Where to transit in Haiti? Important notes when transiting

SERIOUS SECURITY WARNING

BEFORE YOU READ FURTHER: HAITI IS CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING AN EXTREME SECURITY CRISIS. MOST GOVERNMENTS WORLDWIDE RECOMMEND "DO NOT TRAVEL" TO HAITI IN ANY FORM.

Haiti, the first Latin American nation to gain independence (1804), is currently mired in crisis with gangs controlling over 60% of the capital Port-au-Prince. Kidnappings, armed robbery, and violence occur daily, making travel extremely dangerous.

Current Air Travel Situation

Toussaint Louverture International Airport (PAP) in Port-au-Prince is the main gateway, but frequently closes due to violence. The airport has had to suspend operations multiple times in 2024 without prior notice. Cap-Haïtien Airport (CAP) in the north has fewer flights.

There are no direct flights from Vietnam and the situation for flights to Haiti is extremely unstable, subject to last-minute cancellations or delays.

Main transit points

United States (Most common)

Miami International (MIA):

• American Airlines, Spirit Airlines, JetBlue fly to PAP (when operational)
• Flight time: 1.5 hours from Miami
• Advantages: Large Haitian community, many flights
• Disadvantages: US visa required

New York JFK:

• JetBlue Airways has direct flights (3.5 hours)
• Advantages: Good connections from Asia
• Disadvantages: US visa required

Fort Lauderdale (FLL):

• Spirit Airlines, JetBlue operate this route
• Near Miami, many cheap options

Canada

Montreal (YUL):

• Air Canada has 2-3 flights/week (when operating)
• Advantages: Large Haitian community, Canadian visa easier than US visa
• Disadvantages: Few flights, long duration

Caribbean

Santo Domingo (SDQ), Dominican Republic:

• Many small airlines operate (30 min flight)
• Advantages: Closest, can travel by road
• Disadvantages: Unstable flights, tense borders

Route from Vietnam

Option 1: Via Miami (Most popular)

Vietnam Doha/Dubai/Seoul Miami MIA Port-au-Prince PAP

• Time: 18-22 hours + layover
• Cost: $2.000-4.000$USD
• Required: US Visa ($185$ USD)

Option 2: Via Montreal

Vietnam Europe Montreal YUL Port-au-Prince PAP

• Advantages: Easier Canadian Visa
• Disadvantages: Fewer flights (2-3/week)

Option 3: Via Caribbean

Vietnam Europe/USA Santo Domingo SDQ Port-au-Prince PAP

• Advantages: Flexible when US-Haiti flight routes are interrupted
• Disadvantages: Many legs, flight schedules change

Important booking notes:

• Avoid splitting tickets due to high risk of flight cancellation
• Choose tickets with flexible change/refund conditions
• Check PAP flight schedule before booking long journeys
• Prioritize tickets from the same airline/alliance for layover protection

Safe transit time

• In the US: Minimum $4-6$ hours (must enter country)
• In Canada: Minimum $3-4$ hours
• In the Caribbean: Minimum $2-3$ hours
• Special: Should spend $8-12$late hour for the final leg to Haiti due to high risk of flight cancellation

Visa and required documents

Haiti Visa:

• Vietnamese citizens: Visa required ($10$USD at the airport or $25$USD applied in advance)
• Yellow fever vaccination certificate is a mandatory requirement and is strictly checked at Cameroon's entry points.: Can be obtained at PAP but not 100% guaranteed
• Documents: 6-month passport, return ticket, proof of funds

Transit Visa:

• United States: B1/B2 visa required ($185$USD) even if only transiting
• Canada: Visitor visa required ($100$CAD)
• Dominican Republic: Tourist card $10$USD if exiting airside

Health and Vaccinations

Recommended vaccinations:

• Hepatitis A, BHepatitis A, B
• Typhoid fever: Very important due to poor sanitation
• Yellow Fever: Not required but recommended
• Malaria prevention medication: Necessary for some areas

Risk of disease:

• Zika, Dengue, Chikungunya: High risk due to mosquitoes
• Cholera: Cases reported, be careful with drinking water
• Traveler's diarrhea: Very common

Health insurance:

• Mandatory: Minimum insurance$100.000$USD
• Important: Many companies may deny coverage for Haiti
• NoteCurrent situation:

Safety and Security – Extremely Important

Gangs control 60% of Port-au-Prince

• Kidnappings occur frequently (including foreigners)
• Armed robberies, violent demonstrations
• Emergency services are not working effectively
• Use private security company

If travel is unavoidable:

• Travel by armored vehicle
• Notify embassy upon arrival
• Have an emergency evacuation plan
• 200−500
• Security costs: $200-500$USD/day

Currency and costs

Currency:

• Official1USD≈150HTG
• Reality: USD widely accepted
• Exchange rate: $1USD\approx 150HTG$ (strong fluctuations)

Estimated costs (if mandatory travel):

• Flight Tickets: $2.000-4.000$USD
• Safety costs/day: $300-600$USD
• Total 7 days: $5.000-8.000$USD

Electricity and connections:

Languages:

• Main: Haitian Creole and French
• English: Very limited

Climate:

• Tropical: $25-32°C$ all year round
• Dry season: 11-4 (better weather)
• Stormy season: 6-11 (double danger)

Electricity and connectivity:

• 110V: $110V$, $60(Type\; A,\; B\; like\; USA)$ (Type A, B)
• Electricity: Frequent power outages
• Internet: Slow and unstable

Preparation checklist

Documents:

• Passport valid for 6+ months
• Haiti visa + US/Canada transit visa
• Insurance covering emergency evacuation
• Notarized copies of important documents

Health:

• Full vaccinations (Hepatitis A/B, Typhoid)
• Malaria prevention medication
• Personal medical kit
• DEET 25-30% mosquito repellent

Financial and safety:

• USD cash (new bills, small denominations)
• Backup credit card
• Emergency communication device
• List of emergency phone numbers

Final conclusions and recommendations

Haiti is currently in a severe humanitarian and security crisis. Travel to Haiti is extremely dangerous and is not recommended in any form.

Strong recommendation:

• Do not travel to Haiti at this time
• Only travel if there is a compelling reason (humanitarian, diplomatic) with maximum security measures
• Always check the latest travel advisories from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Register with your diplomatic mission and have an evacuation plan

If you decide to go, be prepared for a large budget for security ($$300-600$USD/day), comprehensive insurance, and be ready to change your plans.

Note: The situation in Haiti changes very rapidly. Always check the latest information from official sources and consider carefully before making a decision.