Eritrea

Government advisories

• ☐ United States: level 2/4 — Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
• ☐ United Kingdom: level 2/4
• ☐ Canada: level 3/4 — Avoid non-essential travel (with regional advisories)

Health notices

• ☐ Global Measles (level 1)

Entry requirements

☐ 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.

Practical

• ☐ Plug type C/L, 230V — bring an adapter if yours differs
• ☐ Drives on the right
• ☐ Emergency (police): 113
• ☐ Emergency (ambulance): 114
• ☐ Emergency (fire): 116
• ☐ Money: 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.

Laws that could get a tourist arrested

• ☐ 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.

Before you go

General trip-prep, not specific to Eritrea — the same short list applies anywhere.

• ☐ Register with your embassy's traveler program if one exists
• ☐ Check your passport's validity and blank-page requirements on your destination's official entry-rules page
• ☐ Photograph/screenshot your passport, visa, and travel insurance documents
• ☐ Download offline maps for your destination
• ☐ Confirm your bank/card issuer knows you're traveling
• ☐ Check whether your phone plan needs a travel add-on or a local SIM