Timor-Leste uses the United States dollar as its official currency. The country adopted the USD in 2000 during the United Nations Transitional Administration period. Coins in circulation include standard US denominations plus Timorese centavo coins that match US cent values. The Central Bank of Timor-Leste mints these coins domestically but they circulate alongside American coins at equivalent value.
ATMs exist in Dili, with machines concentrated in the capital's commercial districts including Comoro, Lecidere, and near the waterfront. Mandiri Bank operates several machines. ANZ closed its Timor-Leste operations in 2021. Banco Nacional Ultramarino and Banco Nacional de Comércio de Timor-Leste maintain ATM networks, though reliability varies and machines frequently run empty on weekends. Daily withdrawal limits typically range from 200 to 400 dollars. Outside Dili, ATM access drops sharply. Baucau has limited machines. Smaller municipalities rarely have functioning ATMs.
Most transactions occur in cash. Card payment infrastructure remains minimal outside international hotels and a handful of restaurants in Dili. Businesses that accept cards typically take Visa and Mastercard but often add surcharges of 3 to 5 percent. Carrying sufficient cash for your entire stay outside Dili is necessary. Changing currency in Timor-Leste is unnecessary since the dollar already circulates, but Indonesian rupiah can be useful in Oecusse and border areas where informal cross-border trade occurs.
Citizens of most countries receive a 30-day visa on arrival at Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport in Dili or at land borders with Indonesia. The fee is 30 dollars, payable in cash on entry. This applies to nationals of all European Union countries, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, and most other developed economies. ASEAN nationals from Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Laos enter visa-free for 30 days as of agreements formalized in 2017 and updated through 2022.
The Directorate of Immigration operates the visa system. Extensions up to 60 days beyond the initial 30 can be obtained at the Immigration Office in Dili on Avenida de Portugal. The extension costs 35 dollars for the first 30 days and 40 dollars for a second 30-day extension. Processing typically requires one to three business days. Overstaying incurs fines of 5 dollars per day.
Land borders with Indonesia operate at Batugade-Mota'ain in the northwest, Salele in Oecusse, and the southern crossings near Suai. The Mota'ain crossing handles most traffic and maintains more consistent hours, typically 8am to 6pm daily though these hours shift without notice. Oecusse presents complications because reaching this exclave requires transiting Indonesian West Timor. You need both Indonesian and Timorese entry stamps. Indonesian visa-on-arrival costs 35 dollars and covers 30 days.
For current visa requirements, consult https://migracao.gov.tl, the official Timor-Leste immigration service website.
Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport sits 6 kilometers west of central Dili. The single terminal handles all international and domestic flights. Upon landing, immigration queues form at approximately six counters, though not all operate simultaneously. Expect waits of 20 to 60 minutes depending on flight arrival clusters, with longer delays when multiple international flights coincide. The visa-on-arrival process involves completing a simple arrival card, paying 30 dollars, and receiving a stamp.
Baggage claim operates with two carousels. Lost luggage service exists but replacement options within Timor-Leste are limited. Customs inspections vary in intensity. Officers occasionally conduct thorough searches but most passengers clear with minimal interaction. Prohibited items include narcotics, weapons, and large quantities of alcohol or tobacco beyond personal allowances of one liter and 200 cigarettes respectively.
The airport has one small café airside and a slightly larger seating area landside. No international hotel chains or car rental counters maintain permanent desks, though Avis operates via local partners and requires advance booking. A currency exchange window exists but offers no advantage since dollars already circulate. Mobile phone SIM cards are not sold at the airport.
Taxis queue outside the arrivals area. No rideshare services operate in Timor-Leste. Yellow taxis charge fixed rates to Dili destinations, with the city center costing 10 dollars and hotels in Comoro or Lecidere ranging from 5 to 15 dollars depending on negotiation. These prices are not metered and must be agreed before departure. Some hotels arrange pickup for 15 to 25 dollars. Walking from the airport into Dili is possible but involves 6 kilometers along a road with no sidewalk and heavy truck traffic.