent a vehicle with a driver. Many of the roads are not paved; we recommend using a four-wheel-drive vehicle, especially in the rainy season. Dubious road conditions and free-roaming livestock make car travel slow, and sometimes it may be easier and quicker to travel by boat. Ferries and planes operate between the islands. Gasoline shortages may cause occasional difficulties.

Safety and Security

Because of violence during recent demonstrations, it is best to avoid such gatherings and large crowds. Despite having been relatively placid the past few years, the political situation in Comoros is fragile and subject to rapid change. Generally keeping a low profile and traveling light is your best strategy. Foreigners in Comoros haven’t been the targets of violent crime, but be on guard for pickpockets and petty thieves.

Use good judgment. U.S. travelers should register with the embassy in Madagascar and frequently check the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs website for travel alerts and travel warnings before departing.

The Mo Ibrahim Foundation has created a security ratings system called the Ibrahim Index, wherein scores are based on each country’s quality of government. Before traveling to Comoros or anywhere on the continent, check the index and do your research.