Eritrea
ERIEritrea is a single-party state on the Horn of Africa with one of the world's most restrictive governance environments. The government requires citizens living abroad to pay a 2% diaspora tax on foreign income or face consequences for relatives inside the country. Dual citizenship is not permitted, and the Eritrean passport offers limited travel access—around 42 destinations visa-free or on arrival.
No formal foreign-resident or investor visa programmes exist; tourist visas require a government-issued letter of invitation. Emigration is tightly controlled, and unlawful departure carries criminal penalties. Naturalisation is theoretically possible after ten years but rarely granted in practice.
- Naturalisation
- 10 years
- Tax system
- Citizenship Based
- Currency
- ERN
- Dual citizenship
- Not allowed
- Capital
- Asmara
- Region
- africa
- Population
- 3,497,000
- Cost-of-living
- 28 /100
Passport Rank
#98
Visa-Free
42
destinations
Visa-free travel
A Eritrea passport has visa-free access to 35 destinations. See the full Eritreapassport breakdown →
Passports that enter Eritrea without a prior visa (4)
Visa-free, visa on arrival, or on an eTA.
Community-sourced (passport-index, synced 2026-08-18) — verify with the embassy before travel.
Country Details
- Capital
- Asmara
- Currency
- ERN
- Languages
- Tigrinya, Arabic, English
- Population
- 3,497,000
- Tax System
- Citizenship Based
- Dual Citizenship
- Not allowed
- Naturalisation
- 10 years
- Schengen / EU
- No
- Climate
- Hot, dry desert strip along Red Sea coast; cooler highland interior
Indices
Cost of Living
28
Safety
30
Healthcare
22
Quality of Life
25
Tax Summary
- Tax System
- Citizenship Based
- Territorial Taxation
- No — worldwide income taxed for residents
- Naturalisation
- 10 years of legal residency
- Dual Citizenship
- Not allowed
Cost of Living by City
← scroll the table →
| City | Rent 1BR centre | Rent outside | Groceries | Utilities | Transit pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asmara | — | — | — | — | $10 |
| Massawa | — | — | — | — | $7 |
| Keren | — | — | — | — | $6 |
Monthly USD figures. Typical central 1-bedroom rent, grocery basket for one, household utilities, monthly transit pass.
Climate
Asmara
Rainfall range: 5–90 mm/month · Daylight 11h (winter) to 13.2h (summer)
Massawa
Rainfall range: 1–10 mm/month · Daylight 11h (winter) to 13.2h (summer)
Keren
Rainfall range: 3–70 mm/month · Daylight 11h (winter) to 13.2h (summer)
Visa Categories & Immigration Authority
Major Visa Categories
- Tourist
- Business
- Work
- Family
- Student
- Authority
- Department of Immigration & Nationality
- Official Portal
- www.shabait.com
Naturalisation Details
- Residence Years
- Language Test
- Yes (level n/a)
- Civic Test
- No
- Oath Required
- No
- Dual Allowed
- No
- Fee
- $300
- Processing
- ~48 months
Safety
GPI Rank
#140
Global Peace Index ranking (lower is safer)
Common Risks
- ⚠Currency exchange at official rate (severely disadvantageous vs parallel market)
- ⚠Government-affiliated fixers charging for basic services or travel permits
- ⚠Unofficial guides demanding payment at historic sites in Asmara
Related Guides
Related on The Citizenship Desk
Sources & last verified
- Last verified