Friday, March 29, 2024

A Complete Guide To Eritrea Visa Application

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Introduction

Eritrea, one of Africa’s smallest and most secretive nations, is located in East Africa, bordered primarily by Sudan and Ethiopia, with its coastlines feeding on the Red Sea.

The scenery here is fascinating, with beautiful plateaus and rising peaks. The capital city, Asmara, preserves ancient Italian architectural designs, which gives this city a distinctive look.

Eritrea has a lot of restrictions. If you’re searching for some excitement and some challenges, this destination might just do it for you. This guide will take you through the process involved in obtaining an Eritrea visa.

Do I need one?

As mentioned earlier, this East African nation likes to keep itself hidden. Citizens of almost all the countries in the world require a visa to visit this nation.

The only country that granted visa-free access to this nation is Uganda. Other exemptions are as follows:

  • A visa on arrival option is available for Sudanese.
  • Children of Eritrea citizens (with proof of valid National ID card) younger than 18 years do not need a visa.
  • Ethiopians are eligible for a visa on arrival with a validity of 30 days.
  • Chinese nationals holding a diplomatic, public affair, or national service passport are granted visa-free entry for up to 60 days.

Follow the link for Eritrea visa policy. Well, if you didn’t make the exemption list you need to apply for a visa. The remaining parts of this article will guide you on how to do so.

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Categories of Eritrean Visa Available

The immigration authority issues several types of travel permits to visitors depending on their reasons for visiting. They are:

  • For Tourism
  • Business/Employment purpose
  • Family visitation
  • Visa for official use

Eritrea Tourist Visa

Foreigners seeking to visit this travel destination for recreational or tourism purposes are issued this visa. It permits them to stay in the country for up to 30 days. However, tourists are restricted in Eritrea and are only allowed to visit about 20% of the territory.

For Business/Employment purposes

Individuals with intentions of working in Eritrea or conducting a form of business are granted this visa. An inviting or employing company handles the initial application process. Upon approval, the applicant is contacted by the immigration authorities to provide supporting documents.

Family Visitations

This type of travel permit is issued to natives of Eritrea seeking to visit the country but do not have any valid means of Eritrean identification. Also, foreigners who aren’t natives can visit friends and family in Eritrea with this visa.

Visa for Official Use

Foreigners seeking to visit Eritrea for official duties go for this travel permit. Applications are initially made through the inviting company, ministry, or organization in Eritrea. Upon approval, the candidate is required to provide supporting documents for the consulate.

Documents Needed for Official Use

The items required by an Eritrean consulate or embassy may differ due to the type of travel permit being applied for. The following paragraphs give information on supporting documents for the various kinds of a visa previously listed.

Supporting documents for persons visiting for tourism:

Applicants are required to submit the following items for review:

  • A completed Application Form. Please ensure all mandatory fields are provided with the required information.
  • A photocopy of your national passport with a minimum validity of six (6) months.
  • Appear at an Eritrean embassy for an interview. If there is no consulate in your country of residence, a telephone interview session will be arranged.
  • Proof of travel arrangements. This should be in the form of a travel itinerary showing the arrival date.

After processing submitted documents, the applicants will be contacted to provide additional items if the visa request is approved. The other thing is as follows:

  • Provision of an original copy of national passport. The minimum required validity is six months.
  • One recent passport-type photograph with both ears of the applicant clearly visible.
  • Provide proof that visa fees have been paid.
  • Provide a prepaid return envelope addressed to yourself (self-addressed). A platinum post is ideal.

Note: payment of fees, purchasing of tickets, and sending of the original passport must only be done after the visa has been approved and the consulate has contacted you to proceed.

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Eritrean supporting documents for business/employment purposes:

For this category, the institution hosting an applicant carries out pre-application processes. However, when the application is approved, you are required to provide the following:

  • A completed Application Form. Please ensure all mandatory fields are provided with the required information
  • Provision of an original copy of the national passport. The minimum required validity is six months.
  • One recent passport-type photograph with both ears of the applicant clearly visible.
  • Provide proof that visa fees have been paid.
  • Provide a prepaid return envelope addressed to yourself (self-addressed). The platinum post is ideal.
  • Proof of travel arrangements. This should be in the form of a travel itinerary showing the arrival date.

Note: payment of fees, purchasing of tickets, and sending of the original passport must only be done after a visa has been approved and the consulate has contacted you to proceed.

For Family visitation

Applicants are required to provide the following items at the early stages of application:

  • A completed Application Form. Please ensure all mandatory fields are provided with the required information.
  • A photocopy of your national passport with a minimum validity of six (6) months.

Upon approval, the following items should be provided:

  • Provision of an original copy of national passport. The minimum required validity is 6 months.
  • One recent passport-type photograph with both ears of the applicant clearly visible.
  • Provide proof that visa fees have been paid.
  • Provide a prepaid return envelope addressed to yourself (self-addressed). The platinum post is ideal.
  • Proof of travel arrangements. This should be in the form of a travel itinerary showing the arrival date.

For Official Use

The inviting ministry or organization in Eritrea handles the initial application phase. When it is approved, you are required to provide the following:

  • A completed Application Form. Please ensure all mandatory fields are provided with the required information
  • Provision of an original copy of national passport. The minimum required validity is 6 months.
  • One recent passport-type photograph with both ears of the applicant clearly visible.
  • Provide a prepaid return envelope addressed to yourself (self-addressed). Platinum post is ideal.
  • Proof of travel arrangements. This should be in the form of a travel itinerary showing the arrival date.

No fees are charged for this category.

General procedures for Eritrea Travel Permit Application

The steps are as follows:

  • Contact a consulate in your country of residence. If not available, applications can be sent to the consulate in neighbouring nations or directly to the immigration authority in Asmara.
  • Provide the required documents.
  • Make yourself available for an interview.
  • After approval, submit additional documents required and making payments.
  • Proceed to purchase tickets.

Where to apply?

For a comprehensive of Eritrean embassies and diplomatic missions around the world, please follow the link.

Cost of Eritrean Visa Fees

The amount charged is tabulated as follows:

TypeAmount
Tourist$62 for adults $31 for children
Family visitation$62 for adults $31 for children
Business/Employment$116
OfficialNo payment required

Note: urgent requests attract an additional fee of $20.

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Covid-19 Guidelines Intending Travelers to Eritrea Must Follow

The worldwide outbreak of the covid-19 virus led to governments from all over the globe, restricting travels to and from their territory.

Some nations have loosened restrictions made on travels. However, Eritrea is yet to do so. At the time of writing, all travel to Eritrea is not allowed. The capital city, Asmara, is still closed. Visits for any purpose whatsoever are not permitted.

Get updates from a notable authority, TravelBans, for more information on travel restrictions in Eritrea.

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Some Questions Frequently Asked

Can I get a visa extension?

Yes, it is possible to extend your original visa twice. To do so, you need to provide a passport-sized photograph and pay the required fee. All requests for extension must be made before the expiration of the original visa.

How long does it take to process an Eritrea visa?

The entire application process may take up to four (4) weeks to complete. After it has been issued, it is usually valid for 30 days.

Do holders of a United States passport get a visa-free entry?

No, all intending visitors from the U.S are required to apply for visas. However, the process is easier if you have friends or family members living in Eritrea.

Do holders of a valid U.K.passport get a visa-free entry?

No, all intending visitors from the United Kingdom are required to apply for a visa. However, the process is easier if you have friends or family members living in Eritrea.

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Can I apply directly to an immigration office in Eritrea?

If there isn’t a consulate close by in your country of residence, you can forward your application to the immigration office in Asmara. Their contact details are as follows:

Ministry of Internal Affairs

(Office of Immigration, Passport, and Nationality)

Mailing address: P.O. Box 250 – Asmara Eritrea

Telephone no: +291 -1 – 119299 / 114011, Fax no:+291 -1 – 126193

Or the

Department of Immigration

Mailing address: P.O. Box 854 – Asmara Eritrea

Telephone no: +291 -1 – 113902 / 113926,Fax no:   +291 -1 – 126193

Click here for more visa guides

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