Eastern Africa · UN member
Comoros: Travel Guide & Requirements
Union of the Comoros · الاتحاد القمري · Union des Comores
The Comoros is a country in Eastern Africa with its capital in Moroni. It has a population of 882,847 (#162 in the world) and covers 2,235 km². The official languages are Arabic, French and Comorian. The currency is the Comorian franc (KMF, Fr).
Where is the Comoros? Map of the Comoros
Southern Africa, group of islands at the northern mouth of the Mozambique Channel, about two-thirds of the way between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique.
- Region
- Eastern Africa
- Coordinates
- 12.1667° S, 44.25° E
- Neighbours
- none (no land borders)
- Coastline
- 340 km
- Comoros
- Capital
- Largest cities
Map of the Comoros showing Moroni (capital) and the largest cities: Moutsamoudou and Fomboni.
Travel requirements
What you need to travel to the Comoros
- Passport
The UK Foreign Office says your passport must have an expiry date at least 6 months after the date you arrive in the Comoros.
- Visa or eTA
Depends on your passport: of 198 passports, 198 get a visa on arrival. Check yours or see The Comoros entry requirements for every passport.
- Return or onward ticket
France's foreign ministry says French tourists need a return ticket to obtain the visa on arrival.
- Proof of funds
France's foreign ministry says French tourists getting the visa on arrival must show EUR 30 for each day of their stay, together with a return ticket and the address where they will stay.
- Travel insurance
No official requirement. The UK Foreign Office says to check before you travel that you have appropriate travel insurance for local treatment or unexpected medical evacuation.
- Travel advice
Some caution needed — US and UK advice.
Entry rules: TravelRequirements.info — Entry Requirements Dataset (CC BY 4.0), each rule cited to an official government source. Always confirm with the airline and the official source before you travel.
Before you go
10 things to know before you travel to the Comoros
- Safety: the Comoros is generally safe for travellers, but some caution is needed: the US State Department rates the Comoros Level 2 (“Exercise Increased Caution”), and the UK Foreign Office has no warnings against travel there.
- Best time to go: June to October — when daytime highs in Moroni are around 26–27°C.
- Money: the Comorian franc (KMF) — 1 US dollar is about 438.4015 KMF.
- Plugs: type C and E, 220 V, 50 Hz — standard 220–240 V: devices from the US or Japan (110–120 V) need a converter unless they are dual voltage (100–240 V).
- Emergency numbers: Police 17, Ambulance 772 / 03 / 73, Fire 18.
- Language: Arabic, French and Comorian are official.
- Driving: on the right.
- Time zone: UTC+3 in Moroni.
- Capital: Moroni. About 882,847 people live in the Comoros.
- Outdoors: 3 national parks.
Key facts
Comoros at a glance
Languages spoken: Arabic (official), French (official), Shikomoro (official; similar to Swahili), Comorian
Geography & history
About the Comoros
For centuries prior to colonization in the 19th century, the Comoros archipelago in the Indian Ocean served as a key node in maritime trade networks that connected the Middle East, India, and eastern African regions. Composed of the islands of Anjouan, Mayotte, Moheli, and Grande Comore, Comoros spent most of the 20th century as a colonial outpost until it declared independence from France on 6 July 1975. Residents of Mayotte, however, voted to remain in France, and the French Government has since classified it as a French Overseas Department. Since independence, Comoros has weathered approximately 20 successful and attempted coups, mostly between 1975 and 2000, resulting in prolonged polit…
Read the full history
For centuries prior to colonization in the 19th century, the Comoros archipelago in the Indian Ocean served as a key node in maritime trade networks that connected the Middle East, India, and eastern African regions. Composed of the islands of Anjouan, Mayotte, Moheli, and Grande Comore, Comoros spent most of the 20th century as a colonial outpost until it declared independence from France on 6 July 1975. Residents of Mayotte, however, voted to remain in France, and the French Government has since classified it as a French Overseas Department. Since independence, Comoros has weathered approximately 20 successful and attempted coups, mostly between 1975 and 2000, resulting in prolonged political instability and stunted economic development. In 2002, President AZALI Assoumani became the first elected president following the completion of the Fomboni Accords, in which the islands of Grande Comore, Anjouan, and Moheli agreed to rotate the presidency among the islands every five years. This power-sharing agreement also included provisions allowing each island to maintain its local government. In 2007, Mohamed BACAR effected Anjouan's de-facto secession from the Union of the Comoros, refusing to step down when Comoros' other islands held legitimate elections. The African Union (AU) initially attempted to resolve the political crisis with sanctions and a naval blockade of Anjouan, but in 2008, the AU and Comoran soldiers seized the island. The island's inhabitants generally welcomed the move. In 2011, Ikililou DHOININE won the presidency in peaceful elections widely deemed to be free and fair. In closely contested elections in 2016, AZALI won a second term, when the rotating presidency returned to Grande Comore. In 2018, a referendum -- which the opposition parties boycotted -- approved a new constitution that extended presidential term limits and abolished the requirement for the presidency to rotate between the three main islands. AZALI formed a new government later that year, and he subsequently ran and was reelected in 2019. AZALI was reelected again in January 2024 in an election that the opposition disputed but the Supreme Court validated.
Location
Southern Africa, group of islands at the northern mouth of the Mozambique Channel, about two-thirds of the way between northern Madagascar and northern Mozambique
Climate
tropical marine; rainy season (November to May)
Terrain
volcanic islands, interiors vary from steep mountains to low hills
Highest point
Karthala 2,360 m
Natural resources
fish
Natural hazards
cyclones possible during rainy season (December to April); volcanic activity on Grand Comore volcanism: Karthala (2,361 m) on Grand Comore Island last erupted in 2007; a 2005 eruption forced thousands of people to be evacuated and produced a large ash cloud
National symbols
four five-pointed stars and crescent moon
Safety
Is the Comoros safe to visit?
the Comoros is generally safe for travellers, but some caution is needed: the US State Department rates the Comoros Level 2 (“Exercise Increased Caution”), and the UK Foreign Office has no warnings against travel there.
US State Department
UK Foreign Office (FCDO)Latest update: New information about dual nationals returning to the UK (‘Entry requirements’ page).
Updated 10 Dec 2025 · Full travel advice
Sources: US Department of State travel advisories (public domain) and UK FCDO foreign travel advice (contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0). Checked daily. Advice can change quickly — always read the official page before you travel.
Weather
Best time to visit the Comoros
The best time to visit the Comoros is June to October, when daytime highs in Moroni are around 26–27°C. May and November are also a good time to go. March is the warmest month (29°C by day), August the coldest (25°C at night), and January the wettest with about 202 mm of rain.
- Jan28°C28°C
- Feb28°C28°C
- Mar29°C28°C
- Apr29°C28°C
- May28°C27°C
- Jun27°C26°C
- Jul26°C25°C
- Aug26°C25°C
- Sep26°C25°C
- Oct27°C26°C
- Nov28°C27°C
- Dec28°C28°C
Best time Good Less ideal
Before you go
Plugs, voltage & emergency numbers in the Comoros
Plugs & sockets
220 V, 50 Hz · Standard 220–240 V: devices from the US or Japan (110–120 V) need a converter unless they are dual voltage (100–240 V).
Sources: Wikipedia — Mains electricity by country and List of emergency telephone numbers (CC BY-SA 4.0).
National parks
3 national parks in the Comoros
- 237 km² protected
Largest: Coelacanth National Park · Mount Ntringui National Park · Shisiwani National Park
Currency · 26 October 2026
Comorian franc exchange rates today
The Comoros uses the Comorian franc (KMF, Fr). One US dollar buys 438.4015 KMF; over the last 30 days the KMF has lost 1.5% against the dollar.
What other currencies cost in KMF
Currency converter
Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0), 26 Oct 2026. Banks and exchange offices add a margin.
World rankings
Where the Comoros ranks
How the Comoros compares with the rest of the world — open any card for the full ranking.
Airports
Airports in the Comoros
3 airports and airfields — 0 large, 3 medium and 0 small, plus 0 heliports. 2 have scheduled passenger flights.
Borders
No land borders
The Comoros has no land borders with other countries. Coastline: 340 km.
People
Population & society
Religion
Largest cities: Moroni (62,000)
Economy
Economy
Main industries
fishing, tourism, perfume distillation
Export partners
Indonesia 25%, India 23%, Turkey 16%, UAE 11%, USA 3% (2023)
Top exports
cloves, ships, essential oils, vanilla, scrap iron (2023)
Travel tools
Handy before every trip to the Comoros
Next public holiday
Maore Day — Thursday, 12 November 2026. Then New Year's Day (1 Jan).
Comoran passport
Ranked #177: 17 countries visa-free, 33 with visa on arrival, 3 with an eTA and 41 with an eVisa.
Comoran passport photo
Exact size, head position and background for the Comoros's passport and visa photos — make one free with AI checks.
Calling the Comoros
Dial +269 before the local number. Internet domain .km.
Climate footprint
0.6 million tonnes of CO₂ in 2024 — 0.64 t per person.
Entry requirements
Visa rules for every passport visiting the Comoros: visa-free stays, eVisas, visas on arrival and documents to bring.
News
Latest travel news about the Comoros
Nigerians Arriving in Comoros Can Get Visas on Arrival for Stays Up to 45 Days
Nigerian passport holders can obtain visas on arrival in 14 countries in 2026, including Comoros, where Passport Index lists stays of up to 45 days. …
Indian Travellers Can Apply Online for Suriname e-Visa to Reach Its Rainforests
Indian passport holders can apply for an e-Visa to visit Suriname, a South American country known for its Amazonian rainforests and multicultural her…
Benin Travellers May Get Faster Border Checks as Digital ID Pilot Phase Ends
Benin, Ghana and Rwanda have completed the first phase of a cross-border digital identity pilot, testing verification against home-country records. T…
Frequently asked questions about the Comoros
What do I need to travel to the Comoros?
How long must my passport be valid for the Comoros?
Where is the Comoros?
What is the Comoros known for?
What is the capital of the Comoros?
What language is spoken in the Comoros?
What currency does the Comoros use?
What is the calling code of the Comoros?
Does the Comoros have land borders?
How strong is the Comoran passport?
Is the Comoros safe to visit?
When is the best time to visit the Comoros?
What plug type does the Comoros use?
How many airports does the Comoros have?
Sources: CIA World Factbook (public domain); World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0); names, languages and currencies: mledoze/countries (ODbL); flag: flag-icons (MIT); coat of arms: Wikimedia Commons (file page); exchange rates: Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0); airports: OurAirports.