Required Travel formalities to Eritrea

Passport
Required for all travelers entering the country and should be valid for 6 months validity from the date of visa application.

Visa Regulations to Travel to Eritrea
Required for all travelers except:

• Nationals of Eritrea living abroad and holding the national Identity Card
• Laissez-passer issued by the United Nations travelling on duty;
• Seamen Book provided travelling on Duty ;
• Nationals of Uganda; Holders of a re-entry permit;
• Nationals of Kenya holding normal and service passports;
• Those continuing by same aircraft to a third country within 6 hours, provided holding confirmed onward tickets and all documents required for next destination. Leaving the airport transit area is not allowed

However upon arrival visitors are required to fill in forms to apply for entry clearance

Validity
Travel documents should be valid at least one month beyond period of intended stay

Visa Issuance
If required entry visa can be obtained at all Eritrean consulates or embassies in the following countries.
Australia (Canberra), Belgium (Brussels), Canada (Ottawa), China (People's Rep.) (Beijing), Djibouti (Djibouti), Egypt (Cairo), France (Paris), Germany (Cologne, Frankfurt), Italy (Rome), Kenya (Nairobi), Kuwait (Kuwait), Den Haag (Netherlands),Qatar (Doha), Russian Fed. (Moscow), Saudi Arabia (Jeddah, Riyadh), South Africa (Johannesburg), Sweden (Stockholm), Switzerland (Geneva), United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi), United Kingdom (London), U.S.A. (Washington) and Yemen (Sana'a).

On arrival: if required, entry visa for a stay of max. 1 month can be obtained (renewable for 2 more months), provided it has been requested by local sponsor at the Eritrean Immigration Authority 48 hours before arrival. One passport photo is required. Boarding should not take place before confirmation is received.

The following should be taken into account even if holding a Visa:
All visitors should hold return/onward tickets and documents required for next destination.
Certain Visa regulations apply as follows:
Non-compliance with the entry regulations will result in deportation of the passenger to country of embarkation at carrier's expense and fines varying between ERN 10,000. - ERN 20,000.-.

Exit Permit:
Exit permit is required for all visitors leaving the country regardless of the length of the validity of stay; to be applied at the immigration office. Recent passport size photo and a payment of a certain amount in ERN are required for processing exit formalities.

Health
Yellow Fever
Yellow fever is a systemic viral disease. But yellow fever is not a disease risk in Eritrea; however, there is a certificate requirement.

Certificate requirements
In accordance with International Health Regulations, a yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travelers coming from areas with a risk of yellow fever transmission. The government requires travelers arriving from countries listed below to present proof of yellow fever vaccination. If you will be traveling to one of these countries where yellow fever is present before arriving in Eritrea, this requirement must be taken into consideration.

Yellow fever-endemic zones in Africa, 2007

(Source: http://wwwn.cdc.gov)

Malaria risk area in Eritrea
If you will be visiting a malaria risk area in Eritrea, you will need to take one of the following ant malarial drugs: testing).
Malaria prophylaxis: Malaria risk - mainly in the malignant (P. falciparum) form- exists throughout the year in the whole country below 2200 m (<7,218 ft). No risk in Asmara.
Recommended:
Travelers to malaria risk-areas in Eritrea including infants, children, and former residents of Eritrea, should take one of the following ant malarial drugs:- atovaquone/proguanil, doxycycline, or mefloquine (primaquine in special circumstances and only after G6PD

Airport Tax
It is a good idea to check the since the departure tax may be subject to change. At the time of the writing of this material, passenger service charge is levied as follows on all passengers upon embarkation at the airport on:

1. International flights:
   - for nationals of Eritrea: ERN 100.-.
   - for all other nationals: USD 20.-.
2. Domestic flights:
   - all nationals: ERN 15.-.
   - exempted are crew traveling on duty.

Currency Rules
Currency Import regulations:
Local currency (Eritrean Nakfa - ERN): No restrictions for residents or non-residents. But declaration must be made upon arrival. Warning: Failure to do so may result in confiscation of the money
Currency Export regulations:
Local currency (Eritrean Nakfa - ERN): No restrictions for residents or non-residents. Foreign currency must be declared and should be the net balance of declaration during entry

Customs Rules
Electronic products such video cameras, TV, DVD, pc/laptop, mobile phones should be declared. If these items are for use inside the country for good, then this must be declared and the appropriate import duty paid. If the returning passenger is taking these items back, then he/she need only produce the original declaration document for control.
Import regulations: Free import of:

• 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco;
• 1 liter of alcoholic beverages
• personal effects

CITES Membership
Eritrea is member of the Convention on the International trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)