Banking | Business Hours | Car Rentals | Communications | Currency | Customs | Duty Free Allowance | Prohibited Goods | Driving | Education | Electricity | Emergencies | Entry Requirements | Insurance | Language | Location | Marriage | Medical Care | Postal Service | Public Library | Pubs | Radio broadcasting | Shopping | Taxis | Time | Transport
Have you been away from the island for a while? Perhaps you are planning that long overdue trip back home and you just need a few details clarified. Here’s some general information about the island.
Banking
Banking services on St. Helena and Ascension Island are provided by the Bank of St. Helena, which is located in the Market Square, Jamestown.
Services available to visitors include the encashment of travellers cheques at a 2% charge and the exchange of banknotes in Sterling, US Dollars, Euro and South African Rand. Customers can also obtain cash advances on major credit cards, and UK clearing bank customers can cash UK bank cheques, up to the limit of the applicable cheque guarantee card. Charges applicable to these services are advertised in the bank.
For more details about the Bank of St. Helena and current rates and fees go to www.sainthelenabank.com
Businesses opening hours, unless otherwise stated, are usually from 8:30am – 4.00pm Mondays to Fridays.
It is HIGHLY recommended that you book in advance as it can be difficult to book a car once on the Island because of the great demand not only from visitors but returning Saints (St Helenians) as well. Car hire can be arranged at the Tourist Office or through Reservations at Andrew Weir Shipping. Visitors must hold and bring with them a valid driving licence with no endorsements for dangerous driving or drunken driving in the last 5 years and must be 21 years and over (restrictions may be imposed by some companies in respect of the upper age limit).
Car Hire costs from GBP10.00 – GBP15.00 per day. (Delivery & Collection fees may be charged). This rate includes insurance however, any minor damages e.g. broken headlight, wing-mirror, etc, will have to be paid for by the client. Before driving, the hirer must register at the Police Station in Jamestown where they record details of your Driver’s License.
To book a car, please contact:
St Helena Tourism Enquiries Desk:
St Helena Tourism
Main Street
Jamestown
St Helena Island
STHL 1ZZ
Tel: + (290) 2158
Fax: + (290) 2159
E: enquiries@tourism.gov.sh
Cable & Wireless is the telecommunications provider for St Helena, offering services such as International Direct Dialling, Internet & Email Facilities, Information Service, Facsimile, Television, Flexible Access and National and International telephone. Phone cards can be obtained from the Cable & Wireless Office Customer Care Centre or Warren’s shop, Wellington House Hotel, Anne’s Place and the Consulate Hotel in Jamestown and various country outlets. Phone booths are located in Jamestown and the country districts. Collect calls are possible to United Kingdom and Ascension Island.
A public internet bureau with WiFi facilities is available at Anne’s Place, Castle Gardens, Jamestown. WiFi facilities are also available at Ardees, located in ‘The Market’.
For more about Cable & Wireless on St Helena go to www.cwi.sh
The St Helena Pound is used on the island which is fixed at parity with the British Pound Sterling, which is accepted on the island.
NB: Scottish banknotes are accepted however, Scottish coins/change are not accepted.
St Helena is not a duty-free port.
Visitors arriving in St Helena may bring with them the following:
(a) Spirits, strong liqueurs over 22% volume, 1 litre and Wine x 2 litres, or Beer/Lager 340 bottle/cans 12 bottles/cans
(b) Perfumed spirits & toilet water not exceeding 250 ml
(c) Cigarettes not exceeding 200, or
(d) Other tobacco goods not exceeding in all 250 grams
Persons under the age of 18 years cannot claim the duty free allowance of alcoholic liquors and persons under the age of 16 years cannot claim the duty free allowance of cigarettes and other tobacco goods.
(a) Firearms and ammunition unless accompanied by a valid license.
(b) Obscene items or pornographic literature, films or video tapes.
(c) Fruit, vegetables and plant material unless accompanied by an import permit issued by the Chief Agricultural & Natural Resources Officer, St Helena and phytosanitary and export inspection certificates from the country of origin.
(d) Animals unless accompanied by a permit issued by the Chief Agricultural & Natural Resources Officer, St Helena.
Further information can be obtained from Customs on tel +290 2287; fax +290 2949; or email: eocustoms@cwimail.sh or customsmanager@cwimail.sh or customsofficers@cwimail.sh
It is important to make arrangements well in advance of your departure date if you wish to bring animals, fruit or vegetables to the island. The law prohibits the importation of animals, plants, fruit and vegetables without prior approval and documentation from the Chief Agricultural & Natural Resources Officer, tel + 290 4724; fax + 290 4603; or email: canro@anrd.gov.sh
Most roads are single lane. Etiquette requires the driver coming down to make way for up-coming traffic. Drive on the left-hand side of the road. The drink drive laws are strictly applied with a limit of 50µg of alcohol per 100ml of breath. The safest course is not to Drink and Drive.
Speed Limits: Unless otherwise stated, normal speed limits are 30mph. Road signs are shown in miles per hour and not kilometres per hour. In Jamestown the speed limit is 20mph.
Petrol and diesel can be bought from Solomon’s Fuel Station, Jamestown; Half Tree Hollow Supermarket and Longwood Supermarket.
A central comprehensive, Prince Andrew School, caters for children from 11-18, offering GCSEs and some A’ Levels. There are three Primary schools located in Longwood, Jamestown and St Paul’s. For more information email: Edu.admin@cwimail.sh
The electricity supply on St Helena is 240V, 50Hz. The standard electrical socket is the 13-amp flat pin as used in the United Kingdom.
In case of emergency, dial 911 for Ambulance and 999 for Police, Fire or Sea Rescue.
St. Helena welcomes visitors to the island both short and long term. Those with St Helenian status are not subject to entry requirements. Those without St. Helena status must satisfy the entry requirements.
A Short Term Entry Permit costs £25 and permits a visitor to stay on the island up to 183 days and is usually issued on arrival. For stays less than 183 days the prices vary – see below. Generally you will be required to show evidence that you are in possession of a return ticket, or in certain circumstances proof of adequate funds to purchase a ticket or other means of departure. You will also be required to provide proof of medical insurance which is valid and covers you for the duration of your stay. You should have pre arranged accommodation plans, and sufficient funds to maintain yourself for the duration of your stay before you arrive and you should check that your passport is valid for at least 6 months after the expiry of your entry permit.
Valid for up to 4 days – £12.00
Valid for up to 10 days – £14.00
Valid for up to 21 days – £16.00
Valid for up to 60 days – £20.00
Valid for up to 183 days – £25.00
If you are concerned that you will not able to meet the entry requirements above you should contact the Immigration Office before travelling:
Tel: +290 2626
E-mail: immigration1@police.gov.sh
If you wish to stay for longer than 183 days you should apply to the St. Helena Immigration Control Board for a Long Term Entry Permit which may be issued for up to 5 years. For further information, please contact the Secretary of The Immigration Control Board:
Tel. + 290 2470
E-mail: cofcouncils@sainthelena.gov.sh
Further information on all immigration permits including application forms is available at this website:
Before leaving home you should arrange travel, personal accident, additional medical insurance and baggage insurance to cover the journey. You will be asked to produce proof of medical insurance by the Immigration Officer if you intend to stay longer than 48 hours, please remember to have it with your passport.
English is the only language spoken on St Helena, although most St Helenians speak their own dialect of the English language, “Saint”.
St Helena is situated in the South Atlantic Ocean, 5° 43′ west and 15° 56′ south, 1,200 miles (1,950km) from the south-west coast of Africa, and 1,800 miles (2,900km) from the coast of South America. The nearest land is Ascension Island, which lies 703 miles (1,125km) to the north-west. The Island is 47 square miles (122 square km), ten and a half miles (17km) long and six and a half miles (10km) wide.
Those wishing to marry on St Helena should contact our Legal & Land Planning Department, tel. + 290 2270; fax. + 290 2454; or email:
clerk@legalandlands.gov.sh
There is a small (54 bed) well-equipped General Hospital, a Dental Surgery and a Community Clinic in Jamestown. There are also six rural health clinics around the island, regularly visited by the doctors, dentist and community nurses.
There is no National Health Service and local residents pay for all medical treatment. Rates for medical and dental attention are divided into three rates:
• Non British passport holders
• British passport holders
• Residents rates
Visitors MUST have proof of your passport when seeking medical care. Please contact the Tourist Office for further information on medical and dental fees and charges or call the St Helena General Hospital on 2500.
The main Post Office is in Main Street, Jamestown. All districts have a sub-Post Office operating in a general store or grocery shop. Postage stamps are available from the main Post Office, sub-Post Offices and Warren’s, Main Street, Jamestown. Overseas post is operated via the RMS St Helena. There is no door-to-door delivery available so mail should be collected from your area’s assigned outlet (check with the main Post Office in Jamestown about this). The Post Office will receive mail for you providing it is addressed Poste Restante where it can then be collected from the main Post Office. Postal information line telephone 6099.
The St Helena public library is the oldest in the Southern Hemisphere. Visitors may borrow up to four (4) books at a time on deposit of £10 which will be refunded on the return of all books borrowed. Check with St Helena Tourism Enquiries Desk for opening times.
Opening times for pubs and clubs vary. Most pubs open Mondays to Saturdays: from 11:00am – 11:00pm or after. Some pubs/clubs are also open on a Sunday, (times will vary depending on pub/club), normal hours are from noon until 2:00pm or from 5:00pm until 1:30pm. Alcoholic beverages cannot be consumed on the streets of Jamestown. Check the weekly newspapers for published times and events.
Saint FM provides a local radio service for the island which is also available on Internet Radio. Radio Saint Helena provides a local radio service that has a range of about 100 km from the island.
Christianity has deep roots in St Helena and has played a symbolic part in the island’s community, the majority of people belonging to the Church of England, being members of the Diocese of St Helena, which includes Ascension Island, and which has its own Bishop residing on St Helena. Other denominations of Christianity represented on the island for many years are: Roman Catholic, Salvation Army, Baptist, and in more recent times; Seventh Day Adventist, Jehovah’s Witness and New Apostolic. The Baha’i Faith has also been represented on the island in more recent times.
These all have one or more buildings set apart for worship. The members of the ‘Two by Two’ Christian Group meets for worship in private homes. Visitors are welcomed by all of these Religious Groups. Details of church services are published in the weekly St Helena Herald.
Shop Hours
Most shops in Jamestown usually open:
9:00am – 5:00pm Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays & Fridays
9:00am – 1:00pm Wednesdays,
9:00am – 1:00pm & 6:30pm – 8:30pm Saturdays.
Some shops also open late on Friday evenings and on Wednesday afternoons. All shops are closed on Sundays, (apart from Thorpes which open between 10am and 1pm) except when there is a cruise ship in port.
Details of taxis can be found in the telephone directory, at the Tourist Office. Taxis do not have meters and rates should be checked before the journey. There is also a taxi rank in Jamestown.
Greenwich Mean Time all year round.
The public bus service on St Helena is fairly new and has a very limited service, which is designed primarily for locals. Please enquire with the Tourist Office for assistance.