Just Landed in Comoros? Your First 7 Days

There are two mobile operators forming a tight duopoly: Yas Comores (the Telma-owned operator, generally cheaper with the widest 4G footprint) and Huri, the mobile brand of state-owned Comores Telecom. Coverage is decent in Moroni, Mutsamudu and the main towns but thin in the interior and on Mohéli, and speeds are modest even where 4G reaches. Comores Telecom began piloting 5G in 2025, but for now plan around reliable 4G at best and frequent drop-outs during power cuts.

Typical cost: A SIM is around 1,000-2,000 KMF; monthly data bundles run roughly 3,000-10,000 KMF depending on volume, and mobile data is the main way most residents get online.

The Comorian franc (KMF) is pegged to the euro at a fixed rate of 491.9678 KMF to 1 EUR, so euros are the easiest hard currency to bring and change at close to face value. This is an overwhelmingly cash economy: cards are accepted almost nowhere, and even mid-sized purchases are settled in banknotes. Bring a mix of euro cash plus at least one home-country card as a backup for the few ATMs.

Opening an account: BFC (Banque Fédérale de Commerce) and Exim Bank Comoros are the most foreigner-friendly banks, with SNPSF (the postal financial service) also offering accounts; opening one needs your passport, proof of address and usually a work or residence permit, and can be slow. Exim Bank issues Visa debit cards and runs most of the country's card-capable ATMs. Many expats skip the local account entirely and simply live on cash plus a foreign card.

Cash: Almost everything is cash: markets, shared taxis, rent, clinics, pharmacies and shops. Carry small notes because change for large bills is often unavailable, and keep your cash secure and split between places, since there is little recourse if it is lost or stolen. Mobile money exists via the operators but is far less developed than in neighbouring Kenya or Tanzania.

Tipping: Tipping is not expected and is not part of local culture. Rounding up for good service in a restaurant, or leaving a small amount for a helpful porter, guide or driver, is appreciated but never required, and no one will chase you for it.

Foreigners staying beyond a short visit must regularise their status through immigration and, for longer stays, obtain a residence permit (carte de séjour); in practice employers, sponsors or host organisations handle most of the paperwork and know the current requirements, which are not well documented online. There is no modern online portal, so expect in-person visits, photocopies, photographs and some waiting. Registering separately with your own embassy or consulate is strongly advisable given how limited local support is if something goes wrong.

Deadline: Sort your residence status before your entry visa or arrival stamp expires. The standard visa or entry permission granted on arrival is typically valid for up to 45 days and must be extended or converted to a longer-stay permit before then; do not let it lapse.

Where: The Directorate of Immigration and the border police (Police aux Frontières) in Moroni handle entry status and residence permits; your own embassy or consulate (frequently accredited from Antananarivo, Dar es Salaam or Paris) handles citizen registration.

There is no ride-hailing and no formal public bus network anywhere in the country. Getting around means shared taxis (taxi-brousse) that run fixed routes for a small per-seat fare, private taxis whose price you negotiate up front, and, between the islands, small boats or short domestic flights. Roads are often narrow, potholed and unlit, and driving standards are relaxed, so many newcomers rely on trusted drivers rather than renting a car at first.

From the airport: Prince Said Ibrahim International Airport (HAH), also called Hahaya, is about 20 km north of Moroni. A private taxi into the city costs roughly 5,000-10,000 KMF and should be agreed before you set off; arranging a pickup through your hotel or employer is the safest option, especially at night when the road is dark and shared taxis stop running.

Most rentals are found through word of mouth, personal contacts, employers and Facebook groups rather than formal agencies, and many of the better homes are never advertised at all. Expect basic infrastructure as standard, so prioritise a property with a working water tank, a generator or solar backup and a location with a reasonable commute. Viewing in person before you commit is essential, as photos rarely reflect reality.

Typical rent: A modest furnished flat or house in or near Moroni runs roughly 100,000-300,000 KMF a month; higher-standard housing with reliable backup power, air conditioning and a compound costs more, while smaller towns and the outer islands are considerably cheaper.

Deposit norm: Landlords commonly ask for one to three months' rent up front, sometimes combining a deposit with several months paid in advance. Terms are negotiated directly, often verbally, and are rarely set out in a formal written contract, so agree the details clearly and, if you can, get key points in writing or over WhatsApp.

Public healthcare is very limited across all three islands; El-Maarouf hospital in Moroni is the main referral facility but is chronically under-resourced and short of supplies, staff and equipment. Serious conditions typically require medical evacuation to Mayotte, Réunion, Madagascar, Tanzania, Kenya or South Africa, which is expensive and slow to arrange without insurance in place beforehand.

How to access it: For routine care, use a private clinic or a pharmacy in Moroni and pay in cash on the spot. Keep a personal stock of any regular prescription medicines you need, along with a basic first-aid kit, because availability is unreliable and specific brands are frequently unavailable, particularly on Anjouan and Mohéli.

Insurance: There is no meaningful public health cover for foreigners and no reciprocal arrangements to rely on. Comprehensive international health insurance that explicitly includes emergency medical evacuation and repatriation is essential given the near-total absence of advanced local care; do not travel here without it.

• The Comoros is a conservative Sunni Muslim country, so dress modestly: cover shoulders and knees, and women should carry a headscarf for mosques, official visits and rural areas.
• Greet people warmly and unhurriedly; take time over greetings and small talk before any business, as a slower, relationship-first pace is normal and rushing is read as rude.
• Use your right hand for eating, giving and receiving, and remove your shoes when entering someone's home or a mosque.
• Accept offers of tea, food or hospitality graciously, as sharing is central to Comorian social life and refusing outright can cause offence.
• During Ramadan, avoid eating, drinking or smoking in public during daylight hours out of respect, and expect shorter working hours and a slower pace.
• Learn a few words of Shikomori and use French for anything official; even basic effort in the local language is warmly received.
• Respect the importance of the extended family and of the grand mariage (traditional wedding) tradition, which carries deep social significance, especially on Grande Comore.

• Alcohol is restricted and not part of public life; drink only in the few licensed venues or private settings, never offer it casually, and never drink in public.
• Ask permission before photographing people, particularly women, and avoid photographing government buildings, the port, the airport and military or police sites.
• Public displays of affection between couples are frowned upon, so keep physical contact and behaviour restrained in public.
• Relationships and conduct outside marriage are socially and, in some respects, legally sensitive; be discreet and respect local norms.
• Avoid political discussions with strangers and steer clear of protests, roadblocks or gatherings, which can turn tense around elections.