How to Apply for an Eritrea Visa in Chicago

The northeastern African nation of Eritrea is not a common destination for casual tourists from the Chicago area -- despite its historic cultural treasures and widely diverse natural attractions.  One of the least developed countries in the world, the State of Eritrea is known as one of the most difficult jurisdictions for obtaining a visa -- and for its many undiscovered treasurers. “For such a small country, Eritrea offers an astonishing variety,” World Travel Guide stated (https://www.worldtravelguide.net/guides/africa/eritrea/). “It tends to attract a motley crew of visitors: from archaeologists to architects; scholars to scuba divers; historians to hikers; and cyclists to steam railway buffs.”

Located in the Horn of Africa, Eritrea is bordered by the Sudan, Ethiopia, and Djibouti.  The Red Sea forms the country’s 1,212-kilometer eastern border. “Eritrea is known as a land of contrasts, with a diverse range of cooler highland escarpments, arid lowlands, humid coastal plains and desert islands all converging within the 122,000 square kilometers that is home to an estimated 3.5 million people,” according to Peace Through Commerce: Tourism and Development in Eritrea, a government assessment of sustainable tourism opportunities (https://www.iwa.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Aman-Haile-Sustainable-Tourism-Report.pdf).

The region now known as Eritrea dates back thousands of years to the D’mt and Askum kingdoms. In 1890, Eritrea became Italy’s first African colony.  After Italy’s defeat in World War II in 1941, Britain administered Eritrea until 1952 and it soon became part of Ethiopia.  After struggling to achieve independence for more than 30 years, Eritrea separated from Ethiopia in 1993.  However, tension remains between Ethiopia and Eritrea: their border remains closed, and parts of Eritrean territory are still under Ethiopian occupation following a 1998-2000 war.

The country is home to nine major ethnic groups, with the Tigrinya people making up more than half the population and the Tigre another 30%.  The country has no official language but recognizes nine languages, mostly variations of Ethiopian dialects.  English is used for educational, scientific, and technical purposes. The main religions are Christianity (63%) and Islam (37%).

Despite its friendly people, low crime rate, and sunny weather, Eritrea -- like many countries in Africa -- faces significant political challenges and an oppressive military regime. “It is home to one of the world’ worst dictatorships and is (unpopularly) known as the North Korea of Africa,” Unusual Traveler stated (https://www.unusualtraveler.com/eritrea/).  The U.S. State Department recommends visitors “exercise increased caution in Eritrea due to travel restrictions, limited consular assistance, landmines, and wrongful detentions.” The department added, “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.” (https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/eritrea-travel-advisory.html#)

Chicago area businesses and investors will find it challenging to invest in Eritrea’s economy.  In 2021 the United States imposed sanctions following an Eritrean military incursion into Ethiopia. “Eritrea’s investment climate is not conducive to U.S. investment,” the State Department noted. “U.S. economic sanctions, the lack of a commercial code, disconnection from international financial systems for all but government-to-government transactions, and strict government control of all imports and exports severely limit foreign investment.” (https://www.state.gov/reports/2023-investment-climate-statements/eritrea).  Mining and agriculture each make up 20 percent of the country’s $2.1 billion GDP.

Tourism only contributes about two percent, but the government is working on a multi-decade plan to boost tourism infrastructure and recreational opportunities.  Currently, domestic travel is the main driver for tourism. “Eritrea remains one of the least visited countries in the world for a reason,” stated the travel blog Anna Everywhere (https://annaeverywhere.com/visit-eritrea-visa-safety/). “The visa isn’t the easiest to obtain.” Also, the blog continued, “On top of the visa issues, in order to travel anywhere outside of the capital –Asmara, or attend national events you need each individual permit.  These permits aren’t the easiest to obtain due to the country’s bureaucracy and they’re often rejected.” You can walk around within a given city, but you need a permit to visit the military tank graveyard outside of Asmara, the camel market in Keren, or each of the 354 islands in the Dahlak Archipelago.  Travel agencies can help with permits for such excursions of the steam train connecting Asmara and coastal Massawa.

Asmara, the capital and largest city, was a group of four small villages before the Italians made it the capital of colonial Eritrea in 1897.  The community was transformed into a planned city with modernistic architecture reflecting various styles of the early 1900s.  Asmara features landmarks such as the Art Deco Cinema Impero, eclectic Enda Mariam Cathedral, neo-Romanesque Church of Our Lady of the Rosary, futurist Fiat Tagliero Building, the neoclassical Governor's Palace, and numerous Italian colonial villas and mansions.  Asmara was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2017, becoming Eritrea’s only UNESCO site and the first modernist city globally to be listed in its entirety.  The city’s palm tree-lined boulevards and piazzas (town squares) feature restaurants, bars, and cafes offering Italian food, espressos, cappuccinos lattes, and gelato.

Beyond historic and architectural sites, eco-tourism offers the most potential for leisure industry development.  Tourism largely centers on Massawa, Eritrea’s fourth largest city and the gateway to Dahlak Marine National Park.  The waters surrounding the Dahlak Islands in the Red Sea are home to some 325 species of fish, while numerous mammals, reptiles, and other animals reside in the area.  Although scuba diving is not permitted within the park, many other Red Sea sites are open to divers and snorkelers. “Massawa and the Dahlak Archipelago are destinations that offer Eritrea’s main beach tourism products, and represent distinct architectural styles and historical junctures in the country’s history,” Peace Through Commerce stated. “Visitors ranked the natural coastal and marine heritage, as well as the historical and architectural sites, as the top two tourism assets in the target destinations.”

Eritrea Visa Requirements

Citizens of the United States living in the Chicago area are required to obtain a visa before they can enter Eritrea. (If you hold an Eritrean national ID, you can present that document rather than obtaining a visa.  Citizens of Kenya and Uganda can visit without a visa and stay indefinitely; those from Ethiopia and Sudan can obtain a visa upon arrival.) The country also requires that visitors at least nine months old arriving from countries at risk for yellow fever must provide proof of yellow fever vaccination (i.e., a WHO yellow card).  The Eritrean embassy in Washington, D.C., lists those countries at https://us.embassyeritrea.org/visa.

The primary requirement to obtain an Eritrea visa is holding a passport valid for at least six months from your date of entry and containing at least two blank pages, according to the U.S. government https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Eritrea.html). If your passport expires within six months or does not have enough blank pages, you will need to renew it before applying.

Eritrea offers several types of visas for residents of Chicago, including tourist, business, student, and family visas.  Visas are issued through the Eritrean Embassy in Washington, D.C.  Visas are valid for up to three months from the issue date.  Once you enter Eritrea, most visas are valid for 30 days.  However, you can usually extend or renew your visa through the Immigration office in Asmara.

The general process to obtain a visa includes:

  • Printing out, completing and signing the visa application form at the embassy site, https://us.embassyeritrea.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Eritrean_Visa_Application_.pdf.
  • Attaching a passport-sized photograph taken within the last six months.
  • Providing your passport (good for at least six months and with blank pages).
  • Submitting a copy of your confirmed roundtrip airline itinerary, including arrival and departure dates.
  • Health Insurance. Although not required for the visa, we recommend purchasing international medical insurance to cover accidents, injuries, and illnesses while traveling in Eritrea.  International medical insurance from GeoBlue can be purchased from Visa Supply online through the following link: ⇒Order Now.

Other requirements vary by type of passport. For example, tourist visa applicants must provide proof of your financial ability to support yourself on at least $200 per day.  You can provide your latest bank statement or a verification letter from your bank.  Business travelers must provide a letter on company letterhead with such details as the purpose of your trip, name and address of companies you will visit, and your company’s guarantee to cover your travel expenses.  Student applicants must provide a letter from their school stating the purpose and duration of their stay.  Details about specific requirements for each visa can be found at https://us.embassyeritrea.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Visa_Requirement_List_2021.pdf.

The website states that visa process takes a minimum of 10 days.  However, multiple sources report it often takes up to two months to receive a visa, as the Washington, D.C. embassy must send all applications back to Eritrea for processing.  Thus, give yourself plenty of time before your trip to obtain a visa. “The Eritrean visa is notorious,” Unusual Traveler noted. “It will most likely get approved within a few days before you go there.”

Payments can only be made with a money order, company check, or cashier’s check made payable to ‘EMBASSY OF ERITREA’.  Processing fees can change at any time, so check the website for any updates.  Most visas also charge an additional $5 mailing fee.  The current visa fee is $50 for the tourist, student, and family visit visa.  An employment visa runs $70 while a transit visa costs $30.  Business fees are:

  • Single entry: $70
  • 3 months: $100
  • 6 months: $200
  • One year: $300

Residents of Chicago can submit their visa application to the Eritrea embassy by mail or through an external vendor, such as Visa Supply.  The embassy is located at 2708 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20009.  When you mail in your application, send your passport, payment, and the required documentation listed above.  Include a self-addressed return envelope with a tracking number from Express Mail, Priority Mail, FedEx, UPS or DHL.

Also, people who hold dual citizenship in Eritrea and the United States and enter the country on an Eritrean passport of national ID card must obtain an exit visa before they leave Eritrea.  According to the U.S. State Department:

  • The exit visa application process can significantly delay travel plans.
  • Exit visas, for any traveler, may be denied.
  • U.S.-Eritrean dual nationals who left the country after 1993 may not be allowed to depart Eritrea after visiting.
  • The Eritrean government may impose entry and/or exit restrictions on dual-nationals residing outside Eritrea who do not comply with tax regulations on overseas earnings.

 

We Can Help if You Need Assistance

Visa Supply can help you complete your application for any of these visas and answer your questions about visiting Eritrea.  We also provide courier service to deliver your application and pick up your visa from the embassy in Washington, D.C.  Our number one goal is to ensure your application documents for a visa are submitted accurately to the government of Eritrea.  Our services eliminate delays and give you the peace of mind to focus on your travel plans. 

If you live in Chicago or anywhere in the state of Illinois or Indiana and have difficulty applying for a Eritrea visa, or require assistance with any part of the visa process, please give our office a call at 404-682-5445 or schedule an appointment with our company.  We are a private agency in Atlanta providing Eritrea visa services for Americans and other U.S.-based residents. 

We provide the following Eritrea visa services for our customers in Chicago:

  • Eritrea Tourist Visa
  • Eritrea Business Visa
  • Eritrea Official Visa
  • Eritrea Family Visit Visa
  • Eritrea Employment Visa
  • Eritrea Student Visa