Is It Safe to Travel to Eritrea in 2026?
Eritrea - Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Last updated: · Source: U.S. Department of State
Eritrea, officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa region of East Africa. Its capital and largest city is Asmara.
Is It Safe to Travel to Eritrea in 2026?
Eritrea is currently rated Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution by the U.S. Department of State. Exercise increased caution in Eritrea due to travel restrictions and limited consular assistance. U.S. citizens have been arrested and detained without charge or on false charges, with a risk of wrongful detention by the Eritrean government. Landmines are present in many remote areas, particularly in specific regions and cities.
Key concerns cited in the advisory:
- wrongful_detention
- civil_unrest
- health
The overall security situation has been worsening recently. Contributing factors: Travel restrictions and limited consular assistance are in effect in Eritrea., U.S. citizens have been arrested and detained without charge or on false charges., The risk of wrongful detention of U.S. nationals by the Eritrean government exists..
Active restrictions in Eritrea:
- Movement restrictions in effect
U.S. government employees must obtain special authorization to travel outside of Asmara.
Traveler Impact
Solo travelers face a significant risk of wrongful detention by Eritrean authorities, especially in areas outside of Asmara where consular assistance is limited.
Business travelers may encounter operational disruptions due to limited consular support and the risk of arbitrary detention, particularly when traveling outside the capital.
Families with children face considerable health risks, including limited access to pediatric care and exposure to diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis.
Remote workers may find reliable internet in urban areas, but must navigate strict movement restrictions and potential health risks in rural settings.
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of State, the CDC, the World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, and Freedom House. All sources are updated regularly and cross-referenced to provide a composite safety picture for Eritrea.
Regional Safety Breakdown
▶Level 3 — Reconsider Travel10 regions
▶AdiKeih
Landmines are present in the area.
▶Agordat
Landmines are present in the area.
▶Arezza
Landmines are present in the area.
▶Barentu
Landmines are present in the area.
▶Dekemhare
Landmines are present in the area.
▶Ghinda
Landmines are present in the area.
▶Keren
Landmines are present in the area.
▶Massawa
Landmines are present in the area.
▶Nakfa
Landmines are present in the area.
▶Tessenae
Landmines are present in the area.
▶Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution1 region
▶Asmara
U.S. government employees must obtain special authorization to travel outside of Asmara.
Eritrea has 11 distinct regions with varying advisory levels. Risk conditions differ significantly by area.
▶Safety and Stability Ratings
Threat Severity (0-10 scale)
Eritrea has an overall threat severity of 4.5 out of 10. Crime risk is rated 6.0/10, terrorism risk 0.0/10, and kidnapping risk 5.0/10.
Governance Indicators (World Bank, percentile)
Political Stability▶
Measures the likelihood that the government will be destabilized or overthrown by unconstitutional or violent means, including politically-motivated violence and terrorism. Higher percentile means greater stability.
Rule of Law▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which agents have confidence in and abide by the rules of society, including the quality of contract enforcement, property rights, the police, and the courts, as well as the likelihood of crime and violence.
Control of Corruption▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which public power is exercised for private gain, including both petty and grand forms of corruption, as well as capture of the state by elites and private interests.
Government Effectiveness▶
Captures perceptions of the quality of public services, the quality of the civil service and the degree of its independence from political pressures, the quality of policy formulation and implementation, and the credibility of the government's commitment to such policies.
Regulatory Quality▶
Captures perceptions of the ability of the government to formulate and implement sound policies and regulations that permit and promote private sector development.
Voice & Accountability▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which a country's citizens are able to participate in selecting their government, as well as freedom of expression, freedom of association, and a free media.
Data from World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators (2023).
Freedom Status: Not Free — scored 3/100 by Freedom House (2024). View full freedom profile →
▶Entry Requirements and Health
Entry Information
Visa
Check embassy for details
Currency
Nakfa (ERN)
Language
Tigrinya / Arabic / English
Notable restrictions:
- drug possession illegal including medical marijuana
- e-cigarettes prohibited
Vaccinations
Required:
- Yellow Fever: Vaccine is not required for direct travel from the United States. However, it is required for travelers coming from countries with risk for YF virus transmission.
Recommended:
⚠ Malaria Risk: moderate
Recommended medications: Atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, mefloquine, tafenoquine
Active health notices:
- watchGlobal Measles: Measles cases are rising in many countries around the world. All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to CDC's measles vaccination recommendations for international travel.
Vaccination data sourced from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Consult a travel health professional before your trip.
Common Questions About Traveling to Eritrea
▶What is the current travel advisory level for Eritrea?
▶Is it safe to travel to Eritrea right now?
▶Do I need a visa to visit Eritrea?
▶What vaccines do I need for Eritrea?
▶Is Eritrea safe for solo travelers?
▶How bad is crime in Eritrea?
More Eritrea Data
Not Free — 3/100 on the Freedom House index.
Governance indicators including rule of law, corruption control, and regulatory quality.
View all 195 countries color-coded by advisory level.
Read the full advisory on travel.state.gov.
Access this data programmatically. Free tier available.
On-demand country risk PDFs from 6 government sources.