Trip checklist: Eritrea

For South African passport holders. Last checked 5 October 2026.

Visa requirement

South Africans need to apply for a visa before travel to Eritrea.

You can stay up to 30 days per visit, and you can apply to extend.

Passport validity
At least 6 months, with 2 consecutive blank pages.
How to apply
Through the embassy (e-consulate erembassy.com/econsulate/app/). Tourist USD 50, business USD 70. At least 10 days.
Where South Africans apply
Embassy of the State of Eritrea, 1281 Cobham Rd, Queenswood, Pretoria (012 333 1302).
Proof of funds
Proof of sufficient funds.
Vaccinations, including yellow fever on return to South Africa
ERITREA: check TravelHealthPro; no compulsory yellow fever rule reported for SA arrivals. RETURN TO SOUTH AFRICA: Eritrea is not on South Africa's yellow fever risk-country list, so no certificate is needed on return unless you transited a risk country (or a risk-country airport for more than 12 hours) on the way.
Arrival forms
Declare foreign currency of USD 10,000 or more; you may not export more than ERN 1,000.
Confirm with the embassy
Rules change. Check the official source before you book.

1. UK FCDO (Other government, gov.uk) https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/eritrea/entry-requirements
2. National Department of Health, South Africa (Other government, health.gov.za) https://www.health.gov.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Protocols-for-Travellers.pdf
3. DIRCO (South African High Commission, Canberra) (Other government, dirco.gov.za) https://dirco.gov.za/canberra/yellow-fever/
4. Wikipedia (Reference, en.wikipedia.org) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_requirements_for_South_African_citizens
5. The GSA (South African visa agency) (Commercial, thegsa.co.za) https://www.thegsa.co.za/visa-and-country-info/2582-eritrea-country-guide

From doineedavisa.co.za/eritrea. Always confirm with the embassy before you travel.