Eritrea Travel Risk Level

Reissued with obsolete COVID-19 page links removed. Exercise increased caution in Eritrea due to travel restrictions, limited consular assistance, landmines, and wrongful detentions. Country Summary: The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in Eritrea, as U.S. government employees must obtain special authorization to travel outside of Asmara. U.S. citizens visiting or residing in Eritrea, including dual U.S.-Eritrean nationals, have been arrested and detained without charge or on false charges. The Department has determined that the risk of wrongful detention of U.S. nationals by the Eritrean government exists. Eritrean law enforcement officials routinely block access by U.S. government officials to U.S. citizens in detention. The U.S. Embassy therefore may not receive notification of your arrest or be allowed access to you if you are detained or arrested. There are landmines in many remote areas in Eritrea, particularly in Nakfa, AdiKeih, Arezza, the 25 mile-wide region (40 km) between the Setit and Mereb Rivers, and in areas north and west of Keren, areas near Massawa, Ghinda, Agordat, Barentu, Dekemhare, and south of Tessenae. Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Eritrea. If you decide to travel to Eritrea: Use caution when walking and hiking in remote areas or off main roads. Always carry a copy of your U.S. passport and visa (if applicable). Keep original documents in a secure location. Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program ( STEP ) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter . Review the Country Security Report for Eritrea. Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist . Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel.

Areas where FCDO advises against travel Your travel insurance could be invalidated if you travel against FCDO advice. Within 25km of Eritrea’s land borders FCDO advises against all travel to within 25km of all of Eritrea’s land borders. Find out more about why FCDO advises against travel . Tensions between Eritrea and Ethiopia are high. If a crisis develops in Eritrea, the situation could change quickly, including your ability to travel within Eritrea or leave the country. Practical support from the British government such as face-to-face consular support or evacuation may be severely limited in a crisis. Read our general guidance on consular support in a crisis . Be prepared to re-arrange your own departure from Eritrea if a crisis develops. If it is not safe or possible to leave, you should: stay indoors whenever possible, and have a stock of essential supplies such as food, drinking water and medicine obey any local restrictions such as curfews monitor the media for developments that would allow you to leave safely Support for British nationals in Eritrea Consular support is severely limited in parts of Eritrea. Staff at the British Embassy in Asmara cannot offer support in person in areas of Eritrea where FCDO advises against travel. Diplomats at the British Embassy require travel permits from the Eritrean government to travel outside Asmara, which means the Embassy cannot always provide consular assistance in person in parts of Eritrea. The Eritrean authorities may not inform the British Embassy if a British national is in need of help. There have been instances where the Eritrean authorities have refused to give the Embassy consular access to detained foreign nationals. If you’re in Eritrea and you need urgent help (for example, you’ve been attacked or arrested, or someone has died), get in touch using the below: during office hours, visit the British Embassy in Asmara at 66-68 Mariam Ghimbi Street. Office hours are Monday-Thursday between 8am and 4:30pm or Fr