Do Canada passport holders need a visa to visit ER?

Canadian ordinary passport holders need a visa to enter Eritrea for tourism. There is no visa-free entry, visa-on-arrival, or eVisa for Canadians. You must apply in advance at an Eritrean consulate in Canada (Toronto or Ottawa) and have the visa stamped in your passport before you fly. As of 31 May 2026, Eritrea requires Canadian citizens to obtain a tourist visa before arrival. The Government of Canada confirms tourist, business, official, and in-transit visas are all required, and notes processing can be lengthy. Eritrea offers no eVisa or visa-on-arrival channel for Canadians; visa-on-arrival is limited to a handful of nationalities (Ethiopia, Sudan) and visa-free entry only to Kenya, Uganda, and certain non-ordinary passport holders. Applications are filed at the Consulate General in Toronto (or the Ottawa consulate) with a completed form, passport copy, photo, and itinerary. The standard tourist fee is CAD 65 (regular) or CAD 80 (urgent), processing takes up to two weeks, the visa is valid 90 days from issue, and it permits a single one-month stay from the day of arrival. Note that Canada maintains an "Avoid non-essential travel" advisory for Eritrea, and visitors should avoid all areas within 25 km of borders. The passport must be valid at least six months and travelers should hold proof of onward travel.