Eritrea
Last update 28 August 2023Diplomatic missions
Risk index
Level 3: Increased level of risk (recommendation not to travel in certain areas of the country unless necessary)
3
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Eritrea
We call on Bulgarian citizens to refrain from travelling!
The State of Eritrea
Bulgaria does not have an embassy in Asmara. Eritrea is serviced by the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Addis Ababa
Address: Bole KK, Kebele 04/06/07, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; P.O.Box 987
Telephone/fax: +25116610032
Out-of-hours hotline: +251911252514; +251913069999
Working hours: 09:00 – 17:30
Opening hours: 09:00 – 13:00 and 14:00 – 17:30
Е-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.mfa.bg/embassies/ethiopia
The Embassy of Eritrea in Moscow is accredited to Bulgaria.
Embassy of the State of Eritrea in Moscow
Address: 129090 Moscow, Meshchanskaya, apt. 17 [Мещанская, д. 17]
Telephone: +7 495 631 0620
Fax: +7 495 631 3767
E-mail: [email protected]
General information
Security level:
There is a high security risk, especially in border areas with Ethiopia, Sudan and Djibouti, where there is a risk of unexploded mines and reported casualties. Travel outside the capital city of Asmara is not recommended.
Healthcare:
Service in the hospitals does not meet the European standards.
Recommended vaccines and personal hygiene advice:
An international yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for passengers arriving from countries at risk of yellow fever transmission and for passengers who have transited through the airport of a country at risk of yellow fever transmission.
For up-to-date information on mandatory and/or recommended vaccines you may contact the Regional Health Inspectorates in the country.
Yellow fever vaccine is administered at the following Regional Health Inspectorates: Sofia Regional Health Inspectorate; Varna RHI; Burgas RHI; Pleven RHI; Plovdiv RHI; Blagoevgrad RHI and Ruse RHI.
Specifics of the local legislation:
Photography of military sites and persons, as well as public buildings, bridges, intersections, airports, railway stations and ports is prohibited.
It is advisable to respect the strict prohibitions on homosexuality, the sanctions for which are not precisely regulated.
Customs requirements:
There are no restrictions on the import of foreign currency, which is declared upon entry into the country. It is advisable to carry US dollars. It is recommended to exchange currency in the country at banks. Cheques and credit cards are accepted on rare occasions.
Valuables must be declared upon entry into the country.
There are no restrictions on the export of foreign currency. There are no particular customs restrictions on the export of goods.
Road traffic:
There are still roads and railways that have not been rebuilt from the destruction during the civil war. The streets are only partially paved.
The highway from Asmara to Massawa is in very good condition.
Travel outside the capital requires a special permit (Travelpermit), which is obtained from the Ministry of Tourism for tourism travel and from the relevant ministry in Asmara for business and business travel.
Practical advice:
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria advises Bulgarian citizens to be more cautious in the State of Eritrea due to travel restrictions, limited consular assistance, landmines and illegal detentions.
Strict personal hygiene is recommended. Particular care should be taken when consuming fresh fruit and vegetables. Water should be boiled or you should buy bottled water.
Electricity/voltage/socket type(s):
230 V / 50 Hz / plug type(s): C, L
Phone code: 291
Unlike in Western countries, where raised eyebrows indicate perplexity, in the State of Eritrea they signal confirmation or approval.
Local currency:
The local currency in the State of Eritrea is the Nafka (Nja).
Travel papers and visas
Bulgarian citizens should make sure that their passport will not expire for at least 6 months after entering the country, even if they do not intend to stay that long. They should also make sure that there are at least 2 blank pages in their passport for each entry stamp and or visa that will be needed. Visa is required.
Competitive service
European Emergency Travel Document:
In extreme situations — in case of damage, loss or theft of a passport, Bulgarian citizens can apply for an Emergency Travel Document at an Embassy of an EU Member State in the capital of Eritrea Asmara.
Legalizations and Certifications:
Documents issued to Bulgarian citizens in Eritrea shall bear the stamp of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Eritrea. They are certified by the Embassy of Eritrea in Moscow and then by the Bulgarian Embassy in the Russian capital. Once the documents have been prepared in this way, they must be translated into Bulgarian by an authorized translation company in Bulgaria and the translation must be certified by the Legalizations and Certifications Department with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria.