23 March 2021
There's a ban on overseas travel from Australia. You can’t leave Australia unless you have an exemption from the Department of Home Affairs, or are travelling to a destination that is exempt from the ban.
Our global travel advice remains at 'Do not travel' due to the health risks from the COVID-19 pandemic and the significant disruptions to global travel. Some destinations were already set at Do Not Travel prior to COVID-19 due to the extreme risk to your safety.
If you’re overseas and wish to return to Australia, be prepared for delays and read our advice on trying to get home.
When you arrive in Australia you must quarantine for 14 days at designated facilities in your port of arrival, unless you have an exemption or are travelling on a quarantine-free flight from a green zone destination. At this time, vaccination against COVID-19 does not change this quarantine requirement. You may be required to pay for the costs of your quarantine. View State and Territory Government COVID-19 information for information about quarantine and domestic borders.
If you're staying overseas, make plans to stay for an extended period. Follow the advice of local authorities and minimise your risk of exposure to COVID-19. Stay in touch with family and friends so they know you're safe.
Our network of embassies and consular posts around the world will provide you with up-to-date local advice and support throughout this difficult period. Be aware consular services may be limited due to local measures.
For the latest information, read and subscribe to our news and travel advice. Also see our COVID-19 information pages.
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.
Do not travel to Liberia.
Do not travel overseas due to the health risks from the COVID-19 pandemic and the significant disruptions to global travel.
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. A ban on overseas travel from Australia remains in place. You can’t leave Australia unless you get an exemption from the Department of Home Affairs.
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. Consider whether you may be in a vulnerable category for COVID-19.
See your doctor or travel clinic to:
Do this at least eight weeks before you leave.
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:
COVID-19 remains a risk in Liberia.
You should consult your local health professional for advice on vaccine options, including assistance that may be available locally. The Australian Government cannot provide advice on the safety, quality and efficacy of vaccines that have been approved for use outside of Australia's regulatory process.
If you have COVID-19 symptoms call 4455 with a local network provider to self-report.
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.
Be prepared for health checks at border crossings. If you display symptoms of COVID-19, or test positive, public health officials may take you to a government quarantine facility or treatment unit. For more information see: COVID-19 testing protocol for travellers (Liberian Ministry of Health)
You must complete a Health Screening Arrival Form before arriving in Liberia. You can access this form via the 'Lib travel app' from Android Play or the Apple Store.
All incoming travellers who are staying more than five days have to be tested within 72 hours of their departure for Libera. On arrival in Liberia, you will be screened and tested for COVID-19. If you're exempt from testing on arrival, you have to present a negative COVID-19 (PCR) test result obtained no more than 72 hours before your flight.
To leave Liberia, you'll need to provide a negative COVID-19 test result, obtained within 72 hours of departure and a travel certificate issued by the National Public Health Institute of Liberia.
The cost for testing in Liberia is 75 USD for incoming and outgoing travellers.
Expect border closures, travel bans, curfews and other restrictions on your movement. You could be refused entry. The wearing of face masks in public is compulsory.
The Australian High Commission in Accra has very limited capacity to provide consular assistance in Liberia.
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:
In Australia, contact the Australian Passport Information Service.
If you're overseas, contact the nearest Australian embassy or consulate.
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.
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.
Contact your provider with any complaints about tourist services or products.
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. This will likely be reduced further as COVID-19 develops.
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 about opening hours and any temporary closures.
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.