Call 911.
Call 911.
If you call 911, authorities may not answer. Plan for other ways to get help in an emergency.
Call 911 or go to a local police station. If you call 911, authorities may not answer.
Always get a police report when you report a crime.
Your insurer should have a 24-hour emergency number.
Exercise a high degree of caution in Liberia overall due to the sensitive political situation and the risk of violence and crime.
Exercise a high degree of caution in Liberia overall due to the sensitive political situation and the risk of violence and crime.
Reconsider your need to travel to Grand Gedeh and River Gee counties.
Reconsider your need to travel to Grand Gedeh and River Gee counties. These areas have a sensitive political situation and a risk of violence.
See Safety
Full travel advice: Safety
Full travel advice: Health
Full travel advice: Local laws
Full travel advice: Travel
Full travel advice: Local-contacts
Public protests and events that draw large groups of people can turn violent.
Liberia is recovering from civil war. The United Nations (UN) Mission in Liberia was completed in March 2018.
Some sensitive political issues persist, like the imprisonment of former President Charles Taylor for war crimes. Supporters may take revenge on travellers from the United Kingdom.
Grand Gedeh and River Gee counties are especially dangerous due to the political situation and risk of violence.
Armed groups operate in the areas bordering Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast). Cross border attacks happened in 2014, and could happen again.
When you're in Liberia:
More information:
You may be a target for crimes such as:
The police can't always help or protect you.
Be aware of your surroundings. Don't travel alone or after dark, as crime levels rise.
If you're a victim of violent crime, especially rape, get immediate medical attention.
Internet scams come in many forms. They may start as romance, friendship, business or job opportunities.
These scams often originate in West African countries, including Liberia.
If you travel to Liberia as a scam victim, you may be kidnapped and killed.
Common fraud schemes fall into two main categories - commercial and relationship scams.
In commercial scams, criminals ask for details of safe bank accounts to transfer large amounts of money. They may:
In relationship scams, criminals often meet their victims through internet dating sites or chat rooms. Once they have formed a connection, they may ask you to:
Once you transfer money, the relationship often ends.
To avoid being a victim of a scam:
If you suspect a scam, get legal advice.
Don't travel to Liberia to get your money back or to get revenge.
Strong coastal currents are common. Get local advice before you swim.
Flooding may happen in the rainy season from May to November.
If a natural disaster or severe weather happens, follow the advice of local authorities.
Register with the Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System to receive alerts on major disasters.
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 eight 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:
If you need counselling services, call the Australian Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 and ask to speak to a Lifeline telephone counsellor.
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 take medication, check if it's legal in Liberia. Take enough legal medication for your trip.
Carry a copy of your prescription or a letter from your doctor stating:
More information:
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared Liberia free from Ebola virus disease on 9 June 2016.
WHO expects further outbreaks to occur. Monitor WHO for updates.
The rate of HIV/AIDS (World Health Organization) infection is high.
Take precautions to reduce your risk of exposure to the virus.
Yellow fever (Department of Health) is widespread in Liberia. Yellow fever is a potentially fatal virus spread by mosquitoes. It's prevented by vaccination. Get vaccinated before you travel.
Lassa fever may be a risk. Monitor local media and the World Health Organization for updates.
Lassa fever is spread through contact with rodents or body fluids of infected people. To protect yourself:
Get immediate medical help if you develop any symptoms of Lassa fever, including a fever, weakness in your body or unexplained pain.
Malaria (World Health Organization) and other insect-borne illnesses are common.
To protect yourself from disease:
Common waterborne, foodborne, parasitic and other infectious diseases including these listed by the World Health Organization:
Serious outbreaks sometimes occur.
To protect yourself from illness:
Get medical advice if you suspect food poisoning or have a fever or diarrhoea.
More information:
Medical facilities are poor in Monrovia and are extremely limited outside the capital.
Local health services may have difficulty responding to outbreaks of infectious disease. Mandatory quarantine facilities are poor and have very limited health care.
You may need to pay cash up-front before doctors and hospitals will treat you, even in an emergency.
If you are seriously ill or injured, you will need evacuation to a place with better facilities. Medical evacuation can be very expensive.
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.
It's a serious offence to have, use or traffic illegal drugs. Penalties can include large fines and long jail terms.
More information:
Same-sex relationships are illegal.
It's also illegal to:
Penalties can be severe.
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:
Liberia does not recognise dual nationality. Always travel on your Australian passport.
If you enter Liberia on a Liberian passport, local authorities will treat you as a citizen. This limits the consular services we can give if you're arrested or detained.
More information:
Liberia is a conservative society, especially in areas outside Monrovia.
Take care not to offend.
Think about your clothing choices. Local women wear loose-fitting clothes that cover the upper arms and legs.
A visa is required to travel to Liberia. Entry and exit conditions can change at short notice. Contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Liberia for details about visas, currency, customs and quarantine rules.
You must complete a Health Screening Arrival Form before arriving in Liberia. You can access this form via the 'Lib travel app' from Google Play or the Apple Store.
If you’re aged 18 years and over, you must show proof of COVID-19 vaccination on arrival. If you don’t have proof of vaccination, you’ll be returned to your country of embarkation.
If you’re aged 5 years and over, you'll be required to provide a negative COVID-19 test taken within 96 hours of your arrival. If you don't have a negative test result, you will be tested on arrival. For more information see COVID-19 testing protocol for travellers (Liberian Ministry of Health).
You should also confirm rules for departure with your airline, noting these rules may vary between airlines.
You should be prepared for travel restrictions and changes to screening and quarantine requirements with no advance notice.
Be prepared for health checks at border crossings.
If you have a fever or Ebola-like symptoms, you may:
You need a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate to enter Liberia. See Health
Find out about returning to Australia after exposure to yellow fever (Department of Health).
More information:
Countries with a risk of yellow fever (PDF 74KB) (World Health Organization)
Some countries won't let you enter unless your passport is valid for six 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. Travellers can receive conflicting advice from different sources.
You can end up stranded if your passport is not valid for more than six 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 a valuable document. 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 it in a safe place.
If your passport is lost or stolen, tell the Australian Government as soon as possible:
Liberia’s banking sector is currently experiencing cash shortages (of both US and Liberian dollars). Banks and foreign exchange facilities may be unable to pay out transferred funds or fulfil ATM withdrawals. Bring sufficient funds, in US dollars cash, to cover all expenses.
Most places won't accept credit cards. Only a few businesses will take traveller's cheques.
ATMs are limited in Monrovia.
Western Union and Moneygram have agents in Monrovia.
Always carry photo ID. Government security checkpoints will ask to see it.
Outside Monrovia, there are few tourist facilities and infrastructure is poor.
Land borders (with Sierra Leone, Guinea and Côte d’Ivoire) and ports are open.
You can drive in Liberia for up to 12 months with an International Driving Permit (IDP).You will also need to carry a police cover note in addition to your IDP.
You must get your IDP before you leave Australia.
After 12 months, you need a Liberian licence to drive.
Driving in Liberia is dangerous, especially after dark.
Hazards include:
Attacks on security forces have occurred around the Firestone rubber plantation area, near the international airport.
Use major roads when you travel near the plantation and the airport.
More information:
Public transport options are limited.
DFAT doesn't provide information on the safety of individual commercial airlines or flight paths.
Check Liberia's air safety profile with the Aviation Safety Network.
More information:
Depending on what you need, contact your:
Call 911.
Call 911.
If you call 911, authorities may not answer. Plan for other ways to get help in an emergency.
Call 911 or go to a local police station. If you call 911, authorities may not answer.
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.
Australia doesn't have an embassy or consulate in Liberia.
You can get consular help from the Australian High Commission in Ghana.
The Australian High Commission in Accra currently has very limited capacity to provide consular assistance in West Africa, except in Ghana.
2, Second Rangoon Close
(cnr Josef Broz Tito Ave)
Cantonments
Accra, Ghana
Phone: +233 302 216 400
Fax: +233 302 216 410
Email: AccraHC.Enquiries@dfat.gov.au
Website: ghana.highcommission.gov.au
Facebook: Australian High Commission, Ghana
Twitter: @AusAmbGHA
Check the High Commission website for details of opening hours.
In a consular emergency, if you can't contact an embassy, call the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on:
Be the first to know official government advice when travelling.