Local Laws

CRIMINAL PENALTIES: While you are traveling in Suriname, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different than our own. In Suriname you may be taken in for questioning if you don’t have your passport with you. In some places, it is illegal to take pictures of certain buildings, particularly government buildings. In some places driving under the influence could land you immediately in jail. If suspected of driving under the influence and caught in an accident, the Surinamese Police may not be able to measure the alcohol level on the scene; they will take you to the nearest medical center to measure blood alcohol content. You will be held by the police for up to six hours until the results of your blood alcohol content are determined.

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 under U.S. law if you buy pirated goods. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in Suriname is a crime, which is also prosecutable in the United States. If you break local laws in Suriname, your U.S. passport won’t help you avoid arrest or prosecution. It’s very important to know what’s legal and what’s not where you are going.

Based on the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, bilateral agreements with certain countries, and customary international law, if you are arrested in Suriname, you have the option to request that the police, prison officials, or other authorities alert the nearest U.S. Embassy, which for Suriname is located in the capital city, Paramaribo. The police may not contact the Embassy unless the arrestee specifically requests it.

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: Credit cards are not widely accepted outside the major hotels and upscale restaurants. You should contact your intended hotel or tour company to confirm that credit cards are accepted. Currently, only one bank, the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC),  has Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) that accept foreign ATM cards. In order to withdraw money from the ATM machines of other banks, you must have a local Surinamese bank account and ATM card. You can legally exchange currency at banks, hotels, and official exchange houses, which are called “cambios.” Exchanging money outside of these locations is illegal and can be dangerous. Telephone and internet service within Suriname can be problematic, especially during periods of heavy rains.

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

LGBT Rights: There are no legal restrictions on same-sex sexual relations or the organization of LGBT events in Suriname. For more detailed information about LGBT rights around the world, you may review the State Department’s Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2012. For further information on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) travel, please read our Information for LGBT Travelers page.

Travel in the interior: The interior of the country is largely unpoliced, and emergency services are generally not available. Although Suriname has three cellular networks, Telesur, Digicel, and Uniqa, there is no reliable cellular phone reception in much of the interior. There may be areas where only one network has reception, while other areas are covered by other networks.

Accessibility: While in Suriname, individuals with disabilities may find accessibility and accommodation very different from that in the United States. Currently, there are no laws or programs to insure that persons with disabilities have access to buildings. The sidewalks are not adequately built to accommodate persons with disabilities, and similarly, taxis and other public transportation do not provide proper assistance to individuals with disabilities.