Complete Guide to Haiti: Visa, Travel, Investment & Important Facts
Haiti is the country that defeated Napoleon, abolished slavery first in the Americas, and built the largest fortress in the Western Hemisphere — all while the rest of the world was still in chains. In 2025, despite the headlines, pockets of the country are quietly reopening to experienced, respectful travelers: the north coast around Labadee and Cap-Haïtien, the artistic south-east around Jacmel, and private-enclave resorts that feel a world away from Port-au-Prince. This is the honest, up-to-date guide — no sugar-coating, no fear-mongering.
Haiti 2025 – The Real Picture
Yes, greater Port-au-Prince and parts of the Artibonite remain extremely insecure in 2025. But the north (Cap-Haïtien, Labadee, Milot), the south-east (Jacmel, Bassin Bleu), and offshore Île-à-Vache are functioning relatively normally with private security and community protection. Cruise ships have resumed Labadee calls. Sunrise Airways and private charters are flying again. Haiti is not “closed” — it’s selective, and it rewards those who come prepared and respectful.
Visa & Entry
30-day visa on arrival for almost all nationalities (USD 10). No tourist card needed if flying commercially. Passport must have 6 months validity.
Safe & Viable Places to Visit Right Now
- Labadee peninsula – Royal Caribbean private enclave, one of the safest square miles in the country
- Cap-Haïtien & the Citadelle – fly in, stay at Cormier Plage or Habitation Jouissant, helicopter or 4×4 to the UNESCO Citadelle Laferrière and Sans-Souci Palace
- Bassin Bleu – turquoise waterfall pools near Jacmel (south-east)
- Jacmel – bohemian art town, famous carnival, beautiful colonial architecture
- Île-à-Vache – emerging private-island resorts (Abaka Bay, Port Morgan)
History That Still Echoes
1804: Haiti became the first black-led republic and the only successful slave revolution in history. The Citadelle — built to defend against a French return that never came — is the ultimate symbol of that defiance. Standing on its ramparts feels like standing on the edge of human willpower itself.
Investment & Citizenship
No official CBI program, but long-term residency is possible via business investment or property (foreigners can own land). A few visionary developers are quietly buying coastal tracts for future high-end eco-resorts.
Culture You Won’t Find Anywhere Else
Vodou ceremonies that feel like entering another dimension. Iron market art made from recycled oil drums. Compas music in tiny bars where everyone dances like tomorrow doesn’t exist. Haitian rum (Clairin and Barbancourt) that rivals the best in the world.
Practical Tips 2025
- Fly into Cap-Haïtien (CAP) via Sunrise Airways from Miami, Providenciales, or Panama
- Use USD cash (small bills); ATMs are scarce outside Labadee
- Natcom or Digicel SIM at the airport
- Travel with a trusted local fixer or reputable operator — essential
Current Leadership
Transitional Presidential Council (2024–2026) after the 2021 assassination of President Moïse. Prime Minister: vacant / rotating.
Final Word
Haiti is not for first-time Caribbean travelers. It is for those who have already done Punta Cana and St Lucia and now crave something deeper, rawer, more triumphant. If you come with respect, humility, and a good guide, Haiti will change the way you see the world. If you’re not ready, wait — the country isn’t going anywhere, and its pride never will.