Eritrea is a small country in Africa that is located on the shore of the red sea. Eritrea borders three countries by land, which include Sudan, Djibouti, and Ethiopia. Eritrea was a part of Ethiopia until 1993 when it won its independence following a 30-year war (BBC, 2020). At the moment, the country is characterized by its tense political environment and poor socioeconomic development. The dictatorship of Isaias Afwerki brought by the militarization of society and a highly constricted political climate (BBC, 2020). Still, the country’s favorable location on the seacoast and its rich history could attract visitors. The present paper will seek to outlinet he travel and visa requirements for Eritrea.
The conditions of entrance into Eritrea vary greatly depending on the citizenship status of the traveler. People who hold an Eritrea National Identification card do not need a visa to enter the country. Additionally, people who are citizens of Uganda and Sudan have simplified procedures with regards to entry. Ugandan citizens do not need to hold a visa to travel into Eritrea. The citizens of Sudan can obtain their Eritrean visa on arrival once they land in the country (“Eritrea visa information”, 2020). Citizens of all other countries need to apply for a visa at their local Eritrean embassy. There are various kinds of visas that grant entry into Eritrea, including official, employment, business, student, tourist, transit, and other visas. The requirements for Eritrean visa vary by country, with some states having specific documentation requirements. It is recommended that people contact their local diplomatic mission to receive information about visa requirements for their country.
The requirements for U.S. citizens are published on the official website of the Embassy of Eritrea along with the application form. According to the instructions, the application form should be filled out in full by every visa applicant, except for dependants included in their parents’ passports (Embassy of Eritrea, 2016). There are no specific requirements for photographs other than that they should be passport-sized. Proof of USA residency permit is essential for an application unless the person is traveling with a USA passport (Embassy of Eritrea, 2016). Any passport used for a visa application must be valid for at least six months after the end date of the trip (Embassy of Eritrea, 2016). People who travel to Eritrea with Diplomatic or Official missions are required to provide a diplomatic note or a note verbal to receive their visa.
In addition, to obtain a business visa, a person must submit a letter from a sponsoring company. This letter should include the purpose of the trip and should be enclosed with the application form (Embassy of Eritrea, 2016). All travelers are required to submit a document proving that they have sufficient funds to cover their expenses. This can include a bank statement or any other document showing an individual’s current financial status. Lastly, USA citizens and residents are required to submit an entry fee. For employment and one-time business visas, the fee is $70, whereas students and tourists need to pay $50 (Embassy of Eritrea, 2016). A multiple-trip business visa fee depends on the length of the visa and varies from $110 (3 months) to $300 (12 months).
Overall, although Eritrea is not a popular tourist destination, it can attract people due to its rich history and an excellent geographic position. For those who wish to travel to Eritrea, it is crucial to learn more about entry requirements. The citizens of most countries need a visa to enter Eritrea, which can be received at a local embassy. For citizens and residents of the United States, visa requirements include submitting an application with proof of funds, a passport-sized photograph, and a processing fee. Information about other requirements for application in other countries can be found by contacting a local embassy.
References
BCC. (2020). Eritrea country profile. Web.
Embassy of Eritrea. (2016). Application for entry visa. Web.
Eritrea visa information. (2020). Web.