Haiti
Phone Code
+509
Capital
Port-au-Prince
Population
11.7 Million
Native Name
Haïti
Region
Americas
Caribbean
Timezone
Eastern Standard Time (North America
UTC-05:00
On This Page
Haiti occupies the western third of Hispaniola island, sharing the island with the Dominican Republic. It was the first independent nation in Latin America and the Caribbean (1804) and the first Black-led republic, born from the Haitian Revolution that ended French colonial rule. Port-au-Prince, the capital and largest city, sits on the Gulf of Gonâve. Haiti carries one of the most distinctive cultural identities in the Americas: a globally recognised painting and sculpture scene (the Haitian naïf school, vodou-flag textile art, recycled-metal sculpture), kompa and rasin music traditions, French-Creole language and a UNESCO-listed monumental heritage. Visitors are drawn to the Citadelle Laferrière (UNESCO World Heritage Site, the largest fortress in the Americas), the Sans-Souci Palace ruins, Bassin Bleu waterfalls, the Iron Market in Port-au-Prince, and Jacmel — the Caribbean's most arts-driven heritage town. Travellers should consult their government's current travel advisories before planning a trip.
Visa Requirements for Haiti
Haiti allows visa-free entry for citizens of many countries including the United States, Canada, most EU countries, the United Kingdom and CARICOM member states for tourism stays up to 90 days. Upon arrival, most visitors must purchase a tourist card for $10 USD at the airport, payable in cash. A valid passport (minimum 6 months validity) is required. Citizens of countries not on the visa-free list must obtain visas in advance through Haitian embassies or consulates. Travellers should consult their government's current travel advisories before planning a trip — recommendations vary by region and itinerary, and the Cap-Haïtien area in the north (the Citadelle Laferrière, Sans-Souci, Labadee) is generally considered more accessible than the Port-au-Prince corridor.
Common Visa Types
Visa-Free Entry with Tourist Card
For tourism for US, EU, UK, Canada, and many other eligible nationalities.
CARICOM Visa-Free Entry
For citizens of Caribbean Community member states for any purpose.
Visitor Visa (Embassy Application)
For nationalities not eligible for visa-free entry who must obtain visa before travel.
Business Visa
For business meetings, conferences, or commercial activities in Haiti.
Important Travel Information
Travel Guide
Haiti is one of the most distinctive destinations in the Americas — a country whose cultural depth, monumental heritage and artistic output far outweigh its size. The Citadelle Laferrière, perched on a 900-metre ridge above Cap-Haïtien, is the largest fortress in the Americas (UNESCO World Heritage) and was built from 1805 to defend the new republic from French re-conquest; reaching the summit by horseback or on foot from the village of Milot is one of the great heritage walks of the Caribbean. The adjacent Sans-Souci Palace ruins are part of the same UNESCO ensemble. Cap-Haïtien itself is a colourful colonial port town and the most accessible base for the Citadelle circuit. To the south, Jacmel is the Caribbean's most arts-driven heritage town: pastel French-Creole architecture, papier-mâché workshops producing the famous Carnival masks, a small but vibrant film and arts scene, and the Bassin Bleu waterfall pools just a short hike inland. The Haitian art scene — naïf painting (Hector Hyppolite, Préfète Duffaut, the Saint-Soleil school), vodou flags in sequins (drapo vodou), recycled-metal sculpture from Croix-des-Bouquets — is internationally collected and studied. Music traditions span kompa, rasin (vodou-roots) and twoubadou. Beach travel is concentrated at Labadee on the northern coast (a Royal Caribbean cruise destination) and Île-à-Vache off the south coast. French and Haitian Creole are official; the US Dollar circulates alongside the gourde; tourist-card and 90-day visa-free entry make formalities simple for most nationalities. Travellers should consult their government's current travel advisory before planning routes — guidance varies sharply by region.
Ways to Experience This Destination
The Citadelle Laferrière (UNESCO, the largest fortress in the Americas), Sans-Souci Palace ruins, and the village of Milot — the monumental heritage of the 1804 Haitian Revolution and Henri Christophe's kingdom, accessible from Cap-Haïtien on the north coast.
Naïf painting (the Hector Hyppolite tradition, Saint-Soleil school), drapo vodou sequin flags, recycled-metal sculpture from Croix-des-Bouquets, kompa, rasin and twoubadou music — one of the most distinctive cultural-arts ecosystems in the Americas.
Jacmel's pastel French-Creole architecture and famous papier-mâché Carnival masks, the Bassin Bleu waterfall pools, Île-à-Vache off the south coast and the colonial heritage town circuit beyond Port-au-Prince.
Visits structured around the global Haitian diaspora — major communities in Miami, New York, Boston, Montréal, Paris and the Dominican Republic — and around French-Creole cultural and family networks.
Haiti reads as a Caribbean entirely outside the all-inclusive-resort frame: French-Creole language, vodou-Catholic syncretism, plantain-based cuisine (griot, diri ak djon-djon, akra), and a postcolonial history that resonates well beyond the country itself.
Money & Currency
Haitian Gourde (HTG)
Currency code: HTG
Practical Money Tips
Haitian Gourde (HTG) and US Dollar — dual currency; USD widely accepted in Port-au-Prince
Haiti operates a dual currency system. The Haitian Gourde (HTG) is the official currency, currently at approximately 130–135 HTG per USD — a rate that has been subject to significant volatility in recent years. USD is widely accepted in the commercial areas of Port-au-Prince and Pétionville (the upscale suburb), hotels, and businesses catering to international visitors. For most transactions outside Pétionville and other tourist-facing areas, HTG is the expected currency. Bring USD cash from your home country — it is the most practical foreign currency for Haiti. Exchange bureaux (cambios) in Pétionville and at Toussaint Louverture International Airport exchange USD to HTG. EUR and other currencies are less easily exchanged.
ATMs in Pétionville — Unibank, Sogebank, BNC; limited and unreliable elsewhere
The most reliable ATMs in Haiti are in Pétionville (Port-au-Prince's upscale suburb): Unibank, Sogebank (Société Générale Haïtienne de Banque), and Banque Nationale de Crédit (BNC). International Visa and Mastercard withdrawals are possible at major bank ATMs but can be unreliable due to network issues and power outages. ATMs frequently run out of cash. Outside Port-au-Prince and Pétionville — in Cap-Haïtien, Jacmel, and rural areas — ATM availability is sparse and less reliable. Mobile money (MonCash, NatCash) is widely used by locals but requires a local SIM and Haitian bank account. Carry sufficient USD cash as primary backup.
No Apple Pay or Google Pay — cash-only economy for most transactions
Apple Pay and Google Pay do not function in Haiti. Card payment infrastructure is extremely limited. Some hotels, restaurants, and businesses in Pétionville that cater to international visitors accept Visa and Mastercard, but reliability varies and power outages can disrupt POS terminals. The vast majority of Haiti's economy — local restaurants, markets, transport, smaller guesthouses — operates entirely in cash, in either HTG or USD. For aid workers and journalists who travel to Haiti frequently, carrying multiple days of USD cash is essential. MonCash (Digicel's mobile money platform) is the dominant payment technology for Haitians but is not accessible to foreign visitors without local registration.
Low price levels — but USD cash management requires careful planning
Haiti has very low local price levels by Caribbean standards. Local market meal: HTG 200–600 (USD 1.50–4.50). Rice and beans at a local restaurant: HTG 400–800 (USD 3–6). Budget guesthouse: USD 25–50/night. Hotel catering to international visitors in Pétionville: USD 70–150/night. Tap-tap (shared minibus): HTG 25–100 per ride. Mototaxi in Port-au-Prince: USD 2–5. For those visiting the Citadelle Laferrière (UNESCO World Heritage Site near Cap-Haïtien) or Jacmel's art scene, accommodation is notably cheaper outside Port-au-Prince. Bring more USD cash than you think you'll need, as access to additional funds is not guaranteed.
Note: Always check current exchange rates before traveling. Currency exchange is available at airports, banks, and authorized money changers.
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