Eritrea Travel Guide

Eritrea — Passport and Visa Information

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Passports

Country	Passport Required	Visa Required	Return Ticket Required
Australian	Yes	Yes	Yes
Canadian	Yes	Yes	Yes
Other EU	Yes	Yes	Yes
USA	Yes	Yes	Yes
British	Yes	Yes	Yes

Passport valid for a minimum of six months beyond intended departure date required by all nationals referred to in the chart above.

Visas

Required by all nationals referred to in the chart above except:
(a) transit passengers continuing their journey to a third country within six hours, provided holding valid onward or return documentation and not leaving the airport transit lounge. The Government of Eritrea requires all foreign residents including diplomats to apply 10 days in advance for travel outside of Asmara city limits

Visa Note

(a) Since 1 June 2006, all foreign nationals (including resident diplomats) are required to have a travel permit to visit other areas outside Asmara. Visitors intending to travel outside Asmara should be aware that the new restrictions might severely hamper their plans. (b) Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements (see Important Addresses).

Types of Visa and Cost

Tourist: £30 (one month, single-entry). Business: £30 (one month, single-entry); £50 (three month, multiple-entry). Transit: £20. During busy times, an additional fee of £5 is payable for Express Service visas.

Validity

Single-entry tourist and business visas: up to three months. Extensions are possible. Apply on arrival to the foreign ministry in Asmara.

Applications to:

Consulate (or consular section at embassy); see Important Addresses.

Working Days Required

Three business days for normal visas, five to ten working days for business visas. The express service takes one day.

Travel Warnings

Travelers are advised not to travel within 25km (15 miles) of Eritrea's border with Ethiopia and Djibouti, and not to travel to Eritrea's border with Sudan, including the town of Tesseney; and in the area north and west of Nakfa, Agordat and Barentu.

The Ethiopia-Eritrea border remains closed and unmarked. Several security incidents have taken place in recent months along the border, particularly in the areas of Humera, Tsorona and Zalambessa. Since the relocation out of Eritrea of the UN Peacekeeping Mission (UNMEE) in March 2008 the risk of cross-border tensions increasing and the security situation deteriorating very rapidly remains.

All foreign nationals, including resident diplomats, are required to apply ten days in advance for travel permits to leave Asmara - these are not always granted. This means that diplomatic staff from the British Embassy are unable to offer emergency assistance to British nationals outside Asmara quickly. Eritrean authorities have not always informed the relevant Embassy when a foreign national is in need of consular assistance - this potential lack of any assistance outside Asmara is something to take into account fully before traveling.

Dual British/Eritrean nationals should be aware that, under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, the British Embassy is unable to offer assistance in Eritrea. The Eritrean authorities consider all British nationals holding either Eritrean or PFDJ identity documents (including out of date documents) as Eritrean nationals.

There is an underlying threat from terrorism in Eritrea. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travelers.

All British nationals traveling to Eritrea should register with the British Embassy in Asmara on arrival.

This advice is based on information provided by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the UK. It is correct at time of publishing. As the situation can change rapidly, visitors are advised to contact the following organizations for the latest travel advice:

British Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Tel: 0845 850 2829.
Website: www.fco.gov.uk

US Department of State
Website: http://travel.state.gov/travel

Health Care

Time is needed to acclimatize to the high altitude and low oxygen level. Those who suffer from heart ailments or high blood pressure should consult a doctor before traveling. Medical services are limited throughout the country; modern facilities are not always available and supplies can be irregular. Visitors should bring a supply of any necessary drugs and prescriptions. Chemists can be found in larger towns. The country has an extensive network of health workers. Regional and district clinics and the central hospital in Asmara deal with emergencies. Comprehensive health insurance is strongly advised.