Eritrea
Warnings and insurance
Summary
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The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)(FCDO) providesadvises adviceagainst aboutall riskstravel to within 25km of travelEritrea’s toland helpborders.
Eritrea’s Britishland nationalsborders makewith informedDjibouti decisions.and FindEthiopia outare moreclosed. aboutEritrea’s FCDOland travelborder advice.with Sudan is operational in response to the conflict in Sudan.
Areas
Before whereyou FCDOtravel, advisescheck againstthe ‘Entry requirements’ section for Eritrea’s current entry restrictions and requirements. These may change with little warning. Monitor this advice for the latest updates and stay in contact with your travel provider.
YourIf travelyou insuranceplan couldto bepass invalidatedthrough ifanother youcountry to return to the UK, check the travel againstadvice FCDOfor advice. the country you’re transiting.
Within
It 25kmis ofmore Eritrea’simportant landthan borders
FCDOever advisesto againstget all travel toinsurance withinand 25kmcheck ofit allprovides Eritrea’ssufficient landcover. borders.See Thethe landFCDO’s bordersguidance withon Djiboutiforeign andtravel Ethiopiainsurance.
On are14 closed.September Eritrea’s2022, landthe borderEritrean withGovernment Sudanannounced isa operationalnational call up of militia in response to the conflict in Sudannorthern andEthiopia. While peoplethe arecall crossingup has now ended following the borderpeace deal between the Ethiopian Government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), extra security measures may still be in bothplace directions. around Asmara and the rest of Eritrea. You should remain vigilant to the local security situation during your stay.
FindAll outforeign morenationals, aboutincluding whydiplomats, FCDOmust advisesapply againstin travel.
Supportadvance for Britisha nationalstravel inpermit Eritrea
to leave the Asmara region. See Travel Permits and Consular Assistance.
Consular support is severely limited in parts of Eritrea. If you’re in Eritrea and you need urgent help (for example, you’ve been attackedattacked, orarrested arrested, or someone has died), call the British Embassy in Asmara on +291 1 202 838.838 . If you’re in the UK and worried about a British national in Eritrea, call 020 7008 5000.
British-Eritrean dualSee nationals
Consular Assistance
IfThe you are a British-Eritrean dual national, the Eritrean authorities consider youall toBritish benationals anholding either Eritrean national.or ThisPFDJ applies if you hold identity documents issued(including byout Eritrea’s Department of Immigrationdate anddocuments) Nationality,as includingEritrean outnationals. of date documents. The British Embassy is unable to offer consular assistance to dual nationals in Eritrea. EmbassySee staffDual will be unable to gain consular access to you if you are detained by the Eritrean authorities.nationals.
Before you travel
NoAlthough travelthere’s canno berecent guaranteedhistory safe.of Readterrorism all the advice in thisEritrea, guideattacks andcan’t anybe specificruled travelout. adviceSee that applies to you:
Follow and contact FCDO travel on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. You can also sign up to get email notifications when this advice is updated.
Travel insurance
If youyou’re chooseabroad to travel, research your destinations and getyou appropriateneed travelemergency insurance.help Insurancefrom shouldthe coverUK yourgovernment, itinerary,contact plannedthe activitiesnearest andBritish expensesembassy, inconsulate anor emergency.high commission.
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)(FCDO) providesadvises adviceagainst aboutall riskstravel to within 25km of travelEritrea’s toland helpborders.
Eritrea’s Britishland nationalsborders makewith informedDjibouti decisions.and FindEthiopia outare moreclosed. aboutEritrea’s FCDOland travelborder advice.with Sudan is operational in response to the conflict in Sudan.
Areas
Before whereyou FCDOtravel, advisescheck againstthe ‘Entry requirements’ section for Eritrea’s current entry restrictions and requirements. These may change with little warning. Monitor this advice for the latest updates and stay in contact with your travel provider.
YourIf travelyou insuranceplan couldto bepass invalidatedthrough ifanother youcountry to return to the UK, check the travel againstadvice FCDOfor advice. the country you’re transiting.
Within
It 25kmis ofmore Eritrea’simportant landthan borders
FCDOever advisesto againstget all travel toinsurance withinand 25kmcheck ofit allprovides Eritrea’ssufficient landcover. borders.See Thethe landFCDO’s bordersguidance withon Djiboutiforeign andtravel Ethiopiainsurance.
On are14 closed.September Eritrea’s2022, landthe borderEritrean withGovernment Sudanannounced isa operationalnational call up of militia in response to the conflict in Sudannorthern andEthiopia. While peoplethe arecall crossingup has now ended following the borderpeace deal between the Ethiopian Government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), extra security measures may still be in bothplace directions. around Asmara and the rest of Eritrea. You should remain vigilant to the local security situation during your stay.
FindAll outforeign morenationals, aboutincluding whydiplomats, FCDOmust advisesapply againstin travel.
Supportadvance for Britisha nationalstravel inpermit Eritrea
to leave the Asmara region. See Travel Permits and Consular Assistance.
Consular support is severely limited in parts of Eritrea. If you’re in Eritrea and you need urgent help (for example, you’ve been attackedattacked, orarrested arrested, or someone has died), call the British Embassy in Asmara on +291 1 202 838.838 . If you’re in the UK and worried about a British national in Eritrea, call 020 7008 5000.
British-Eritrean dualSee nationals
Consular Assistance
IfThe you are a British-Eritrean dual national, the Eritrean authorities consider youall toBritish benationals anholding either Eritrean national.or ThisPFDJ applies if you hold identity documents issued(including byout Eritrea’s Department of Immigrationdate anddocuments) Nationality,as includingEritrean outnationals. of date documents. The British Embassy is unable to offer consular assistance to dual nationals in Eritrea. EmbassySee staffDual will be unable to gain consular access to you if you are detained by the Eritrean authorities.nationals.
Before you travel
NoAlthough travelthere’s canno berecent guaranteedhistory safe.of Readterrorism all the advice in thisEritrea, guideattacks andcan’t anybe specificruled travelout. adviceSee that applies to you:
Follow and contact FCDO travel on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. You can also sign up to get email notifications when this advice is updated.
Travel insurance
If youyou’re chooseabroad to travel, research your destinations and getyou appropriateneed travelemergency insurance.help Insurancefrom shouldthe coverUK yourgovernment, itinerary,contact plannedthe activitiesnearest andBritish expensesembassy, inconsulate anor emergency.high commission.
Before whereyou FCDOtravel, advisescheck againstthe ‘Entry requirements’ section for Eritrea’s current entry restrictions and requirements. These may change with little warning. Monitor this advice for the latest updates and stay in contact with your travel provider.
YourIf travelyou insuranceplan couldto bepass invalidatedthrough ifanother youcountry to return to the UK, check the travel againstadvice FCDOfor advice. the country you’re transiting.
Within
It 25kmis ofmore Eritrea’simportant landthan borders
FCDOever advisesto againstget all travel toinsurance withinand 25kmcheck ofit allprovides Eritrea’ssufficient landcover. borders.See Thethe landFCDO’s bordersguidance withon Djiboutiforeign andtravel Ethiopiainsurance.
On are14 closed.September Eritrea’s2022, landthe borderEritrean withGovernment Sudanannounced isa operationalnational call up of militia in response to the conflict in Sudannorthern andEthiopia. While peoplethe arecall crossingup has now ended following the borderpeace deal between the Ethiopian Government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), extra security measures may still be in bothplace directions. around Asmara and the rest of Eritrea. You should remain vigilant to the local security situation during your stay.
FindAll outforeign morenationals, aboutincluding whydiplomats, FCDOmust advisesapply againstin travel.
Supportadvance for Britisha nationalstravel inpermit Eritrea
Consular support is severely limited in parts of Eritrea. If you’re in Eritrea and you need urgent help (for example, you’ve been attackedattacked, orarrested arrested, or someone has died), call the British Embassy in Asmara on +291 1 202 838.838 . If you’re in the UK and worried about a British national in Eritrea, call 020 7008 5000.
British-Eritrean dualSee nationals
IfThe you are a British-Eritrean dual national, the Eritrean authorities consider youall toBritish benationals anholding either Eritrean national.or ThisPFDJ applies if you hold identity documents issued(including byout Eritrea’s Department of Immigrationdate anddocuments) Nationality,as includingEritrean outnationals. of date documents. The British Embassy is unable to offer consular assistance to dual nationals in Eritrea. EmbassySee staffDual will be unable to gain consular access to you if you are detained by the Eritrean authorities.nationals.
Before you travel
NoAlthough travelthere’s canno berecent guaranteedhistory safe.of Readterrorism all the advice in thisEritrea, guideattacks andcan’t anybe specificruled travelout. adviceSee that applies to you:
Follow and contact FCDO travel on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. You can also sign up to get email notifications when this advice is updated.
Travel insurance
If youyou’re chooseabroad to travel, research your destinations and getyou appropriateneed travelemergency insurance.help Insurancefrom shouldthe coverUK yourgovernment, itinerary,contact plannedthe activitiesnearest andBritish expensesembassy, inconsulate anor emergency.high commission.
Update history
2024-09-12 17:07
Information on the risks to women travellers visiting Asmara (‘Safety and security’ page).
2024-01-12 00:18
Update to Safety and Security page
2023-12-19 12:56
This travel advice has been rewritten to make it easier to read and understand.
2023-06-22 12:12
Information about the global terrorism risks to British nationals abroad on all FCDO travel advice pages.
2023-06-06 15:03
Information on Eritrea’s land border with Sudan, local security measures and air travel, and update to Embassy contact telephone number (‘Safety and security’, ‘Entry requirements’ and ‘Coronavirus’ pages).
2022-11-28 09:31
Information on coronavirus entry requirements (‘Entry requirements’ page) and coronavirus exit requirements (‘Coronavirus’ page)
2022-09-16 13:43
Information on the national call up of militia (Summary page) and (Safety and security page)
2022-09-16 11:28
New information that the Eritrean Government has announced a national call up of its local militia, in response to the conflict in Tigray (‘Summary’ and ‘Safety and security’ pages).
2022-04-12 15:23
The FCDO advises against all travel to within 25km of Eritrea’s land borders (‘Summary’ page). Full review of the entire advice with amendments to the ‘Entry requirements’, ‘Coronavirus’, ‘Local laws and customs’, ‘Health’ and ‘Money’ sections.