VISA REQUIREMENTS & GENERAL INFORMATION YOU SHOULD BE AWARE OF BEFORE VISITING LIBYA

Libya is an ancient crossroads of civilisations boasting some of the finest Roman and Greek ruins in existence, as well as some of the most beautiful sand seas of the Sahara Desert, palm-fringed lakes and remote massifs with prehistoric rock art, and an isolated black volcano in the desert’s heart.

The upheaval caused by Libya’s revolution in 2011 and 2012 plunged the whole country into chronic instability and ongoing conflict, rendering it practically off-limits to travellers.

Diehard travellers that insist to visit Libya will have to face several obstacles to obtain a visa from one of the Libyan diplomatic missions, unless they come from one of the few visa exempt countries.

Although some information websites say that Libya does not issue tourist visas, the Ministry of Tourism had started issuing tourist visas to foreign nationals wishing to visit Libya again since 2014. Libyan borders with Chad, Niger, Sudan and Algeria are however practically closed since they are not controlled by the Government but by Tuareg and Toubou people.

Since 2013 governments of the United States, New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Republic of Ireland, the United Kingdom, Spain, France, Hungary, Latvia, Germany, Austria, Bulgaria, Norway, Croatia, Romania, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Russia, Denmark, Slovakia, Estonia, Italy, Poland and Iran have advised their citizens against all but essential travel to Libya.

Since the Libyan conflict of 2011, the appointment of diplomatic representation outside Libya has been problematic. Make sure about the current standing of a foreign mission and its representatives if travel documentation to enter Libya needs to be sought from a Libyan embassy or consulate.

This information piece tells you more about what you need to know about visa requirements for visiting Libya.

WHAT IS A VISA?

A visa is issued to international travellers visiting Libya for a short stay on a temporary basis for tourism, business, study or medical reasons.

A valid visa allows you to enter a country through a port of entry and stay in the country for the period specified in your visa. Note that you are restricted to the activity or reason stated in your application, for example, if you applied for a visa for a holiday or family visit, you are not allowed to work in the country during your stay.

VISA REQUIREMENTS FOR VISITING LIBYA

The new visa procedure is similar to the old one. The visa provider needs a scanned copy of your passport’s bio page and a list of the sites to be visited to present to the tourism ministry (previously the immigration department). The visa approval should be processed within 48 hours of the application being presented, after which the application is transferred to the immigration department for approval.

Like before, the approval can be used to obtain the actual visa stamp on arrival without the need to visit the embassy.

The visa stamp is valid for four weeks from the date of issue and is renewable on request. It is expected that the entry procedure at all the entry points would be simplified and that compulsory tourist guides are no longer required. The condition of the passport being translated in Arabic was abolished in 2010 by the previous government.

Libyan immigration requirements may however change without warning. The U.S. State Department still advises nationals about the mandatory requirement of a certified Arabic translation of the biological data page of a passport for obtaining a visa and entering the country. Libyan authorities no longer require an Arabic translation of the ID page.

COUNTRIES EXEMPTED AND COUNTRIES THAT NEED VISAS

Some countries have visa-free access to Libya, some have provisional and restricted visa-free access and entry is refused to other countries.

Citizens of the following countries can visit Libya without a visa: Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Mauritania, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia and Turkey.

Pre obtained visas are not required for holders of a copy of a letter issued by the Libyan immigration authorities confirming that a visa will be granted on arrival at the airport.

Holders of diplomatic, official or service passports of Azerbaijan, Italy, Malta, Morocco, Pakistan, Slovenia, Sudan and Venezuela and holders of only diplomatic passports of Benin, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Cote d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Eritrea, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia and Togo do not require a visa for Libya.

It is important to note that the government of Libya will not issue a visa to individuals whose passport shows any evidence of past travel to Israel. A traveller that has visited Israel and is planning to travel to Libya, will need to get a second passport for this trip.

Both entry and transit are refused to Israeli citizens, even if not leaving the aircraft and proceeding by the same flight. Entry is also refused to nationals of Bangladesh, Iran, Pakistan, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

It is now legal for Americans and Canadians to travel to Libya, however still very difficult for them to obtain visas. The Libyan Embassy in Washington, DC, accepts visa applications, but travellers need a letter of invitation from a Libyan sponsor.

Tourist visas are often rejected at all embassies unless the applicant is a part of a tour or when a Libyan tour operator applied on their behalf.

According to the Libyan Embassy in Washington, DC, a traveller will need a minimum of US$ 400 in a convertible currency, except when arriving in as part of an organised tour package, which cover their living expenses during their stay; those on official missions; those in possession of student entry visas with expenses paid by the Libyan Government, or those joining a resident of Libya on condition of a grantee to cover all expenses of the guest’s stay, medical treatment and other requirements.

DIFFERENT KINDS OF VISAS FOR ENTERING LIBYA

Libya offers tourist and business visas. It is a violation of Libyan law to use a tourist visa for business travel, therefore rather work with a travel document expert to make sure to obtain the proper visa class according to the purpose of a trip.

Business visas for Libya can be obtained, but the process is tedious and sometimes delayed for months. To get a Libyan business visa, one needs an invitation letter from a company that operates in Libya or sponsorship.

Business visas must be approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Libya, so the waiting time for such can be weeks or even months. Anybody planning to travel to Libya for business, should thus get the visa process started well in advance.

Tourist visas are granted by Libya for tourist travel, visiting family and friends, sightseeing or family emergencies.

A Libyan visa is usually issued for single entry for 90 days from date of issue, for a stay not exceeding 30 days, or as approved in the authorisation document, provided the passport remains valid. A passport must have at least six months remaining validity and contain at least one blank page for a visa to be issued.

HOW AND WHERE TO APPLY FOR VISAS WHEN VISITING LIBYA

Libyan visas are issued to residents of the country in which the application is made and a 20-working-day waiting period can be expected a after submitting a passport and application in person at a Libyan embassy. Mailed applications are not accepted.

Tourist visas are seldom available to individual unless they are part of an organised tour group under the auspices of an accredited Libyan travel agent.

Applying for tourist visa via the Libyan embassy

Travellers that intend to obtain the actual visa stamp before leaving their country of origin should first secure the visa approval from a reputable visa provider before contacting their nearest Libyan embassy with the other required documents.

Libya is now known for its strict visa policy and tedious application process. Several visa agencies that normally handle applications for potential travellers, admit that they currently cannot help travellers to get a Libyan business or any other type of visa. They merely have the ability to give some information to get the process started or information on the nearest embassies.

Before going to an embassy, a potential traveller needs to get up to date with the latest requirements. For reliable information a Libyan diplomatic mission itself should be contacted since even online information cannot be trusted completely but should be used as reference only.

DOCUMENTS NEEDED FOR APPLICATION FOR A VISA WHEN PLANNING TO VISIT LIBYA

To apply for a Libyan tourist visa, a potential traveller from the USA will need:

Two properly completed Libya visa applications

Two passport type photos that meets the criteria set by the Libyan embassy or mission

One copy of proof of vaccination for yellow fever

Physical passport with at least six months validity beyond trip completion and one blank visa page

Non-USA passport holders must provide a copy of their green card or US Visa and I-94

Authorisation from your host that was provided by the Libya Ministry of Foreign Affairs

One copy of your flight itinerary

Depending on the details of your trip to Libya, you may also need an invitation letter or business introduction letter.

To apply for a Libyan business visa (for a maximum stay of 30 days) traveller from the USA will need:

Two completed Libyan visa applications

Two passport type photos that meet the requirements set by the Libyan mission

Physical passport with at least six months validity beyond trip completion and one blank visa page

Non-USA passport holders must provide a copy of green card or US Visa and I-94

One copy of the person’s flight itinerary

Authorisation from a Libyan host that was provided by the Libya Ministry of Foreign Affairs

A company business letter printed on your company letterhead.

COST OF A LIBYAN VISA

Libyan tourist visa fees may considerably differ for nationals from different countries, but for citizens of the United States of America the following fees may apply:

A single entry visa that allows a stay of up to 30 days can cost $249.00

A multiple entry visa for a stay of up to 90 days can cost $299.00

A multiple entry visa for a stay of up to 180 days can cost $449.00.

VACCINES NEEDED WHEN VISITING LIBYA

It is recommended to discuss travel plans, activities, and destinations with a health care professional for advice on any vaccinations and to contact the nearest diplomatic or consular office of all the destination(s) to be visited to verify any additional entry requirements.

There is no risk of yellow fever in this country but proof of vaccination against yellow fever is required if you are coming from a country where yellow fever occurs.

Yellow fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic disease transmitted by a certain type of infected mosquitoes. The disease is similar to malaria, but patients become severely jaundiced (a yellow colouring which gives the disease its name). Yellow fever is endemic in tropical areas of Africa and Central and South America.

A yellow fever certificate is valid 10 days after the vaccination is administered, making it important to get the vaccination in time before leaving for Libya. You may be refused entry if you leave it too late and arrive in Libya within the 10-day waiting period.

OTHER SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS WHEN VISITING LIBYA

All short stay visitors to Libya must register with the police within a week of their arrival. This is usually arranged by the company you are visiting or the local travel agency you are travelling with. If a traveller doesn’t register, he or she may be fined when attempting to leave the country.

WHAT HAPPENS IF ONE OVERSTAYS ON A VISA IN LIBYA

Foreign visitors who overstay on a visa are normally declared ‘undesirable persons’ and may incur a ban from the country for a period of months or years, which prevents them from applying for a visa and re-entering the country for a prescribed period of time.

Individuals who have been affected by the overstay visa regulations of a country can sometimes lodge a visa overstay appeal.

ENJOY A SAFE HOLIDAY IN LIBYA WITH A REPUTABLE TOUR OPERATOR

MoAfrika Tours is a leading tour operator in South Africa that offers an outstanding selection of tours to Libya. We have a close association with the most reputable tour operators in Libya who make safety a priority.