Libya
LBYLibya is a North African state with vast oil reserves but has experienced severe political fragmentation since the 2011 collapse of the Gaddafi government. As of mid-2026, the country remains divided between rival administrations based in Tripoli and the east, with active armed factions operating across multiple regions. The UN-recognised Government of National Unity controls the capital, though its authority is contested.
Oil production has partially recovered but remains subject to blockades and disruption. Infrastructure, healthcare, and public services have deteriorated markedly. Foreign travel advisories from the UK, US, EU, and Australia all advise against all travel to Libya. Formal residency and naturalisation pathways exist in law but are not practically accessible to foreigners under current conditions.
- Naturalisation
- 10 years
- Tax system
- Residence Based
- Currency
- Libyan Dinar (LYD)
- Dual citizenship
- Not allowed
- Capital
- Tripoli
- Region
- africa
- Population
- 7,171,000
- Cost-of-living
- 22 /100
Passport Rank
#101
Visa-Free
38
destinations
Visa-free travel
A Libya passport has visa-free access to 38 destinations. See the full Libya passport breakdown →
Passports that enter Libya without a prior visa (2)
Visa-free, visa on arrival, or on an eTA.
Community-sourced (passport-index, synced 2026-08-18) — verify with the embassy before travel.
Immigrating to Canada from Libya
Current IRCC processing times for Libya nationals, by application type.
| Visitor visa (outside Canada) | 37 days |
| Super visa | No processing time available |
| Study permit | 3 weeks |
| Work permit | 2 weeks |
| Sponsor a dependent child | No processing time available |
| Adopted child (citizenship) | Not enough data |
| Government-assisted refugees | Not enough data |
| Privately sponsored refugees | sponsor: Not enough data / refugee: Not enough data |
Your application may take longer than the times shown here. They’re not a maximum or a guarantee.
As of 2026-09-22 (IRCC). See all Canada processing times →
Source: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada — “Check processing times”. This is a copy of the version available at https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/check-processing-times.html. Reproduced under the Government of Canada’s non-commercial reproduction terms; not endorsed by or affiliated with IRCC.
Sources & last verified
Government of Canada — non-commercial reproduction (canada.ca Terms and conditions)
Country Details
- Capital
- Tripoli
- Currency
- Libyan Dinar (LYD)
- Languages
- Arabic
- Population
- 7,171,000
- Tax System
- Residence Based
- Dual Citizenship
- Not allowed
- Naturalisation
- 10 years
- Schengen / EU
- No
- Climate
- Arid desert across most of the interior; hot semi-arid along the Mediterranean coastal strip
- GDP per capita
- $6,449
- Life expectancy
- 71.12 yrs
- Population growth
- 1.04%/yr
GDP per capita, life expectancy, and population growth: World Bank (2025).
Indices
Cost of Living
22
Safety
18
Healthcare
24
Quality of Life
20
Tax Summary
- Tax System
- Residence 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tripoli | — | — | — | — | — |
| Benghazi | — | — | — | — | — |
| Misrata | — | — | — | — | — |
Monthly USD figures. Typical central 1-bedroom rent, grocery basket for one, household utilities, monthly transit pass.
Visa Categories & Immigration Authority
Major Visa Categories
- Tourist (limited)
- Business
- Work
- Family
- Student
- Diplomatic
- Authority
- Immigration Authority - General Directorate of Passports
- Official Portal
- libyan-mfa.gov.ly
- Phone
- +218 21 333 0490
- info@libyan-mfa.gov.ly
Naturalisation Details
- Residence Years
- Language Test
- No
- Civic Test
- No
- Oath Required
- No
- Dual Allowed
- No
- Fee
- —
- Processing
- —
Safety
GPI Rank
#162
Global Peace Index ranking (lower is safer)
Regulators & official sources
Bodies that regulate immigration advice in Libya, and the official sources indexed for it by Visa Atlas. Descriptions are verbatim; each links to its source.
Libya eVisa
eVisaOfficial electronic visa portal for Libya, including eligibility checking, applicant account flow, eVisa filing, payment, approval and downloadable visa handling.
Libya eVisa public API
eVisa APIOfficial public eVisa data endpoint confirming the Electronic Visa type, passport types, age groups and country-online-application metadata used by the service.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
MFAOfficial ministry site for foreign affairs and consular context, including Libyan missions abroad and ministry contact information.
Related Guides
Related on The Citizenship Desk
Visa routes
Official visa and residence routes for Libya, indexed from Visa Atlas. Each links to its government source. This is a licensed external index, distinct from our own curated visa guides.
Short-term / business
Electronic Visa Eligibility Check
Short-term / businessLibya official eVisa eligibility and application route for travellers using the government electronic visa service.
Tourism Electronic Visa
Short-term / businessLibya eVisa route for travellers selecting the official tourism purpose in the electronic visa application.
Transit Electronic Visa
Short-term / businessLibya eVisa route for travellers selecting the official transit purpose.
Visit Electronic Visa
Short-term / businessLibya eVisa route for general visits using the official visit purpose.
Work (sponsored)
Work-Purpose Electronic Visa Authority Check
Work (sponsored)Cautious Libya eVisa page for applicants selecting the official work purpose and confirming separate work or residence authority before employment.
Family
Family Visit Electronic Visa
FamilyLibya eVisa purpose for short family visits, not a family-reunification or residence route.
Sources & last verified
Route index from Visa Atlas (CC BY 4.0), as of 2026-09-12. Each route links to its official government source.
Sources & last verified
- Last verified