Do France passport holders need a visa to visit ER?

French ordinary passport holders need a visa before traveling to Eritrea. There is no visa-free entry, no eVisa, and no general visa-on-arrival. Apply in person or by post at the Embassy of Eritrea in Paris (1 Rue de Staël, 75015 Paris) ahead of your trip. As of 30 May 2026, France is not among the very few countries (Kenya, Uganda) that Eritrea exempts from visas, and Eritrea does not operate a public tourist eVisa system or offer routine visa-on-arrival to French nationals. French ordinary passport holders must obtain a tourist visa in advance from the Embassy of Eritrea in Paris. The application uses the B62.3 form and typically requires a passport valid at least 6 months beyond the intended stay with two facing blank pages, photos, proof of funds, accommodation and round-trip flight bookings. The tourist visa is generally valid for three months from issue for entry, permitting a stay of up to one month, extendable at the Immigration Office in Asmara. Processing typically takes around 15 business days to two-to-three weeks, so applicants should begin 4-6 weeks before departure. Note that Eritrea also requires foreign visitors to obtain separate internal travel permits to leave the Asmara area, and the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs advises caution given the security and regulatory environment. Because no confirmed visa-free, eVisa, or VOA channel exists for France, the conservative and correct verdict is visa-required.