French and Creole (mixture of French, English, Spanish and West African languages) are official languages. They are spoken by around 85% of the population. English is also often spoken in tourist areas.
The following items can be brought into Haiti duty-free in hand luggage (persons aged 18 and over): 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 1 kg of tobacco; 1 liter spirits; a reasonable amount of perfume and eau de toilette for personal use; new goods for personal use up to a total value of Gde 2500 per year. Gifts are subject to duty.
Prohibited Imports
Firearms (sporting rifles with an import license are excluded), coffee, matches, methyl alcohol, pork, meat products from Brazil and the Dominican Republic. More information is available from Countryaah.com.
Contact addresses
Embassy of the Republic of Haiti
(Also responsible for Switzerland.)
Rue Théodule-Ribot 10
Paris
France
+33 (0)1 47 63 47 78. Consular Dept.: +33 (0)1 42 12 70 50.
http://www.ambassadehaitifrance.org
http://www.ambassadehaitifrance.org
Mon-Fri 09.00-13.00 and 14.00-18.00.
Embassy of the Republic of Haiti
(Also responsible for Austria.)
Rue de Berne 9
Geneva
Switzerland
+41 (0)22 732 76 28.
Mon-Fri 09.30-13.00 and 14.00-17.00.
Consulate of the Republic of Haiti
(with visa issue)
Appointments by appointment only.
Forchstrasse 182
Zurich
Switzerland
+41 (0)44 381 69 89. Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Haiti
(without issuing a visa)
Prinz Eugen Strasse 56/16
Vienna
Austria
+43 (0)1 943 53 63. Embassy of the Republic of Haiti
Interpreting services can usually be arranged. Business travelers are usually invited to dinner by the local business partner and should extend a return invitation. Punctuality is valued. Business trips are best scheduled between November and March. Business hours: Mon-Fri 08.00-16.00.
Business contacts
Commercial Department of the Permanent Mission of Haiti in Geneva 64 rue de Lyon, 1203 Geneva, Switzerland Tel. +41 (0)22 715 49 90. Website: haitigeneve.org Chambre Haïtienne de Commerce et d’Industrie (Chamber of Commerce and Industry) Boulevard Harry Truman, Boîte Postale 982, Port-au-Prince, Haiti Tel. +509 (0)223 07 86. Chambre Franco-Haïtienne de Commerce et d’Industrie (CFHCI) 5 Goulard, Petionville, Haiti Tel. +509 (0) 39 49 54 49.
Communication
Phone
Autodial Long Distance Service.
Mobile phone
According to Abbreviationfinder.org, GSM network was introduced recently, network operator is Haïtel (Internet: www.haitelonline.com). Mobile phones can be rented on site.
Internet
There are internet cafes in larger cities. Internet providers are Compa (Internet: www.compa.net), InterMediaExPress (Internet: www.intermediahaiti.com/ixp) and Netcom.
Post office
Airmail to Europe takes up to a week. The main post office in Port-au-Prince, Cité de l’Exposition, is located on Place d’Italie. Post office hours: Mon-Fri 08:00-20:00 and Sat 08:30-12:00. Letters handed in after 9 a.m. will not be forwarded until the following working day.
Radio
Since the use of shortwave frequencies changes several times over the course of a year, it is advisable to contact Deutsche Welle customer service directly for the current frequencies (Tel: (+49) (0228) 429 32 08. Internet: www.dw-world.de) to request.
