Published: August 13, 2025
This report is intended to supplement the U.S. Department of State Timor-Leste Travel Advisory and Timor-Leste Country Information Page.
Embassy & Consulate Contact Information
U.S. Embassy Dili
Avenida de Portugal, Praia dos Coqueiros, Dili
Tel: +670-332-4684
After-Hours Emergencies: +670-7723-1328. Hours: Monday-Friday, 0800 – 1700.
OSAC Country Chapters
Timor-Leste currently does not have an OSAC chapter.
Contact OSAC’s Asia team with any questions.
Timor-Leste Travel Advisory
The current U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory at the date of this report’s publication assesses that travelers should exercise increased caution in Timor-Leste due to crime and civil unrest.
Crime
The U.S. Department of State has assessed Dili as being a HIGH-threat location for crime directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.
The U.S. Department of State has included a Crime “C” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Timor-Leste, indicating that there may be widespread violent crime and/or organized crime present in the country, and/or that local law enforcement may have limited ability to respond to serious crimes.
The emergency services line in Timor-Leste is 112.
Timor-Leste’s security, law enforcement, and military services continue to develop capacity with international assistance. Ongoing challenges for the security sector include crime prevention in the context of a large unemployed youth population, community violence involving Martial and Ritual Arts Groups (MRAGs), and high rates of gender-based violence.
High rates of poverty and unemployment drive frequent crimes of opportunity. Reported data shows most violent crime involves Timorese perpetrators and victims. Despite significant socio-economic disparity within the country, violence targeting expatriates is relatively infrequent.
Pickpocketing, purse-snatching, residential and automobile break-ins, and petty theft occur in recreational areas and facilities that foreigners frequent, especially in Dili. Stone-throwing attacks on vehicles occur during gang conflicts and periods of civil unrest. Victims of crime who resist may encounter a violent response. Most crimes take place at night. Exercise increased vigilance after dark.
Women walking or exercising alone in Dili have reported harassment, indecent exposure, and groping. Incidents have occurred during both day and night, in rural areas and in busy urban centers. Authorities and communities appear to have made minimal progress in discouraging this type of harassment and assault. Women should avoid traveling alone and taking taxis alone, especially at night.
Violence among MRAGs flares up occasionally and occurs primarily between rival groups. MRAG violence rarely targets expatriates or businesses, but expatriates should take care to avoid MRAG disputes. The government and NGO community continue to monitor MRAG activities closely. Timor-Leste’s Martial Arts Regulatory Commission helped legalize two such groups in February 2022.
According to the National Statistics Institute, in 2023, the highest number of criminal events reported to police were “simple” battery with 2,567 events, a 34% increase of 2022’s figures (1,923). In 2024, 1532 reported offences of the same violation were reported, a three-year low.
There are no specific areas of concern in Timor-Leste, though crimes targeting foreigners tend to occur more often in population centers and commercial areas.
Exercise caution in public places, including, but not limited to, clubs, restaurants, bars, schools, places of worship, outdoor recreational events, hotels, resorts and beaches, and other locations frequented by foreigners.
Kidnapping Threat
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Kidnapping “K” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Timor-Leste.
Terrorism
The U.S. Department of State has assessed Dili as being a LOW-threat location for terrorism directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Terrorism “T” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Timor-Leste.
No indigenous terrorist organizations currently operate in Timor-Leste, and there are no known transnational terrorist groups operating in the country.
Political Violence and Civil Unrest
The U.S. Department of State has assessed Dili as being a MEDIUM-threat location for political violence directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.
The U.S. Department of State has included a Civil Unrest “U” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Timor-Leste, indicating that demonstrations, protests, and/or strikes occur frequently, and/or that local law enforcement may have limited ability to respond adequately. Civil unrest can develop quickly without prior notice, often interrupting logistics and services. Avoid demonstration activity, as even those planned to remain peaceful have the potential to turn violent.
Elections/Political Stability
Competition among Timor-Leste's political coalitions becomes contentious, but conflicts are generally non-violent. There have been no significant instances of political violence for the past several years. While the 2022 presidential election was held peacefully without any recorded significant demonstrations, episodes of violence have erupted in previous elections over the past 20 years.
Protests & Demonstrations
Protesters and demonstrators must receive approval from the Policia Nacional de Timor-Leste (PNTL) before organizing at a location. Once the protest is approved, PNTL provides security coverage for the event and defines the acceptable conduct of the protestors. Protests tend to remain non-violent when protestors adhere to the guidelines of law enforcement. Timor-Leste has seen isolated instances of police responding to protests with force and the use of tear gas; the security services tend to respond more readily with tear gas and arrests when protestors cross boundaries laid out by the PNTL. Protests rarely block traffic or spill over to residential areas, but the PNTL may temporarily close portions of road on account of demonstrations.
Anti-U.S./Anti-Western Sentiment
The Timorese people show an affinity for the United States and American culture. U.S. flags are common on apparel, vehicles, and stores. There have been no recent incidents of violent anti-U.S. sentiment. A small group of disaffected laborers based in the municipality of Baucau occasionally stages non-violent demonstrations in objection to security cooperation with western nations.
U.S. citizens may sometimes be mistaken for Australians, who are occasionally subject to anti-Australian sentiment stemming from a maritime boundary dispute between Timor-Leste and Australia that has since been resolved. That dispute was the subject of large protests outside the Australian Embassy in 2016 and 2018. The protests were generally peaceful in nature.
Law Enforcement
PNTL maintain internal security. The military is responsible for external security but also augments some domestic security functions. PNTL reports to the Ministry of Interior, forensic police report to the Ministry of Justice, and the military reports to the Ministry of Defense. The Prime Minister is the chair of the Council of Ministers. Civilian authorities maintain effective control over the security forces.
PNTL’s policing capacity is limited but improving with assistance from partners in the international community, including the U.S. Government. PNTL continues developing its community policing capacity and is slowly expanding its capabilities in the areas of criminal investigations, personnel/facility protection, and traffic control.
While police detention and harassment are not systemic issues, slow-moving legal processes contribute to long delays in criminal proceedings. In the event of detention or incarceration, foreigners should request to notify their respective embassy.
Police Response
Police may not quickly respond to calls for emergency assistance or initiate investigations into crimes against individuals. Victims of crime should file police reports to help document the level of criminal activity. U.S. citizen victims should also contact the U.S. Embassy at +670-7723-1328.
Travelers with Special Considerations
For specific traveler concerns in Timor-Leste, review the local laws and circumstances on the Department of State’s Country Information Page.
Rule of Law, Arbitrary Detention, Official Harassment, Corruption, & Transparency
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Risk of Wrongful Detention “D” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Timor-Leste.
The penal code provides criminal penalties for corruption by officials. The government has faced many problems in implementing the law, and the perception that officials engage in corrupt practices with impunity is widespread. The Anticorruption Commission (CAC) is charged with leading national anticorruption activities and has the authority to refer cases for prosecution but was vulnerable to political pressure.
Cybersecurity
There are no cybersecurity concerns unique to private-sector operations in Timor-Leste.
Import/Export Restrictions
There are no import/export restrictions unique to private-sector operations in Timor-Leste.
A license from the National Communications Authority (ANC) is needed to import satellite phones.
A country-specific listing of items/goods prohibited from being exported to the country or that are otherwise restricted is available from the U.S. International Trade Agency website.
Additional resources and reports can be found in the OSAC Traveler Toolkit.
