Local Laws

CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While you are traveling in Swaziland, you are subject to its laws. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different from our own. Persons violating Swaziland’s laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Penalties for possessing, using, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Swaziland are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines, or death. In Swaziland, you may be taken in for questioning if you don’t have your passport with you or if you take pictures of certain buildings. In Swaziland, driving under the influence could land you immediately in jail. If you break local laws in Swaziland, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution.

There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States. You can be prosecuted in the United States for engaging in sexual conduct with children or for using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country regardless of the legality of these activities under that country’s laws. Counterfeit and pirated goods are illegal in the United States and if you purchase them in a foreign country, you may be breaking local law as well.

Arrest notifications in host country: While some countries will automatically notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate if a U.S. citizen is detained or arrested in that country, others may not. To ensure that the United States is aware of your circumstances, request that the police and prison officials notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate as soon as you are arrested or detained overseas.

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: Swaziland does not have any unusual customs/currency regulations or any visa registration requirements. It is illegal to photograph Swaziland’s government buildings, members of the Swazi armed forces, royal residences, and official ceremonies without prior permission from government authorities. Additional laws related to sedition against the monarchy are also enforceable in Swaziland.

WOMEN TRAVELER INFORMATION: If you are a woman traveling abroad, please review our travel tips for Women Travelers.

LGBT RIGHTS: While colonial-era legislation against sodomy remains on the books, it has not been used as a cause for arrest. Societal discrimination against LGBT persons is prevalent, and LGBT persons generally conceal their sexual orientation and gender identity. Members of the LGBT community who are open about their sexual orientation and relationships face censure and exclusion from the chiefdom-based patronage system, which could result in eviction from one’s home. Chiefs, pastors, and members of government criticize same-sex sexual conduct as neither Swazi nor Christian. LGBT advocacy organizations have had trouble registering with the government. It is difficult to determine the extent of employment discrimination based on sexual orientation because victims are not likely to come forward, and most LGBT persons are not open about their sexual orientation. For more detailed information about LGBT rights in Swaziland you may review the State Department’s annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. For further information on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) travel, please read our LGBT Travel Information page.

ACCESSIBILITY: While in Swaziland, individuals with disabilities may find accessibility and accommodation very different from what is found in the United States. Swaziland currently has no formal legislation mandating access to transportation, communication, and public buildings for persons with disabilities; however Mbabane City Council has recently adopted regulations mandating special access for persons with disabilities in new public buildings.