Famous cities

COUNTRY DESCRIPTION: Occupying 5,743 square miles on the eastern half of an island in the Timor Sea between Indonesia and Australia, Timor-Leste has a population of approximately 1.1 million people. Timor-Leste became independent on May 20, 2002, and is now a democratically-governed, independent nation with an elected President and Parliament.

In the violence that followed Timor-Leste's 1999 independence referendum, the country’s infrastructure, never robust, was totally destroyed and has been only partially rebuilt. In April 2006, violence erupted again in and around the capital, Dili, resulting in further damage to infrastructure and setting back economic growth. Electricity, telephone and telecommunications, roads, and lodging remain unreliable, particularly outside of the capital. Timor-Leste's economy relies largely on international assistance and revenues from oil and gas production. Read the Department of State’s Background Notes on Timor-Leste for additional information.

Local embassy information is available below and at the Department of State’s list of embassies and consulates.
The U.S. Embassy in Dili
Avenida de Portugal
Praia dos Coqueiros
Dili
Timor-Leste
tel: (670) 332-4684
fax: (670) 331-3206.
ENTRY / EXIT REQUIREMENTSFOR U.S. CITIZENS:You need a passport valid for six months beyond the date of arrival in Timor-Leste. You don’t need tourist visas prior to arrival by air, but if you are arriving in Timor-Leste without a visa, you must pay a $30 fee for a 30-day tourist visa. Visas on arrival are no longer available at the land border with Indonesia. If you are arriving to Timor-Leste by land, you will need a visa prior to entry. You will also have to pay an additional fee for each 30-day renewal of this visa. Please see the Immigration Department of Timor-Leste's website for additional information on visas and extensions. Visitors traveling via air must transit Singapore; Darwin, Australia ; or Bali, Indonesia, en route to Timor-Leste.

The U.S. Department of State is unaware of any HIV/AIDS entry restrictions for visitors to or foreign residents of Timor-Leste.

Information about dual nationality or the prevention of international child abduction can be found on our website. For further information about customs regulations, please read our Customs Information page.
THEARTS TO SAFETY AND SECURITY:If you are in Timor-Leste, you should exercise caution, use common sense, avoid large gatherings, remain alert with regard to your personal security, and avoid travel after dark to the extent possible. Exercise caution in public places, including, but not limited to, clubs, restaurants, bars, schools, places of worship, outdoor recreational events, hotels, resorts and beaches, and other locations frequented by foreigners.

You should maintain a high level of security awareness while moving around in Dili, be alert to the potential for violence, and avoid demonstrations, large political gatherings, and areas where disturbances have occurred. Demonstrations can occur at or near symbols and institutions of the Government of Timor-Leste, including government buildings, police stations, and houses belonging to prominent politicians. Even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence with little or no warning. Although social and political tensions diminished in 2008 and 2009, you should continue to exercise caution.

Gang-related violence occurs sporadically in Dili, and you risk intentional or inadvertent injury when traveling in affected areas. While the overwhelming majority of gang-related criminal violence has been Timorese-on-Timorese, foreigners have been caught up in such violence.
Timor-Leste has experienced several major episodes of violent civil disorder in recent years. Demonstrations in April 2006 led to rioting and a breakdown in civil order. International security forces assisted in restoring order, but more recent instances of unrest included sporadic, localized violence following national elections in August 2007, and an attempt to assassinate President Ramos-Horta and Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao on February 11, 2008.

At the Government’s invitation, the UN Integrated Mission for Timor-Leste (UNMIT) – which includes a civilian component and about 1,500 international law enforcement officers – has been deployed in the country since August 2006. UNMIT's mandate was reviewed by the Security Council in February 2011 and extended until the end of 2012. For more information on UNMIT, consult the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste website. Separately, an international military peacekeeping mission of several hundred troops from Australia and New Zealand remains in Timor-Leste as a guarantee for peace and stability.

As of March 2011, Timor-Leste’s security institutions have assumed direct responsibility for maintaining peace and stability from the international police and security forces. Although Timorese security institutions have made progress over the past two years, they remain fragile, and the risk of further violent civil unrest persists.

International security forces, UN police, and Timorese security forces occasionally establish security checkpoints along roads. These legitimate checkpoints are intended to enhance security and should be respected. There are also occasional illegal checkpoints which you should avoid but which to date have been primarily targeted at Timorese. If you are traveling in Timor-Leste, you should remember that despite its small size, much of the territory is isolated and can be difficult to reach by available transportation or communication links.

All U.S. citizens should always ensure that passports and important personal papers are in order in the event it becomes necessary to leave the country quickly for any reason. The U.S. Embassy in Dili is not able to issue emergency passports and has only limited capacity to process passport renewals.

Stay up to date by:• Bookmarking our Bureau of Consular Affairs Website, which contains the current Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts as well as the Worldwide Caution.
• Follow us on Twitter and the Bureau of Consular Affairs page on Facebook as well.
• Download our free Smart Traveler iPhone App to have travel information at your fingertips.
• Calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free within the U.S. and Canada, or a regular toll line, 1-202-501-4444, from other countries.
• Take some time before travel to consider your personal security –Here are some useful tips for traveling safely abroad.
Don’t buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available. Not only are the bootlegs illegal in the United States, if you purchase them you may also be breaking local law.

• Replace a stolen passport.
• For violent crimes such as assault or rape,help you find appropriate medical care,
• Put you in contact with the appropriate police authorities, and contact family members or friends.
• Although the local authorities are responsible for investigating and prosecuting the crime, consular officers can help you understand the local criminal justice process and can direct you to local attorneys.

The local equivalent to the “911” emergency line in Timor-Leste is 112, or dial 723-0365. The United Nations Security Operations Center is also available by dialing 723-0635.
Please see our information on victims of crime, including possible victim compensation programs in the United States.

Based on the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, bilateral agreements with certain countries, and customary international law, if you are arrested in Timor-Leste, you have the option to request that the police, prison officials, or other authorities alert the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate of your arrest, and to have communications from you forwarded to the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.

Accessibility: While in Timor-Leste, individuals with disabilities may find accessibility and accommodation very different from what you find in the United States Although the Timorese Constitution does guarantee the same rights to disabled citizens as it does to all other citizens, Timor-Leste does not currently have legislation that mandates access to transportation, communication and public buildingsfor persons with disabilities. Currently most public places and public transportation are not accessible. Persons with disabilities will face difficulties in Timor-Leste as foot paths, rest rooms, road crossings and tourist areas are not equipped.
Timor-Leste remains in a state of transition. The country faces continuing challenges that limit its law enforcement capability. Many civil and governmental institutions are still being developed with international assistance. If you are traveling or doing business in Timor-Leste you may find it difficult to identify legal or administrative mechanisms if problems arise.

The U.S. dollar is the official currency of Timor-Leste. You can exchange money at the three banks in Dili, but only to or from Indonesian Rupiah, Euro, British Pound, Australian Dollar, Singapore Dollar, and Japanese Yen. Only a few establishments accept credit cards, usually requiring a substantial additional fee, and you should be prepared to settle all bills in cash. Dili has several ATM machines that accept U.S.-issued bankcards. However, you should not plan to rely exclusively on these machines, as they are frequently inoperative.

If you are intending to travel to Australia from Timor-Leste should be aware that the Australian immigration authorities require an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) in advance of arrival. For more information, please consult the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship's website
You can find reliable information on vaccinations and other health precautions on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC) website. For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad, consult the World Health Organization (WHO) website. The WHO website also contains additional health information for travelers, including detailed country-specific health information

• Does my policy apply when I’m out of the United States?
• Will it cover emergencies like a trip to a foreign hospital or a medical evacuation?

In many places, doctors and hospitals still expect payment in cash at the time of service. Your regular U.S. health insurance may not cover doctors’ and hospital visits in other countries. If your policy doesn’t go with you when you travel, it’s a very good idea to take out another one for your trip. For more information, please see our medical insurance overseas page.
All traffic operates on the left side of the road, and most vehicles use right-hand drive. Roads are often poorly maintained, and four-wheel drive may be required in some areas. Non-existent lighting and poor road conditions make driving at night hazardous. Driving in Dili is especially hazardous, with large trucks and military vehicles sharing the streets with vendors, pedestrians, and livestock. Many cars and, especially, motorcycles operate at night without lights.

Taxis, small buses, and mini-vans provide public transportation in Dili and elsewhere. However, public transportation is generally overcrowded, uncomfortable, and below international safety standards. Public transportation operators have been known to unexpectedly drop passengers at locations other than their destination due to the operators’ fears about certain areas or hours. Disagreement about fares has occasionally led to hostilities. Public transport is generally inadvisable and is generally unavailable after dark, although there is a growing presence of night taxis at select locations.

During the rainy season, travel on all cross-island roadways should be considered to be risky. You should use caution when traveling on the cross-island roadways in the mountain areas of Aileu, Ermera, Manatuto, Ainaro, and Manufahi provinces. In the past, rain showers severely damaged several cross-island roadways, and several vehicles had to be airlifted out of the area south of Aileu due to landslides and roadway damage.

Accidents occur frequently. When there is an accident, you should contact the police. Bystanders sometimes attack the driver perceived to be responsible for a traffic accident. This is more common in rural areas and in accidents involving Timorese drivers, but crowds have occasionally attacked expatriate drivers at the scene of an accident. If you are involved in an accident and believe that there is a threat of bodily harm from people at the scene of the accident, it is advisable to drive to the nearest police station before stopping.

While it is possible to obtain insurance for vehicles in Timor-Leste, only a handful of foreigners have done so, and virtually no one else has automobile insurance. Most traffic accidents are settled informally between those involved.

Please refer to our Road Safety page for more information.

This replaces the Country Specific Information for Timor-Leste dated November 19, 2010, to update sections on Threats to Safety and Security, Crime, Criminal Penalties, Special Circumstances, Medical Facilities and Health Information, and Traffic Safety and Road Conditions.