Timor-Leste occupies the eastern half of the island of Timor, north of Australia, together with the Oecusse exclave on the island's western side, and Dili is its capital. Timor-Leste is not covered by Roam Like at Home, so a European SIM roams here on its operator's own terms. The UK Foreign Office also warns that emergency numbers are unreliable, so keep your phone working and your key contacts saved from the moment you land.
Key facts for Timor-Leste
- EU roaming: not covered by Roam Like at Home
- Local networks: Telemor (depending on the plan)
- Emergency numbers: police 112; ambulance 110; fire 115
- Embassies: British help comes from the New Zealand Embassy in Dili, and Canadians are assisted by Australia's Embassy in Dili
Visa on arrival, cash in hand
British visitors need a visa for tourism, issued on arrival at Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport or Dili seaport for a single entry of up to 30 days and payable only in cash; Canada notes that there is nowhere to change money at the airport or the land borders, so carry the exact fee in US dollars. The visa can be extended for 30 days, ideally applying at least 15 days before it expires. Arriving overland from Indonesian West Timor, or travelling by land to the Oecusse exclave, involves separate visa arrangements, so check with Timor-Leste's Immigration Service or an embassy before you set off. Your passport needs at least 6 months' validity and blank pages, and you should carry a copy of its photo page and of your visa.
Security and crime
Canada advises a high degree of caution because of a fragile security situation and crime. The UK Foreign Office says tensions can rise around elections, demonstrations occasionally occur and minor disputes can turn violent, so avoid crowds, particularly around Tasi Tolu and Comoro in Dili. Gang-related violence, robbery and assault are common, group fights sometimes break out at night, though foreigners have not been targeted, and harassment and sexual assault have been reported, including on Beach Road in Dili: move in groups where possible, and avoid taxis or public transport alone at night.
Roads, taxis and the sea
Away from the main roads of Dili, roads are poor, often unpaved and badly lit, and in the mountains they are narrow, winding and single-track; in the rainy season, from around November or December to April, flash floods and landslides can make them impassable. Serious accidents are frequent, especially involving motorbikes, and Canada advises against riding them. A hire car usually comes with a driver, UK drivers need the correct International Driving Permit, and outside Dili it is safer to travel in convoy. Yellow taxis have no meters, so agree the fare before getting in or book through your hotel. Ferry accidents are common, and piracy has been reported in the surrounding waters.
Crocodiles, floods and earthquakes
Crocodiles are often present on the south coast, in the east and in inland waterways, and have been seen on beaches near Dili, so ask locally before swimming anywhere. In Dili itself, take great care on flooded streets, where uncovered manholes have caused injuries and drownings. Canada says earthquakes are frequent and tsunamis possible, while the UK notes there has not been a significant quake since 2005.
Health and money
Medical services are limited, especially outside Dili, and emergency medical services are unreliable, so make your own way to hospital if you can; serious cases need evacuation to Australia or Singapore, which is difficult because few airlines serve the country, so carry insurance that covers it. Dengue, chikungunya, typhoid and rabies are among the health risks, and altitude sickness is a risk in parts of the country. The currency is the US dollar: cards are rarely accepted, cash machines in Dili are often out of order, and small notes are the easiest to spend.
Getting connected
A travel eSIM installed before departure connects when you land in Dili. The Timor-Leste plans run on Telemor, on 4G, and a World plan also covers the country on a longer trip through South-East Asia. Your own SIM can stay in for bank texts if you switch its data roaming off, and because emergency lines are unreliable, save the numbers of your hotel, your insurer and your consular contact as well.
Consular protection: who to call in Timor-Leste
- Call 112 for the police, 110 for an ambulance and 115 for the fire service, but expect gaps: the UK Foreign Office warns that emergency numbers are unreliable.
- Emergency consular help for British nationals comes from the New Zealand Embassy in Dili, and Canadians can turn during office hours to the Embassy of Australia in Dili, under a consular sharing agreement.
- Find in the Telcomia app the embassy responsible for Timor-Leste for your nationality, and store its number offline.
- If your EU country has no representation in Timor-Leste, the embassy or consulate of any other EU country must help you on the same terms as its own nationals (Article 23 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU).
- Tetum and Portuguese are the official languages.
Questions travellers ask about Timor-Leste
Will my EU SIM work in Timor-Leste?
Only on roaming at your operator's own rates, because Timor-Leste is outside Roam Like at Home.
Do I need a visa?
British visitors do: a tourism visa for up to 30 days is issued on arrival in Dili and paid in cash. Check the rules for your own passport before you fly.
Which network does a Telcomia eSIM use in Timor-Leste?
Telemor, on 4G.
What if the emergency number does not answer?
Emergency lines are unreliable, so get to a hospital yourself if you can, and call your hotel, your insurer or your embassy.
The short version
Bring the visa fee in US dollars, install the eSIM before you fly, save your consular and insurance contacts, avoid crowds and night-time travel alone, skip motorbikes, travel in convoy outside Dili, ask about crocodiles before swimming, carry insurance for evacuation, and save 112 and 110.
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