Is It Safe to Travel to French Guiana in 2026?
French Guiana - Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions
Last updated: · Source: U.S. Department of State
French Guiana, or Guyane in French, is an overseas department and region of France located on the northern coast of South America in the Guianas and the West Indies. Bordered by Suriname to the west and Brazil to the east and south, French Guiana covers a total area of 84,000 km2 (32,000 sq mi) and a land area of 83,534 km2 (32,253 sq mi).
Is It Safe to Travel to French Guiana in 2026?
French Guiana is currently rated Level 1 — Exercise Normal Precautions by the U.S. Department of State. Exercise normal precautions when traveling to French Guiana. Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive alerts and facilitate locating you in an emergency.
Key concerns cited in the advisory:
- other
Traveler Impact
Solo travelers may encounter petty crime, particularly in urban areas, and should remain vigilant in less populated regions, especially near gold mining sites where health risks like malaria are prevalent.
Business travelers can expect reliable infrastructure in urban centers, but should be cautious of health risks such as malaria in specific areas and ensure proper vaccinations are up to date.
Families with children face health risks, particularly from diseases like malaria and dengue, and should ensure access to healthcare facilities before traveling to remote areas.
Remote workers may find decent connectivity in urban areas, but should avoid rural regions where internet access can be unreliable and health risks are higher.
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of State, the CDC, the World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, and Freedom House. All sources are updated regularly and cross-referenced to provide a composite safety picture for French Guiana.
▶Safety and Stability Ratings
Threat Severity (0-10 scale)
French Guiana has an overall threat severity of 1.2 out of 10. Crime risk is rated 3.0/10, terrorism risk 0.0/10, and kidnapping risk 0.0/10.
▶Entry Requirements and Health
Entry Information
Visa
Check embassy for details
Currency
Euro (EUR)
Language
French
Vaccinations
Required:
- Yellow Fever: Vaccine is required for all arriving travelers ≥1 year old.
Recommended:
⚠ Malaria Risk: moderate
Recommended medications: Atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine, tafenoquine
Active health notices:
- alertChikungunya in French Guiana: There is an outbreak of chikungunya in French Guiana. You can protect yourself by preventing mosquito bites.
- watchGlobal Measles: Measles cases are rising in many countries around the world. All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to CDC's measles vaccination recommendations for international travel.
Vaccination data sourced from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Consult a travel health professional before your trip.
Common Questions About Traveling to French Guiana
▶What is the current travel advisory level for French Guiana?
▶Is it safe to travel to French Guiana right now?
▶Do I need a visa to visit French Guiana?
▶What vaccines do I need for French Guiana?
▶Is French Guiana safe for solo travelers?
▶How bad is crime in French Guiana?
More French Guiana Data
Political rights and civil liberties assessment from Freedom House.
Governance indicators including rule of law, corruption control, and regulatory quality.
View all 195 countries color-coded by advisory level.
Read the full advisory on travel.state.gov.
Access this data programmatically. Free tier available.
On-demand country risk PDFs from 6 government sources.