South AfricaEritrea

Eritrea visa for South African citizens

Visa required

South African citizens must obtain a visa before travelling to Eritrea.

Where to apply
1 mission

Checked 7 November 2026 · Passport Index

Which Eritrea visa?

Tourist visa

Key facts

Maximum stay
Typically one month after arrival, extendable at Immigration in Asmara
Fee
US$50
Processing time
At least 15 business days (Washington, Frankfurt); ten working days (Geneva)

Apply on Embassy of the State of Eritrea in Washington – Visa

All visa types for Eritrea

For the tourist visa, Eritrea’s official sources give a standard fee of US$50, and applications are made on us.embassyeritrea.org. Processing time, as Eritrea states it: At least 15 business days (Washington, Frankfurt); ten working days (Geneva). Longest stay on the tourist visa: Typically one month after arrival, extendable at Immigration in Asmara.

Eritrean missions in South Africa

Eritrea has 1 mission in South Africa, with its embassy in Pretoria.

Eritrean citizens travelling to South Africa

EritreaSouth Africa Visa required South Africa visa for citizens of Eritrea

Travel advice for Eritrea

  • US State Department Level 2: Exercise increased caution
  • UK Foreign Office (FCDO) Advises against all travel to parts of the country
  • German Foreign Office Partial travel warning for parts of the country (Teilreisewarnung)

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 South Africa to Eritrea, the published travel advice reads as follows: the US State Department rates Eritrea at Level 2, exercise increased caution (updated 30 July 2023), the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office advises against all travel to parts of Eritrea (updated 12 October 2026) and the German Foreign Office has a partial travel warning (Teilreisewarnung) for parts of Eritrea (updated 16 October 2026).

Good to know

How long South African citizens can stay in Eritrea

How long South African citizens may stay in Eritrea is set by the visa issued, and the visa type must match the purpose of the trip.

How South African citizens apply

In South Africa, applications go to the Eritrean embassy in Pretoria, or to a visa centre acting for Eritrea; fees, documents and processing times are published by Eritrea.

Eritrea’s neighbours for South African citizens

Sudan requires South African citizens to obtain a visa in advance.

Eritrean citizens travelling to South Africa

Eritrean citizens must obtain a visa before travelling to South Africa. The rule is the same in both directions between South Africa and Eritrea.

Frequently asked questions

Do South African citizens need a visa for Eritrea?

South African citizens must obtain a visa before travelling to Eritrea.

Where is the Eritrean embassy in South Africa?

The Eritrean embassy in South Africa is in Pretoria.

How much does the Eritrea tourist visa cost?

Eritrea’s official sources give a standard fee of US$50 for the tourist visa. Processing time: At least 15 business days (Washington, Frankfurt); ten working days (Geneva).

Do Eritrean citizens need a visa for South Africa?

Eritrean citizens must obtain a visa before travelling to South Africa.

Can South African citizens enter Eritrea visa-free?

No; South African citizens need a visa for Eritrea obtained in advance.

Visa data: Passport Index via passport-index-data, as of 7 November 2026. Rules change, sometimes overnight. Confirm with the embassy or the official government portal before you book.