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🇵🇱Poland
🇪🇷EritreaPL-ER

Poland to Eritrea visa requirements

Polish passport holders need a visa to visit Eritrea. It must be obtained in advance from an Eritrean embassy or consulate before travel — there is no eVisa and no visa on arrival for Polish citizens. A Poland (ordinary passport) holder traveling to Eritrea for tourism requires a visa arranged in advance through an Eritrean diplomatic mission. Eritrea grants visa-free entry only to a handful of nationalities (e.g. Kenya, Uganda) and visa on arrival only to Ethiopian and Sudanese citizens — Poland is in neither category. Despite some agencies advertising "eVisa" services, Eritrea has no genuine government eVisa: applications are filed through embassy consular systems (such as the CAPS online portal) and the original passport must usually be submitted/mailed to the mission for the visa sticker. The tourist visa is single-entry, valid for three months from issue (you must arrive within that window), and permits a stay of around one month, extendable at Immigration in Asmara. Processing is slow — a minimum of roughly 15 business days. Note also that independent travel beyond Asmara requires a separate travel permit obtained on the ground from the Ministry of Tourism. Eritrea is not in the Schengen area, so Schengen 90/180 and ETIAS rules do not apply.
VISA REQUIREDTOURISMSINGLE ENTRYLast verified 2026-05-30
For guidance only — visa rules change with little notice. Always confirm directly with the destination's embassy or foreign ministry before booking non-refundable travel. Information here applies to ordinary (non-diplomatic) passports unless noted.
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/01 — The numbers

Key facts

Last verified 2026-05-30
Visa type
Embassy/consulate tourist visa (single entry)
Maximum stay
~30 days (extendable in Asmara)
per entry
Entries
Single
from issue date
Visa fee
USD 50 visa fee (plus consular/service charges)
consular fee only
Processing time
Minimum ~15 business days
standard track
Validity
3 months from date of issue (must enter within this period)
from issue date
/02 — The process

How to apply

/01
Locate the responsible Eritrean mission
There is no Eritrean embassy in Poland. Polish residents typically apply through the nearest Eritrean diplomatic mission in Europe (e.g. Stockholm, London, Rome, or Brussels) — confirm jurisdiction by contacting the mission first.
· No embassy in Poland· Confirm jurisdiction
/02
Complete the visa application
Fill out the official tourist visa application (consular form), often via the mission's online consular portal, and prepare a recent 35x45mm passport photo.
· Online/consular form· 35x45mm photo
/03
Assemble supporting documents
Gather a passport valid at least 6 months, photos, proof of sufficient funds, accommodation/itinerary details and (where required) proof of residence in Poland.
· Passport 6+ months· Proof of funds
/04
Pay the fee and submit
Pay the visa fee (around USD 50 plus service charges) and submit the application together with your original passport to the mission, usually in person or by secure mail.
· USD 50 + charges· Submit passport
/05
Wait for processing
Allow a minimum of about 15 business days; apply well ahead as Eritrean visa processing can be slow and timelines vary by mission.
· ~15 business days· Apply early
/06
Collect passport and arrange on-arrival permits
Retrieve the passport with the visa sticker. After arrival, obtain a travel permit from the Ministry of Tourism in Asmara for any travel more than ~25 km outside the capital.
· Travel permit in Asmara· 25km radius rule
/03 — The paperwork

Required materials

12 items
Personalized checklist
Poland -> Eritrea · Embassy/consulate tourist visa (single entry)
0 / 12 complete
Deadline reminderAdd a date before export
RequiredPolish ordinary passport valid at least 6 months with blank pages
Original passport; keep the blank pages and remaining validity required for this route
required
RequiredCompleted Eritrean tourist visa application form
Official form; submit online or print and sign as instructed
required
RequiredRecent passport-size photo (35x45mm)
Use the official size, background, and recency rules for this route
required
RequiredVisa fee (approx. USD 50 plus service/consular charges)
Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel
required
RequiredProof of sufficient funds for the stay
Bank, income, or asset proof with clear name, date, and balances
required
RecommendedConfirmed accommodation and travel itinerary
Bookings, itinerary, or confirmations matching the requested stay dates
recommended
RecommendedReturn/onward flight ticket
Bookings, itinerary, or confirmations matching the requested stay dates
recommended
RecommendedProof of residence in Poland (if applying via a mission in another country)
Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel
recommended
ConditionalYellow fever vaccination certificate (if arriving from an endemic area)
Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel
conditional
RecommendedBudget extra time on arrival for a Ministry of Tourism travel permit beyond Asmara
Provide a clear scan, digital file, or original as requested by the official channel
recommended
RequiredFlight and hotel itinerary
Confirmed or agency-arranged itinerary when the route guide requires it
Use dates that fit the allowed stay and visa validity.
RecommendedTravel medical insurance
Policy certificate showing traveler name, destination, and coverage dates
Some destinations or agencies require it even when the core visa rule only recommends it.
Official sourcesVisa policy of Eritrea — WikipediaEritrean Embassy — Visa (official mission)U.S. State Department — Eritrea International Travel Information
Application link included: Visa policy of Eritrea — Wikipedia
Open link
/04 — The cost

Fee breakdown

All-in estimate
Line itemAmountSource
Tourist visa feeUSD 50Standard single-entry tourist visa; nonrefundable
Consular service/processing chargeUSD 10–25Varies by mission; covers handling/photo where applicable
Return courier/postageUSD 15–40If passport is submitted and returned by secure mail
In-country travel permit~200 ERN (≈ USD 13)Paid on arrival at the Ministry of Tourism for travel outside Asmara
Total estimateUSD 50 — USD 115incl. all
/05 — The wait

Processing time

Standard embassy processing
Minimum ~15 business days
Apply directly to the Eritrean mission; the most reliable route. Submit well ahead of travel as timelines can extend beyond the stated minimum.
Visa agency assistance
~2–4 weeks
Third-party agencies can help compile and forward the application, but the visa is still issued by the Eritrean mission — adds cost and does not bypass embassy processing.
/06 — The risks

Common refusal reasons

by frequency
/01
Poland is not on Eritrea's visa-exempt list
Eritrea grants visa-free entry to only a few nationalities (such as Kenya and Uganda); Polish citizens are not included.
High
/02
No visa on arrival for Polish citizens
Visa on arrival is available only to Ethiopian and Sudanese nationals, so Poles cannot obtain a visa at the border or airport.
High
/03
No genuine government eVisa
Eritrea does not operate an official eVisa; visas are issued by diplomatic missions, often requiring the physical passport to be submitted.
Medium
/04
No mutual visa-waiver agreement
There is no visa-waiver arrangement between Eritrea and Poland or the EU covering ordinary passports.
Medium
/05
Restricted-travel destination
Eritrea maintains tight entry controls and requires in-country permits for travel outside Asmara, reinforcing the advance-visa requirement.
Low
/07 — On arrival

After you land

/01
Immigration
Keep your passport, visa or exemption proof, return ticket, and accommodation details ready for border inspection.
/02
Customs
Review the destination's customs rules before travel and declare restricted goods or large cash amounts when required.
/03
Connectivity
Check whether airport SIMs, eSIMs, or roaming are the best option for your route before arrival.
/08 — The history

Policy changelog

since 2024
2026-05-30
Poland to Eritrea route verified
Confirmed via Wikipedia visa policy of Eritrea, the Eritrean Embassy consular pages and U.S. State Department travel information that Polish ordinary passport holders require an embassy-issued visa obtained in advance, with no eVisa or visa on arrival. Single-entry, 3-month issue validity, ~30-day stay, minimum ~15 business days processing.
/09 — The questions

Frequently asked

Can Polish citizens get an Eritrea visa on arrival?—
No. Visa on arrival is available only to Ethiopian and Sudanese nationals. Polish travelers must obtain a visa in advance from an Eritrean embassy or consulate.
Does Eritrea have an eVisa for Polish passport holders?+
Where do Polish residents apply, given there is no Eritrean embassy in Poland?+
How long can I stay in Eritrea on a tourist visa?+
How much does the visa cost and how long does it take?+
Do I need anything else once I am in Eritrea?+
/11 — Passport tools

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