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Eritrea

🇪🇷Eritrea Visa 2026: Entry Requirements

Africa· Updated 10/10/2026

Do you need a visa for Eritrea?

It depends on your passport. Out of 195 nationalities documented by IziVisas, 2 obtain an e-visa or a visa on arrival and 193 must apply at a consulate before travelling.

Visa on arrival

2

nationalities

Consular visa

193

nationalities

Check the rule for your nationality

Pick your passport for the exact 2026 rule: fee, processing time, allowed stay and documents.

Transit visa for Eritrea

Visa for airport or land transit.

Stay:
5 days
Fee:
30 USD

Data updated on

Pick your nationality to see the rule

Indicative information, drawn from official sources and Wikipedia, and updated automatically. Rules change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before booking. Our methodology

Eritrea visa requirements by nationality

The entry regime Eritrea applies to the passports most often checked on IziVisas. Open a row for the fee, the processing time, the documents and the allowed stay of that exact route.

All nationalities

Eritrea visa types, fees and processing times

Every visa category Eritrea publishes, with the official fee, the allowed stay and the processing time when the source states them. Eligibility depends on your nationality: open your route for the rule that applies to your passport.

Eritrea visa types published by IziVisas, 2026. Data updated on . Government fees only. Application centres and agencies charge their own service fee on top.
VisaCategoryAllowed stayOfficial feeProcessing timeEntriesOfficial source
Short-stay (tourism)Short stay30 days
Business visaBusiness90 days100-300 USD15 business daysMultiplePortal
Work visaWork1 year (renewable)100 USD30 business daysMultiplePortal
Transit visaTransit5 days30 USD10 business daysPortal

Visas

Tours and activities (GetYourGuide)

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Information

Capital

Asmara

Population

3,630,000

Currency

Eritrean Nakfa (ERN Nfk)

Languages

Tigrinya, Arabic, English

Continent

Africa

Calling code

+291

Timezone

Africa/Asmara

Area

117,600 km²

Government

Authoritarian presidential regime

National day

24 May - Independence Day

Internet domain

.er

About

Eritrea is a northeastern African country bordering the Red Sea. Ruled by an authoritarian regime with no elections since 1993, it faces major challenges in human rights and economic development. The population is split between Christians and Muslims, with an embryonic economy reliant on mining.

Nomad Insurance travel cover (SafetyWing)

Medical cover and repatriation, can be taken out mid-trip.

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See SafetyWing coverage

Safety

Risk level:High - Avoid all travel due to the authoritarian regime, indefinite military service, and human rights violations.

Risk areas

Borders with Ethiopia and Sudan - Military tensions and landminesAsmara and urban areas - Arbitrary arrests

Crime(Low)

  • Avoid walking alone at night
  • Do not photograph military installations

Terrorism(Low)

  • Low risk but increased vigilance in border areas

Transport

  • Use official transportation, avoid at night

Natural risks(Low to moderate: droughts, rare floods)

  • Follow local weather alerts

Health(Low - Underdeveloped healthcare system)

  • Mandatory vaccines: yellow fever, hepatitis A/B, typhoid
  • Bottled water only, mosquito net

Practical tips

  • Register with the consulate before departure
  • No dual nationality recognized
  • Military service may be imposed on Eritreans abroad

Accommodation (Hotels.com)

Hotels and other stays, with a free-cancellation filter.

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Compare places to stay

Cost of living

Accommodation

Studio in the city centre$150 – $300
1-bedroom apartment in the city centre$200 – $450
1-bedroom apartment outside the centre$130 – $300
3-bedroom apartment in the city centre$450 – $1,000
3-bedroom apartment outside the centre$300 – $650

Food

Meal at an inexpensive restaurant$5
Meal for two at a mid-range restaurant$30
McDonald’s meal or equivalent$6
Local beer (0.5 L, in a bar)$2.30
Cappuccino$1.20
Bottled water (1.5 L)$0.90
Bread (500 g)$0.80
Milk (1 L)$2
Eggs (12)$4.50
Chicken fillets (1 kg)$10
Apples (1 kg)$6
Bananas (1 kg)$2

Transport

Public transport, one way$0.10
Taxi, starting fare$4
Taxi, per km$1.20
Petrol (1 L)$1.90

Leisure

Gym (monthly membership)$25
Tennis court (1 h at the weekend)$10
Cinema ticket$2
Theatre ticket$7

Health

GP consultation$20
Dentist consultation$20
Antibiotics (one pack)$5
Cold medicine (6 days)$5

Others

Utilities for an 85 m² home (monthly)$45
Levi’s 501 jeans or similar$50
Nike sports shoes$90
International primary school (monthly)$900

Indicative prices in USD in Asmara · estimated in October 2026

eSIM data (Saily)

Stay connected on landing, with no roaming charges. Requires an eSIM-compatible phone.

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Choose an eSIM

Practical information

Electricity

Voltage220V
Frequency50Hz
Plug typesType C, Type E, Type F

Emergency numbers

Police112
Ambulance112
Fire department112

Practical information

Driving side

Right

Tap water

unsafe

Tipping

Not customary, 5-10% optional

Tours and activities (GetYourGuide)

Book excursions ahead, with free cancellation on most activities.

Partner link: IziVisas earns a commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you.

See activities

Photos

Eritrea

Eritrea

Eterna Media

Eritrea

Eritrea

Marian Florinel Condruz

Eritrea

Eritrea

Eterna Media

Eritrea

Eritrea

Marian Florinel Condruz

Eritrea

Eritrea

Chris Molloy

Eritrea

Eritrea

Marcelo Mora

Eritrea

Eritrea

pierre matile

Eritrea

Eritrea

Mehmet Turgut Kirkgoz

Eritrea

Eritrea

lens zone

Eritrea

Eritrea

Moussa Idrissi

Eritrea

Eritrea

Алексей Сулла

Eritrea

Eritrea

Ad Thiry

Eritrea

Eritrea

Asad Kareem musa

Eritrea

Eritrea

Suliman Sallehi

Eritrea

Eritrea

Magda Ehlers

Eritrea

Eritrea

Alberto Capparelli

Eritrea

Eritrea

Jean Marc Bonnel

Eritrea

Eritrea

Alexandra Holbea

Eritrea

Eritrea

Henrik Le-Botos

Eritrea

Eritrea

Pollard Lucien

Plan your trip

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Guides to prepare your trip

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a visa to travel to Eritrea?▾

It depends on your passport. IziVisas documents the entry regime for Eritrea across 195 nationalities: 2 with a visa on arrival, 193 with a consular visa. Pick yours for the exact rule, with documents, fees and processing times.

Check by my nationality →
How much does a Eritrea visa cost?▾

Fees vary by visa type and nationality. The lowest published official fee is 100 USD (Business visa). These are government fees only, providers and visa application centres add their own service charge.

Do you need a transit visa for Eritrea?▾

Eritrea issues a transit visa for travellers connecting or crossing the country without staying, valid 5 days. Conditions depend on your nationality, the length of the layover and whether you leave the airport's international zone.

Is it dangerous to travel to Eritrea?▾

The overall risk level is currently rated "High - Avoid all travel due to the authoritarian regime, indefinite military service, and human rights violations.". See the Safety tab on this page for details by topic (crime, transport, health, areas to avoid) and practical tips.

What currency is used in Eritrea?▾

The official currency is Eritrean Nakfa (ERN Nfk). See sample prices (accommodation, meals, transport) in the cost of living section above.

What is the capital of Eritrea?▾

The capital of Eritrea is Asmara. The main spoken languages are: Tigrinya, Arabic, English.

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