Think twice.
No major changes since yesterday.
Governments, one trip
What they're telling their own citizens about Eritrea
The real score
The breakdown
See it from your perspective
Think twice.
The general Sketch Score, unweighted for any specific traveler.
Don't fall for it
Scams to know
Black market currency exchange
Individuals offer better exchange rates for hard currency or propose shady economic deals. Avoid these offers to prevent severe trouble with the Eritrean legal system.
Don't do this
Laws that jail tourists
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is illegal in Eritrea. Conviction can result in up to 3 years in prison or the death penalty.
Exit visa requirements for dual nationals
Dual nationals must apply for exit visas to leave the country. Those who have not completed mandatory military service or are government critics face being denied exit.
Consular status for dual nationals
Possessing a foreign passport does not grant consular protection to dual nationals if they are arrested or detained by Eritrean authorities.
Staying healthy
What to watch out for, health-wise
Active notices
- • Global Measles
Vaccines
Required: Yellow Fever
Recommended: Chikungunya, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Malaria, Measles, Meningococcal disease, Rabies, Typhoid
Source: CDC Travelers' Health →Getting in
What you'll need at the border
Visitors to Eritrea must obtain a visa from one of the Eritrean diplomatic missions, unless they come from one of the visa exempt countries or countries eligible for visa on arrival.
Source: Wikipedia →Real, not invented
Terrorism
Although there’s no recent history of terrorism in Eritrea, attacks cannot be ruled out.
Source: UK FCDO →Real, not invented
Cultural & legal notes
LGBT+ travellers
Same-sex sexual activity is illegal. If convicted, you can get a prison sentence. Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers .
Source: UK FCDO →From people who've been there
Local know-how
Staying safe
- •Watch out for bicycle riders, vehicle drivers and pedestrians.
- •Travelling near the borders of any country surrounding Eritrea is extremely dangerous, and should be avoided.
- •Do not fall prey to those willing to offer you a better exchange rate for your hard currency or some other "shady economic deal".
- •Consular assistance: Consular support is severely limited in Eritrea, due in large part to the fact that the Eritrean government routinely restricts foreign diplomats from talking to foreign nationals in detention.
- •If you have been detained for whatever reason, know that your embassy will have little influence in assisting you. They may not even be notified that you have been detained.
- •Dual nationals: If you are thought to be Eritrean – such as having Eritrean identity documents (even those that are out of date) or being a dual national – possessing another passport will not grant you consular protection in the event you get arrested or detained.
Staying healthy
- •Do not drink the tap water and even check bottled water to make sure the cap is sealed.
- •Adult HIV/AIDS is more than 0.8%.
Adapted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA — edited by travelers, not us.
Right now
In the news the last few days
Pack this, know this
The little things that trip people up
Plug & voltage
C / L · 230V
Driving side
right
Emergency
police: 113 / ambulance: 114 / fire: 116
Cash vs. Card
The currency is the Eritrean nakfa, denoted by the symbol "Nkf" or "ናቕፋ" (ISO currency code: ERN). It is pegged to the US dollar. The official exchange rates are shown above. The black market rate was reported in 2025 to be Nkf 50-58 to US$1.
Show the receipts (8 sources)
- us-state — observed 2026-09-09
- uk-fcdo — observed 2026-09-09
- ca-gac — observed 2026-09-09
- worldbank-political — observed 2026-09-09
- worldbank-policeTrust — observed 2026-09-09
- cdc-health — observed 2026-09-09
- wikivoyage — observed 2026-09-09
- lgbtq-legal-wikipedia — observed 2026-09-09