Moving to Timor-Leste: visas, cost of living & immigrant guide

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Population

1,383,723

Population Growth Rate

2.47%

Urban Population

28.300000

Population in Major Urban Areas

DILI (capital) 180,000

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Age Structure

41.430000

Median Age

18.400000

Birth Rate - births/1,000 population

35

Death Rate - deaths/1,000 population

6.28

Total Fertility Rate - children born/woman

5.22

Contraceptive Prevalance Rate - female 12-49

22.3%

Contraceptive Prevalence Rate - female 12-49

22.3%

Mean Age for Mother's First Birth (age 25-49)

22.1

Mother's mean age at first birth

22.1

Sex Ratio at Birth - male/female

1.070000

Net Migration Rate - migrant(s)/1,000 population

-3.88

Ethnic Groups

Austronesian (Malayo-Polynesian), Papuan, small Chinese minority

Language Note

Portuguese and Tetum, the local language, are both official languages.

Bahasa-Indonesia and English are also used in commercial and government spheres.

English is often used in academic and non-government spheres.

In school, it is still debated whether to focus on written Tetum, or Portuguese.

Nationality Noun

Timorese

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Literacy - total population

58.6%

Literacy Definition

age 15 and over can read and write

Education Expenditures - percent of GDP

9.4%

Total School Life Expectancy - (primary to tertiary)

12.000000

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Life Expectancy at Birth

67.060000

Infant Mortality Rate

40.090000

Infant Mortality Rate - total deaths/1,000 live births

40.090000

Maternal Mortality Rate - deaths/100,000 live births

300

Hospital Bed Density - beds/1,000 population

5.9

Health Expenditures - percent of GDP

5.1%

Major Infectious Diseases - degree of risk

very high

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

2.7%

Drinking Water Source - percent of urban population improved

95.200000

Sanitation Facility Access - percent of urban population improved

69.000000

Underweight - percent of children under five years

45.3%

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Economic Overview

The economy of Timor-Leste is primarily driven by the oil and gas industry, which has been the main source of revenue for the country since the early 2000s.

According to the World Bank, Timor-Leste has a population of around 1.3 million people and a GDP of $2.6 billion (2020 est.).

Its economy is classified as lower-middle-income, with a per capita income of $1,956.

While the country has made progress in reducing poverty over the past two decades, around 41% of the population still lives below the poverty line, with limited access to basic services such as healthcare and education.

The oil and gas industry accounts for over 90% of Timor-Leste's exports and more than half of its GDP.

The country's main oil and gas fields are located in the Timor Sea, and its main oil and gas production companies include ConocoPhillips, Eni, and Woodside Petroleum.

However, the country's reliance on oil and gas revenue has also made it vulnerable to fluctuations in global oil prices, and the COVID-19 pandemic has further impacted its economy.

To diversify its economy and reduce its reliance on oil and gas, Timor-Leste has also been focusing on developing its agriculture and tourism sectors.

The country has a tropical climate and fertile land, which makes it suitable for a variety of crops, including coffee, rice, corn, and cassava.

The government has been providing support to farmers to improve their yields and increase production.

The country also has a growing tourism industry, with attractions such as beaches, diving spots, and historical sites.

Despite the efforts to diversify the economy, Timor-Leste faces several challenges in achieving sustainable economic growth.

One of the main challenges is the limited infrastructure, including roads, ports, and airports, which makes it difficult to transport goods and services within the country and to other markets.

The country also has a high unemployment rate, particularly among young people, and a low level of human capital, which hinders its ability to compete in the global market.

To address these challenges, the government of Timor-Leste has been implementing various policies and programs to improve the business environment and attract foreign investment.

In 2020, the government launched a new investment law that aims to simplify the process of doing business in the country and provide incentives for foreign investors.

The government has also been investing in education and training programs to improve the skills of its workforce and increase productivity.

Industries

printing, soap manufacturing, handicrafts, woven cloth

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$5,800.00 (USD)

GDP - real growth rate

4.3%

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GDP - Gross Domestic Product (PPP)

$4,190,000,000 (USD)

GDP Per Capita

$5,800.00 (USD)

GDP - real growth rate

4.3%

GDP - official exchange rate

$4,231,000,000 (USD)

GDP - official exchange rate note

note: non-oil GDP

GDP - composition, by end use

• consumption: 25.8% government
• consumption: 29.1% investment in fixed
• capital: 16% investment in
• inventories: 0% exports of goods and
• services: 79.4% imports of goods and
• services: -50.3%

GDP by Sector- agriculture

5.9%

GDP by Sector- Industry

77.4%

GDP by Sector- services

16.8%

Industrial Growth Rate

8.5%

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Inflation Rate

12.3%

Exchange Rate per US Dollar

US dollar (USD)

Currency Name and Code

US dollar (USD)

Fiscal Year

1 July - 30 June

Commercial Bank Prime Lending Rate

12.3%

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Labor Force

418,200

Unemployment Rate

18.4%

Major Industries

printing, soap manufacturing, handicrafts, woven cloth

Agriculture Products

coffee, rice, maize, cassava, sweet potatoes, soybeans, cabbage, mangoes, bananas, vanilla

Population Below Poverty Line

41%

Child Labor - # of children ages 5-14

10,510

Child Labor - % of children ages 5-14

4%

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Labor Force By Occupation- agriculture

64%

Labor Force By Occupation- industry

10%

Labor Force By Occupation- services

26%

Annual Budget

$2,600,000,000 (USD)

Budget Surplus or Deficit - percent of GDP

-1.6%

Taxes and other revenues - percent of GDP

26.1%

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Full Country Name

Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste note: pronounced TEE-mor LESS-tay

Country Name

Timor-Leste

Local - Long

Republika Demokratika Timor Lorosa'e [Tetum]; Republica Democratica de Timor-Leste [Portuguese]

Local - Short

Timor Lorosa'e [Tetum]; Timor-Leste [Portuguese]

Former Name

East Timor, Portuguese Timor

Etymology- history of name

• timor" derives from the Indonesian and Malay word "timur" meaning "east"
• "leste" is the Portuguese word for "east", so "Timor-Leste" literally means "Eastern-East"
• the local [Tetum] name "Timor Lorosa'e" translates as "East Rising Sun"

Independence

• 20 May 2002 (from Indonesia)
• note - 28 November 1975 was the date independence was proclaimed from Portugal
• 20 May 2002 was the date of international recognition of Timor-Leste's independence from Indonesia

National Holiday

Restoration of Independence Day, 20 May (2002); Proclamation of Independence Day, 28 November (1975)

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Government Type

semi-presidential republic

Constitution

• history: drafted 2001, approved 22 March 2002, entered into force 20 May 2002
• amendments: proposed by Parliament and parliamentary groups; consideration of amendments requires at least four-fifths majority approval by Parliament; passage requires two-thirds majority vote by Parliament and promulgation by the president of the republic; passage of amendments to the republican form of government and the flag requires approval in a referendum

Legal System:

civil law system based on the Portuguese model; note - penal and civil law codes to replace the Indonesian codes were passed by Parliament and promulgated in 2009 and 2011, respectively

Executive Branch:

• chief of state: President José RAMOS-HORTA (since 20 May 2022); note - the president is commander in chief of the military and can veto legislation, dissolve parliament, and call national elections
• head of government: Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana GUSMAO (since 1 July 2023)
• cabinet: Council of Ministers; ministers proposed to the prime minister by the coalition in the Parliament and sworn in by the President of the Republic
• elections/appointments: president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term (eligible for a second term); last election held on 19 March 2022 with a runoff on 19 April 2022 (next to be held in April 2027); following parliamentary elections, the president appoints the leader of the majority party or majority coalition as the prime minister
• election results: 2022: José RAMOS-HORTA elected president in second round - RAMOS-HORTA (CNRT) 62.1%, Francisco GUTERRES (FRETILIN) 37.9% 2017: Francisco GUTERRES elected president; Francisco GUTERRES (FRETILIN) 57.1%, António da CONCEICAO (PD) 32.5%, other 10.4%

Legislative Branch:

• Description: unicameral National Parliament (65 seats; members directly elected in a single nationwide constituency by closed, party-list proportional representation vote using the D'Hondt method to serve 5-year terms)
• Elections: last held on 21 May 2023 (next to be held in May 2028)
• Election Results: percent of vote by party - CNRT 41.5%, FRETILIN 25.8%, PD 9.3%, KHUNTO 7.5%, PLP 6%, other 9.9%; seats by party - CNRT 31, FRETILIN 19, PD 6, KHUNTO 5, PLP 4;
• Composition: men 40, women 25, percentage women 38.5%

Judicial Branch:

• office: court president appointed by the president of the republic from among the other court judges to serve a 4-year term; other court judges appointed - 1 by the Parliament and the others by the Supreme Council for the Judiciary, a body chaired by the court president and that includes mostly presidential and parliamentary appointees; other judges serve for life
• subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; High Administrative, Tax, and Audit Court; district courts; magistrates' courts; military courts
• note: the UN Justice System Programme, launched in 2003 and being rolled out in 4 phases through 2018, is helping strengthen the country's justice system; the Programme is aligned with the country's long-range Justice Sector Strategic Plan, which includes legal reforms

Regions or States:

12 municipalities (municipios, singular municipio) and 1 special adminstrative region* (regiao administrativa especial); Aileu, Ainaro, Baucau, Bobonaro (Maliana), Covalima (Suai), Dili, Ermera (Gleno), Lautem (Lospalos), Liquica, Manatuto, Manufahi (Same), Oe-Cusse Ambeno* (Pante Macassar), Viqueque note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)

Political Parties and Leaders:

• Democratic Party or PD [Mariano Assanami SABINO Lopes]
• National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction or CNRT [Kay Rala Xanana GUSMAO]
• National Unity of the Sons of Timor (Haburas Unidade Nasional Timor Oan or KHUNTO) [Armanda BERTA DOS SANTOS]
• People's Liberation Party or PLP [Taur Matan RUAK]
• Revolutionary Front of Independent Timor-Leste or FRETILIN [Franciso GUTERRES]

Suffrage:

17 years of age; universal

Citizenship Criteria:

• birth: no citizenship by descent
• only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Timor-Leste dual citizenship
• recognized: no residency requirement for
• naturalization: 10 years

Capital Name

Dili

Capital - geographic coordinate

8 35 S, 125 36 E

Capital Time Difference

UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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International Organization Participation:

• ACP
• ADB
• AOSIS
• ARF
• ASEAN (observer)
• CPLP
• EITI (compliant country)
• FAO
• G-77
• IBRD
• ICAO
• ICCt
• ICRM
• IDA
• IFAD
• IFC
• IFRCS
• ILO
• IMF
• IMO
• Interpol
• IOC
• IOM
• IPU
• ITU
• MIGA
• NAM
• OPCW
• PIF (observer)
• UN
• UNCTAD
• UNESCO
• UNIDO
• Union Latina
• UNWTO
• UPU
• WCO
• WHO
• WMO

International Law Organization Participation:

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Diplomatic Representation from US:

• Chief of Mission: Ambassador (vacant), Chargé d'Affaires Marc WEINSTOCK (since August 2023)
• Embassy: Avenida de Portugal, Praia dos Coqueiros, Dili
• Mailing Address: 8250 Dili Place, Washington, DC 20521-8250
• Telephone: (670) 332-4684, (670) 330-2400
• FAX: (670) 331-3206
• Email: ConsDili@state.gov
• Website: https://tl.usembassy.gov/

Diplomatic Representation in the US:

• Chief of Mission: Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d’Affaires Antonito DE ARAUJO (since 24 February 2023)
• Chancery: 4201 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 504, Washington, DC 20008
• Telephone: [1] (202) 966-3202
• FAX: [1] (202) 966-3205
• Email: info@timorlesteembassy.org
• Website: http://www.timorlesteembassy.org/

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Geographic Location

Southeast Asia

Geographic Coordinates

8 50 S, 125 55 E

Total Area

5,743 Square Miles 14,874 Square Kilometers

Land Area

5,743 Square Miles 14,874 Square Kilometers

Land Boundaries

142 Miles 228 Kilometers

Border Countries

Indonesia 228 km

Coastline

439 Miles 706 Kilometers

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Terrain

mountainous

Highest Point

2,963 Meters

Highest Point Location

Foho Tatamailau 2,963 m

Lowest Point Location

Timor Sea, Savu Sea, and Banda Sea 0 m

Natural Resources

gold, petroleum, natural gas, manganese, marble

Irrigated Land

134 Square Miles 346 Square Kilometers

Time Zone

UTC+9 (14 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

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Climate

tropical; hot, humid; distinct rainy and dry seasons

Terrain

mountainous

Location

Southeastern Asia, northwest of Australia in the Lesser Sunda Islands at the eastern end of the Indonesian archipelago

note - Timor-Leste includes the eastern half of the island of Timor, the Oecussi (Ambeno) region on the northwest portion of the island of Timor, and the islands of Pulau Atauro and Pulau Jaco

Total Area

5,743 Square Miles 14,874 Square Kilometers

Border Countries

Indonesia 228 km

Environment - Current Issues

widespread use of slash and burn agriculture has led to deforestation and soil erosion

Environment - International Agreements

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

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Exports

$18,000,000 (USD)

Imports

$689,000,000 (USD)

Major Exports

coffee, sandalwood, marble; note - the potential for oil and vanilla exports

Major Imports

mainly food 0

Top Export Partners

NA

Export Partners

NA

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Country Description

Occupying 5,743 square miles on the eastern half of an island in the Timor Sea between Indonesia and Australia, Timor-Leste has a population of approximately 1.1 million people.

Timor-Leste became independent on May 20, 2002, and is a democratically-governed, independent nation with an elected President and Parliament.

Following successful presidential and parliamentary elections and a peaceful change of government in 2012, UN and Australian-led peacekeepers departed Timor Leste.

Decades of occupation and periodic eruptions of post-independence violence – most recently in April 2006 – have left Timor-Leste with extremely poor infrastructure and limited economic opportunities.

Electricity, telephone and telecommunications, roads, and lodging remain unreliable, particularly outside of the capital.

Timor-Leste's economy relies largely on revenues from offshore oil and gas production.

Safety & Security

If you are in Timor-Leste, you should exercise caution, use common sense, avoid large gatherings, remain alert with regard to your personal security, and avoid travel after dark to the extent possible.

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.

You should maintain a high level of security awareness while moving around in Dili, be alert to the potential for violence, and avoid demonstrations, large political gatherings, and areas where disturbances have occurred.

Demonstrations can occur at or near symbols and institutions of the Government of Timor-Leste, including government buildings, police stations, and houses belonging to prominent politicians.

Even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence with little or no warning.

Timor-Leste has experienced several episodes of violence since independence.

The most serious was in April 2006, when civil order broke down and the government requested the return of international security forces to help restore order.

More recent instances of unrest included sporadic, localized violence following national elections in August 2007, and an attempt to assassinate former President Ramos-Horta and Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao in February 2008.

There have been no major country-wide civil disturbances since 2008 and international peacekeepers departed from the country at the end of 2012.

Timorese security forces occasionally establish security checkpoints along roads.

These legitimate checkpoints are intended to enhance security and should be respected.

There are also occasional illegal checkpoints which you should avoid but which to date have been primarily targeted at Timorese.

If you are traveling in Timor-Leste, you should remember that despite its small size, much of the territory is isolated and can be difficult to reach by available transportation or communication links.

All U.S. citizens should always ensure that passports and important personal papers are in order in the event it becomes necessary to leave the country quickly for any reason.

The U.S.

Embassy in Dili is not able to issue emergency passports and has only limited capacity to process passport renewals.

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Crime

Crimes such as pick pocketing, purse snatchings, residential and automobile break-ins, and theft occur throughout the country but are more frequent in Dili, the capital.

These crimes often occur in recreational areas and facilities frequented by foreigners.

If you become a victim of these crimes but resist, you may end up facing physical violence by perpetrators.

There is occasional gang-related violence, which, at times, has affected foreign nationals.

Stone-throwing attacks on vehicles occur during periods of gang conflicts and civil unrest and have resulted in serious injury and death in the past.

You should avoid travel at night or alone in unfamiliar areas.

Women should avoid traveling alone, especially at night, because sexual assault or banditry is possible.

Timor-Leste is socially conservative and you should avoid wearing revealing clothing, particularly in crowded public areas such as markets.

Don’t buy counterfeit or pirated goods, even if they are widely available.

Criminal Penalties

While you are traveling in Timor-Leste, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen.

Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different from our own, and criminal penalties vary from country to country.

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 a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States.

If you break local laws in Timor-Leste, 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.

Based on the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, bilateral agreements with certain countries, and customary international law, if you are arrested in Timor-Leste, you have the option to request that the police, prison officials, or other authorities alert the U.S. embassy of your arrest, and to have communications from you forwarded to the U.S. embassy.

Languages Portuguese and Tetum, the local language, are both official languages.

Bahasa-Indonesia and English are also used in commercial and government spheres.

English is often used in academic and non-government spheres.

In school, it is still debated whether to focus on written Tetum, or Portuguese.

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Medical Facilities

Although limited emergency medical care is available in Dili, options for routine medical care throughout the rest of country are extremely limited.

Serious medical problems require hospitalization and/or medical evacuation to Australia, the nearest point with acceptable medical care, to Singapore, or to the United States, and can cost thousands of dollars.

Traffic Safety

While in Timor-Leste, you may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States.

All traffic operates on the left side of the road, and most vehicles use right-hand drive.

Roads are often poorly maintained, and four-wheel drive may be required in some areas.

Non-existent lighting and poor road conditions make driving at night hazardous.

Driving in Dili is especially hazardous, with large trucks and military vehicles sharing the streets with vendors, pedestrians, and livestock.

Many cars and, especially, motorcycles operate at night without lights.

Taxis, small buses, and mini-vans provide public transportation in Dili and elsewhere.

However, public transportation is generally overcrowded, uncomfortable, and below international safety standards.

Public transportation operators have been known to unexpectedly drop passengers at locations other than their destination due to the operators’ fears about certain areas or hours.

Disagreement about fares has occasionally led to hostilities.

Public transport is generally inadvisable and is generally unavailable after dark, although there is a growing presence of night taxis at select locations.

During the rainy season from November to May, rain showers can severely damage cross-island roadways, making roads particularly risky.

You should use caution when traveling on the cross-island roadways in the mountain areas of Aileu, Ermera, Manatuto, Ainaro, and Manufahi provinces.

Accidents occur frequently.

When there is an accident, you should contact the police.

Bystanders sometimes attack the driver perceived to be responsible for a traffic accident.

This is more common in rural areas and in accidents involving Timorese drivers, but crowds have occasionally attacked expatriate drivers at the scene of an accident.

If you are involved in an accident and believe that there is a threat of bodily harm from people at the scene of the accident, it is advisable to drive to the nearest police station before stopping.

While it is required to obtain insurance for vehicles in Timor-Leste, compliance with this rule is limited and many drivers are uninsured.

Most traffic accidents are settled informally between those involved.

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Airports - total

6

Airports with Paved Runways

2

Heliports

8

Roadways- total

3,753 Miles 6,040 Kilometers

Roadways- paved

1,616 Miles 2,600 Kilometers

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Telephones

2,400

Cell Phones

600,600

Internet Users

1,200

Internet Country Code

.tp

Internet Hosts

210

Broadcast Media

1 public TV broadcast station broadcasting nationally and 1 public radio broadcaster with stations in each of the 13 administrative districts; 1 commercial TV broadcast station, 3 commercial radio stations, and roughly 20 community radio stations

Telephone System

• assessment: rudimentary service in urban and some rural areas, which is expanding with the entrance of new competitors
• domestic: system suffered significant damage during the violence associated with independence; limited fixed-line services; mobile-cellular services have been expanding and are now available in urban and most rural areas
• international: country code - 670; international service is available

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Electricity Consumption- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

67,590,000

Electricity Production- Kilowatt Hours (kWh)

131,700,000

Natural Gas Reserves- Cubic Meters (cu m)

2,000,000,000,000

Oil Consumption- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

2,755

Oil Exports- Barrels Per Day (bbl/day)

87,000

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Anthem History

"Pátria" ("Fatherland" in the Portuguese language) is the national anthem of the Democratic Republic of East Timor. Words were written by Francisco Borja da Costa Music was composed in 1975 by Afonso de Araujo. It was Adopted 2002.

Anthem Lyrics

"Pátria" Pátria, Pátria, Timor-Leste, nossa Nação.

Glória ao povo e aos heróis da nossa libertação.

Pátria, Pátria, Timor-Leste, nossa Nação.

Glória ao povo e aos heróis da nossa libertação.

Vencemos o colonialismo, gritamos: abaixo o imperialismo.

Terra livre, povo livre, não, não, não à explotação.

Avante unidos firmes e decididos.

Na luta contra o imperialismo o inimigo dos povos, até à vitória final.

Pelo caminho da revolução.

Anthem Lyrics English

Fatherland, fatherland, East Timor our Nation Glory to the people and to the heroes of our liberation Fatherland, fatherland, East Timor our Nation Glory to the people and to the heroes of our liberation We vanquish colonialism, we cry: down with imperialism!

Free land, free people, no, no no to exploitation.

Let us go forward, united, firm and determined In the struggle against imperialism, the enemy of people, until final victory, onward to revolution.