The Union of the Comoros operates Prince Said Ibrahim International Airport outside Moroni on Grande Coorme as its primary international gateway. Kenya Airways connects Nairobi to Moroni multiple times weekly. Ethiopian Airlines routes through Addis Ababa. Air Austral and Ewa Air provide connections via Reunion and Madagascar. Flight schedules shift seasonally and cancellations occur with minimal notice. The airport terminal occupies a small facility with limited seating and no jetbridges. Customs processing moves slowly during peak arrivals when multiple flights land within the same hour.
Visa on arrival applies to most nationalities at Prince Said Ibrahim International Airport. The cost varies by duration but approximates thirty to fifty euros payable in euros or US dollars. Officials at the visa counter do not accept Comorian francs for visa payment. The visa process requires one passport photo and a return ticket or onward travel documentation. Processing takes fifteen minutes to two hours depending on staff availability and passenger volume. Some nationalities require advance visa arrangements through Comorian embassies. The official government website for visa requirements is www.beit-salam.km.
The Comorian franc trades at a fixed rate of approximately 491.96775 KMF to one euro through its peg to the euro via the French Treasury. Banks in Moroni include Banque pour l'Industrie et le Commerce Comores and Banque Fédérale de Commerce. Banking hours run Monday through Friday from 0730 to 1430 with closures on Thursday afternoons and Fridays for prayer observance depending on the institution. ATMs exist in Moroni and dispense Comorian francs but frequently run empty for days. Maximum ATM withdrawal limits typically reach 200000 KMF per transaction. Credit cards see acceptance only at the largest hotels in Moroni and some tour operators. Visa cards function more reliably than Mastercard. American Express has no presence.
Euros remain the most practical foreign currency. US dollars work at hotels and visa counters but receive poor exchange rates from money changers. Currency exchange operates through banks and informal street changers near the port in Moroni. Street rates occasionally exceed bank rates by five to ten percent but carry counterfeit risk. Bringing sufficient euros in mixed denominations removes dependency on unreliable ATM infrastructure. No foreign bank operates branches that honor international banking arrangements for fee-free withdrawals.
The cost structure differs sharply between local and tourist pricing. A shared taxi across Moroni costs 500 to 1000 KMF. A meal at a local restaurant runs 2000 to 4000 KMF. Budget guesthouses outside Moroni charge 15000 to 25000 KMF per night. Mid-range hotels in Moroni start at 35000 KMF and climb to 80000 KMF. Hiring a private car with driver costs 40000 to 60000 KMF per day. Fresh produce at the market sells for minimal amounts but imported goods carry prices equal to or exceeding European levels due to shipping costs and import taxes. A bottle of water costs 500 KMF at a shop or 1500 KMF at a hotel.
Phone service operates through Telco SA and Comores Telecom. Purchasing a local SIM card requires presenting a passport at an official shop in Moroni. SIM cards cost approximately 1000 KMF. Data packages run 5000 to 15000 KMF for several gigabytes depending on validity period. Coverage exists in Moroni and along main roads on Grande Comore but weakens in rural areas and drops entirely in interior regions. Anjouan and Mohéli have more limited coverage. Internet cafes operate sporadically in Moroni. Hotel wifi functions inconsistently with frequent outages lasting hours.
Electrical outlets follow the European standard with Type C and Type E sockets at 220 volts and 50 hertz. Plugs have two round pins. Power cuts occur daily in most areas outside central Moroni. Cuts last from thirty minutes to several hours. Hotels and guesthouses run generators during evening hours but rarely provide power overnight. Charging devices requires planning around generator schedules. Bringing a portable battery eliminates dependency on unpredictable electricity access.
French serves as the administrative language and appears on official signs and documents. Arabic holds official status and functions in religious contexts. Comorian encompasses three distinct dialects corresponding to the three main islands. Shingazidja predominates on Grande Comore, Shindzwani on Anjouan, and Shimwali on Mohéli. Each dialect differs enough that speakers from different islands communicate in French. Basic French phrases enable essential transactions in towns. English speakers remain rare outside international hotels. Arabic knowledge helps in religious settings but conversational Arabic differs from the classical Arabic used in mosques.
Tap water across the Comoros requires treatment before consumption. Bottled water sells widely in shops and at hotels. Infrastructure for water treatment operates inconsistently. Boiling water for one minute provides adequate purification. Water purification tablets offer a backup method. Ice in drinks comes from uncertain water sources. Hotels catering to international guests use filtered water for ice but confirmation is necessary. Dehydration occurs rapidly in the tropical heat particularly when climbing Mount Karthala or spending time on boats.