Reality Brief: Asmara

Current alerts

No official alerts recorded for this region.

Alerts checked on October 2, 2026 against the sources cited.

Essentials before you arrive

• A visa is required and must be obtained in advance from an Eritrean embassy; except with prior authorisation, no visa is issued at Asmara airport. Choose the visa type matching the real purpose of your stay.

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Eritrea, entry and residenceGuide: Entry and residence

• A Travel Permit from the Ministry of Tourism is mandatory to go more than 25 km from Asmara or your place of residence; the answer often comes within 24 hours.

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Eritrea, entry and residenceFrance Diplomatie, Travel advice: Eritrea, safetyGuide: Entry and residence

• Declare all electronic devices on arrival, and foreign currency from 10,000 USD (keep the certificate for departure). No more than 1,000 nakfa may be taken out, or boarding will be refused.

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Eritrea, entry and residenceGOV.UK (FCDO), Eritrea travel advice: entry requirementsGuide: Entry and residence

• Ambulance 122244, fire 116, police 113.

  GOV.UK (FCDO), Eritrea travel advice: getting helpGuide: Health

• Border areas with Ethiopia and Sudan are strongly advised against (armed groups, mines); the UK advises against all travel within 25 km of all land borders. Outside the capital, travel is advised against except for essential reasons; do not leave main roads (mines).

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Eritrea, safetyGOV.UK (FCDO), Eritrea travel advice: warnings and insuranceGuide: Safety and emergencies

• Consular assistance is very limited: the authorities do not notify embassies of arrests of foreigners, and the French embassy can only issue an emergency travel document if a passport is lost.

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Eritrea, safetyGuide: Safety and emergencies

Living in Asmara

• A Travel Permit from the Ministry of Tourism is mandatory to go more than 25 km from Asmara or your place of residence; the answer often comes within 24 hours.

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Eritrea, entry and residenceFrance Diplomatie, Travel advice: Eritrea, safetyGuide: Entry and residence

• Crime is very limited in Asmara and Massawa. The Asmara-Massawa mountain road is dangerous, especially in the evening. Do not drive at night and comply with checkpoints.

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Eritrea, safetyGuide: Safety and emergencies

• Consular assistance is very limited: the authorities do not notify embassies of arrests of foreigners, and the French embassy can only issue an emergency travel document if a passport is lost.

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Eritrea, safetyGuide: Safety and emergencies

Field experience

• Tip

  Pharmacies, clinics and hospitals

  Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): pharmacies (7), clinics (1), hospitals (7). Locate those near your home in the first days and check opening hours and on-call services locally.

• Tip

  Where to shop for food

  Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): markets (5), supermarkets (8). Compare a few basic prices between market and supermarket before settling into habits.

• Tip

  Banks, cash machines and exchange

  Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): banks (7), currency exchange (2). Withdraw and change money at these official places, preferably during the day, never in the street.

• Tip

  A shop for your SIM card

  Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): phone and internet (1). Go with your passport: SIM registration is often mandatory.

• Tip

  A furnished flat for the first weeks

  Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): furnished apartments (5). A furnished flat gives you time to visit several neighbourhoods before signing a lease.

• Tip

  Consulates in the city

  Listed in OpenStreetMap (not exhaustive): consulates (4). Note the address of your country's consulate or the nearest embassy.

• Emergency numbers

  Ambulance 122244, fire 116, police 113.

  +291 122244116113

  GOV.UK (FCDO), Eritrea travel advice: getting help· Oct 2, 2026

• Embassy of France in Eritrea

  Passport: France

  French embassy in Asmara; out-of-hours emergencies: +291 7 89 36 81.

  Warsay Street, Saba Building, 8e étage, Asmara+291 1 18 28 75+291 7 89 36 81

  France Diplomatie, Travel advice: Eritrea, safety· Oct 2, 2026