Call your nearest hospital:
Call your nearest police:
Exercise normal safety precautions in the Federated States of Micronesia.
Exercise normal safety precautions in the Federated States of Micronesia.
Full travel advice: Safety
Full travel advice: Health
Full travel advice: Local laws
Full travel advice: Travel
Full travel advice: Local contacts
The crime rate is low. Petty crime happens, including house break-ins.
Travellers have reported sexual assault and other physical assaults.
The risk of crime is higher:
To protect yourself from crime:
You may be at risk of cyber-based threats during overseas travel to any country. Digital identity theft is a growing concern. Your devices and personal data can be compromised, especially if you're connecting to Wi-Fi, using or connecting to shared or public computers, or to Bluetooth.
Social media can also be risky in destinations where there are social or political tensions or laws that may seem unreasonable by Australian standards. Don't comment about local or political events on your social media.
More information:
Kidnapping can happen anywhere, anytime, including in destinations that are typically at lower risk. The Australian Government's longstanding policy is that it doesn't make payments or concessions to kidnappers.
More information:
Civil unrest is rare.
Public protests and events that draw large groups of people can turn violent.
Avoid protests and demonstrations.
Monitor the news and other sources for advice of possible unrest. Avoid affected areas.
More information:
Dangerous currents are a risk to swimmers and surfers.
Ask locals about danger spots before swimming.
The Federated States of Micronesia experiences natural disasters and severe weather, including:
To protect yourself in case of a natural disaster:
Tropical storms and typhoons may happen at any time of year. They mostly occur July to November. They typically peak in August and September.
Severe weather can cause flooding and landslides.
Severe weather can also disrupt essential services, such as water, electricity and telecommunications.
The direction and strength of typhoons can change suddenly.
If there's a typhoon or severe tropical storm:
To protect yourself during a typhoon or severe tropical storm:
More information:
Earthquakes and tremors happen regularly in the Federated States of Micronesia.
To protect yourself during an earthquake:
After an earthquake:
Tsunamis can happen.
Register for tsunami alerts:
Move immediately to high ground if you:
Don't wait for official warnings, such as alarms or sirens.
Move to higher ground straight away if advised by local authorities.
Once on high ground, monitor local media.
Get comprehensive travel insurance before you leave.
Your policy needs to cover all overseas medical costs, including medical evacuation. The Australian Government won’t pay for these costs.
If you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel. This applies to everyone, no matter how healthy and fit you are.
If you're not insured, you may have to pay many thousands of dollars up-front for medical care.
Confirm:
Consider your physical and mental health before you travel, especially if you have an existing medical condition.
See your doctor or travel clinic to:
Do this at least 8 weeks before you leave.
If you have immediate concerns for your welfare or the welfare of another Australian, call the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 or contact your nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate to discuss counselling hotlines and services available in your location.
More information:
Not all medication available over the counter or by prescription in Australia is available in other countries. Some may even be considered illegal or a controlled substance, even if prescribed by an Australian doctor.
If you plan to bring medication, check if it's legal in the Federated States of Micronesia. Take enough legal medication for your trip.
Carry a copy of your prescription or a letter from your doctor stating:
More information:
There have been no recent reports of Zika virus. However, serious outbreaks of Zika, dengue and chikungunya virus sometimes happen.
If you're pregnant, the Australian Department of Health recommends you:
To protect yourself from disease:
Get medical advice if you have a fever, muscle pain, rash or severe headache.
Leptospirosis is common, including in Pohnpei.
To protect yourself from leptospirosis:
STIs are common. Take precautions.
More information:
Hospital and medical facilities are limited. Basic supplies and medication can also be limited.
You may need to be evacuated if you become seriously ill or injured. The Federated States of Micronesia has no dedicated medical evacuation planes. They usually take at least 24 hours to arrive. Medical evacuation can be very expensive. Evacuation can be delayed if you use commercial airlines due to infrequent flights.
Doctors and hospitals may ask you to pay before they'll treat you.
Facilities are limited for scuba-diving injuries. The Federated States of Micronesia has decompression chambers in Yap, Chuuk and Pohnpei. These chambers are not always operational.
Access to services and trained staff varies widely.
You're subject to all local laws and penalties, including those that may appear harsh by Australian standards. Research local laws before travelling.
If you're arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you under our Consular Services Charter. But we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail.
Penalties for drug offences are severe, and include long jail sentences and heavy fines.
More information:
Some Australian criminal laws still apply when you’re overseas. If you break these laws, you may face prosecution in Australia.
More information:
The Federated States of Micronesia recognises dual nationality.
If you're a dual citizen of Australia and FSM, use your Australian passport to enter and leave Australia.
More information:
Dress and behaviour codes are conservative. Take care not to offend. If you're a woman, wear clothing that covers your knees.
No laws restrict the rights of LGBTQIA+ people or groups. However, social and cultural attitudes to same-sex relationships can be conservative.
Open affection between same-sex partners may attract negative attention and offend.
More information:
Entry and exit conditions can change. More details on entry requirements can be found on the Federated States of Micronesia Tourism website.
You can get a visitor visa on arrival. It's valid for tourism, work or study for 30 days. You'll need to show an onward or return ticket.
You'll need an entry permit to visit the Federated States of Micronesia for more than 30 days.
Rules affecting your visit can change at short notice.
Entry and exit conditions can change. Contact the Division of Immigration in Pohnpei for details about visas and entry permits, currency, and customs rules.
Phone: (+691) 320 5844, (+691) 320 2605 or (+691) 320 2606
Email: passport@gov.fm
If you’re travelling through the US, you must also meet US entry or transit requirements. This includes transit through Hawaii and Guam.
Contact your nearest US embassy or consulate for travel advice.
Entry and exit conditions can change at short notice.
Contact your travel provider for details and follow the Australian Embassy in the Federated States of Micronesia Australia in Micronesia for updates.
Check with your airline or tour operator to confirm you meet all entry requirements.
You must pay a cash departure fee in US dollars at domestic and international airports.
Carry cash with you. ATMs aren't available at most airports.
Each island has its own customs and immigration procedures.
More information:
If you're travelling with a child who isn't your own, you must carry a letter of travel permission from the child's legal guardian.
For you to travel legally, your letter must:
All vessels must have an entry permit.
If you're on a private vessel or yacht, you must contact the Division of Immigration at least 72 hours before you arrive.
Phone: (+691) 320 5844, (+691) 320 2605 or (+691) 320 2606
Email: passport@gov.fm
More information:
The official currency is the US Dollar.
Credit cards are accepted in most hotels. ATMs are limited.
Contact your bank to make sure your cards will work overseas.
Some countries won’t let you enter unless your passport is valid for 6 months after you plan to leave that country. This can apply even if you’re just transiting or stopping over.
Some foreign governments and airlines apply the rule inconsistently. You may receive conflicting advice from different sources.
You can end up stranded if your passport is not valid for more than 6 months.
The Australian Government does not set these rules. Check your passport’s expiry date before you travel. If you’re not sure it’ll be valid for long enough, consider getting a new passport.
Your passport is valuable. It's attractive to people who may try to use your identity to commit crimes.
Some people may try to trick you into giving them your passport.
Always keep your passport in a safe place.
If your passport is lost or stolen, tell the Australian Government as soon as possible:
Although Australian passports comply with international standards for sex and gender, we can't guarantee that a passport showing 'X' in the sex field will be accepted for entry or transit by another country. Contact the nearest embassy, high commission or consulate of your destination before you arrive at the border to confirm if authorities will accept passports with 'X' gender markers.
More information:
Transport and tour operators may not follow safety precautions or maintain their equipment. This includes adventure activities, such as diving and yachting.
If you plan to do a tour or adventure activity:
If you aren't given safety equipment, or it's not in good condition, use another provider.
If you plan to dive, check you have insurance cover for:
Remnants of war are still present in the Federated States of Micronesia. Take extra care when boating or diving around Yap harbour and channels next to it.
It's dangerous and illegal to remove objects from sunken World War II wrecks.
You can use your Australian driver's licence for 1 month after you arrive. After that, you must apply for a local licence.
Driving can be hazardous.
Hazards include:
If you plan to drive:
More information:
Check that your insurance policy covers you when riding a motorbike.
Always wear a helmet.
Only use registered taxis.
Book through your hotel.
Public transport options are limited on the larger islands. In more remote areas, there's no public transport.
In some places, you can hire vehicles.
More information:
Sea travel can be dangerous in rain and storms.
To protect yourself while at sea:
Tell someone you trust when you expect to depart and return.
More information:
DFAT doesn’t provide information on the safety of individual commercial airlines or flight paths.
Check the Federated States of Micronesia's air safety profile with the Aviation Safety Network.
More information:
Depending on what you need, contact your:
Call 911
Always get a police report when you report a crime.
Your insurer should have a 24-hour emergency number.
Read the Consular Services Charter for what the Australian Government can and can't do to help you overseas.
For consular assistance, contact the Australian Embassy in Pohnpei.
H & E Building
Kolonia, Pohnpei
PO Box S
Federated States of Micronesia
Phone: (+691) 320 5448
Fax: (+691) 320 5449
Email: phpi.mail@dfat.gov.au
Website: fsm.embassy.gov.au
Facebook: Australia in Micronesia
Check the Embassy website for details about opening hours and any temporary closures.
In a consular emergency, if you can't contact an embassy, call the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on:
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