Eritrea travel advice

Eritrea

The FCDO advises against all travel to certain parts of Eritrea and recommends only essential travel to the remaining areas.

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Warnings and insurance

Current as of: 27 October 2026
Updated: 12 October 2026
Latest change: added information on the temporary withdrawal of dependants of British Embassy staff from Eritrea (see “Warnings and insurance” page).

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Areas where FCDO advises against travel

travel advice.

Tensions with Ethiopia remain high. Should a crisis arise in Eritrea, conditions could shift rapidly, affecting both internal movement and the ability to exit the country. In such events, on‑the‑ground consular assistance or evacuation from the British government may be severely limited. See our general guidance on consular support during crises.

Be ready to adjust your departure plans if a crisis occurs. If leaving becomes unsafe or impossible, you should:

stay indoors as much as possible and keep a supply of essential items such as food, water and medication

comply with any local orders, including curfews

keep informed through the media for any safe‑exit opportunities

Support for British nationals in Eritrea

Consular assistance is heavily restricted in many parts of Eritrea. Embassy staff in Asmara cannot provide in‑person help in zones where the FCDO advises against travel. Embassy diplomats need Eritrean government permits to travel beyond Asmara, limiting their ability to offer direct consular aid elsewhere.

Because of the ongoing security concerns, we have temporarily withdrawn the dependants of our UK staff stationed in Eritrea. The Embassy remains operational.

Eritrean authorities may not notify the British Embassy if a British national requires assistance. There have been cases where they have denied the Embassy access to detained foreign nationals.

If you are in Eritrea and need urgent assistance (e.g., you have been attacked, arrested, or a loved one has died), contact us as follows:

During office hours, visit the British Embassy in Asmara, 66‑68 Mariam Ghimbi Street. Opening times are Monday‑Thursday 08:00‑16:30 and Friday 08:00‑12:30.

For after‑hours help, call the British Embassy in Addis Ababa at +251 116 170 100 or the Foreign Office in London at +44 207 008 5000.

British‑Eritrean dual nationals

Eritrean authorities treat anyone of Eritrean origin or holding Eritrean citizenship as an Eritrean national, which may subject them to obligations such as taxes and national service. This applies whether you possess current or outdated Eritrean identity documents, or even if you hold no Eritrean documents but are of Eritrean descent. The British Embassy cannot provide consular assistance to dual nationals in Eritrea.