Eritrea
Italy
Italy visa for Eritrean citizens
Entry requirement
Eritrean citizens must obtain a visa before travelling to Italy.
- Where to apply
- 1 mission
- Visa guide
- Italy visa guide
Checked 31 October 2026 · Passport Index · Confirm at ambasmara.esteri.it
Which Italy visa?
Schengen visa (type C) for tourism
Key facts
- Maximum stay
- Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
- Fee
- €90
For the tourist visa, Italy’s official sources give a standard fee of €90. Longest stay on the tourist visa: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
Italian missions in Eritrea
Italy has 1 mission in Eritrea, with its embassy in Asmara.
Italy: visa decisions in Eritrea
| Year | Applications | Visas issued | Refused | Refusal rate | Multiple-entry share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 3,317 | 2,659 | 650 | 19.6% | 24.0% |
| 2024 | 5,255 | 3,732 | 1,509 | 28.7% | 12.6% |
| 2025 | 5,772 | 3,532 | 2,240 | 38.8% | 14.3% |
In 2025, Italy’s embassy and consulates in Eritrea (Asmara) received 5,772 applications for short-stay Schengen visas and issued 3,532. 38.8% of applications were refused. In 2024 it had been 28.7%: the rate rose by 10.1 points, a sharp increase. Applications rose by 10% compared with 2024 (5,255).
For comparison, all Schengen states together refused 38.8% of the applications lodged in Eritrea that year. Italy’s consulates worldwide refused 10.8%.
You apply to the Schengen state that is your main destination (the longest stay or the main purpose; the state of first entry only when there is none), so a lower rate elsewhere is no reason to apply there. The figures cover applications lodged in Eritrea, by any nationality: mostly citizens, but also residents from other countries.
Source: European Commission, Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates 2023–2025 (© European Union, reused under CC BY 4.0). Short-stay (type C) visas. How these figures are made
Italian citizens travelling to Eritrea
ItalyEritrea Visa required Eritrea visa for citizens of Italy
Travel advice for Italy
- US State Department Level 2: Exercise increased caution
- UK Foreign Office (FCDO) No advice against travel
- German Foreign Office No travel warning
What the US, British and German foreign ministries tell their own citizens about travelling there, in each ministry’s own terms.
For a trip from Eritrea to Italy, the published travel advice reads as follows: the US State Department rates Italy at Level 2, exercise increased caution (updated 9 September 2026), the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office does not advise against travel to Italy (updated 29 October 2026) and the German Foreign Office has no travel warning for Italy (updated 23 October 2026). The advice is aimed at each government’s own nationals.
Good to know
How long Eritrean citizens can stay in Italy
How long Eritrean citizens may stay in Italy is set by the visa issued, and the visa type must match the purpose of the trip.
How Eritrean citizens apply
In Eritrea, applications go to the Italian embassy in Asmara, or to a visa centre acting for Italy; fees, documents and processing times are published by Italy.
Italy and the Schengen area
A Schengen visa issued by Italy lets Eritrean citizens travel in all Schengen states; apply to Italy when it is the main destination of the trip.
Italy’s neighbours for Eritrean citizens
Switzerland, the Holy See, Slovenia, San Marino, France and Austria require Eritrean citizens to obtain a visa in advance.
Italian citizens travelling to Eritrea
Italian citizens need a visa for Eritrea, obtained before travel. The rule is the same in both directions between Eritrea and Italy.
Frequently asked questions
Do Eritrean citizens need a visa for Italy?
Eritrean citizens must obtain a visa before travelling to Italy.
Where is the Italian embassy in Eritrea?
The Italian embassy in Eritrea is in Asmara.
How much does the Italy tourist visa cost?
Italy’s official sources give a standard fee of €90 for the tourist visa.
Do Italian citizens need a visa for Eritrea?
Italian citizens need a visa for Eritrea, obtained before travel.
Can Eritrean citizens enter Italy visa-free?
No; Eritrean citizens need a visa for Italy obtained in advance.
Visa data: Passport Index via passport-index-data, as of 31 October 2026. Rules change, sometimes overnight. Confirm with the embassy or the official government portal before you book.