Yemen

YEM

Yemen has been engulfed in a devastating civil war since 2014–2015, pitting the internationally recognised government—backed by a Saudi-led coalition—against the Houthi movement (Ansar Allah), which controls Sana'a and much of the north. The conflict has triggered one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, with millions facing famine conditions and a near-collapsed health system. A UN-brokered truce first agreed in April 2022 has reduced but not ended hostilities, and a comprehensive political settlement remains elusive as of mid-2026. The Yemeni rial has suffered severe devaluation. No meaningful immigration or investment pathways exist for foreign nationals. Yemeni passport holders face severely restricted international mobility, with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to approximately 33 destinations.

Passport Rank

#101

Visa-Free

destinations

Country Details

Capital: Sana'a
Currency: Yemeni Rial (YER)
Languages: Arabic
Population: 34,449,825
Tax System: Residence Based
Dual Citizenship: Not allowed
Naturalisation: 10 years
Schengen / EU: No
Climate: Hot desert climate along coasts; more temperate in western highlands; arid in interior

Indices

Cost of Living

Safety

Healthcare

Quality of Life

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 →

Monthly cost of living per major city in USD: rent, groceries, utilities, transit pass
City	Rent 1BR centre	Rent outside	Groceries	Utilities	Transit pass
Sana'a	—	—	—	—	—
Aden	—	—	—	—	—
Hodeidah	—	—	—	—	—

Monthly USD figures. Typical central 1-bedroom rent, grocery basket for one, household utilities, monthly transit pass.

Climate

Sana'a

13°J

14°F

16°M

18°A

20°M

21°J

19°J

19°A

20°S

18°O

15°N

13°D

Rainfall range: 5–60 mm/month · Daylight 11h (winter) to 13h (summer)

Aden

26°J

27°F

29°M

32°A

35°M

38°J

36°J

35°A

34°S

32°O

29°N

27°D

Rainfall range: 2–10 mm/month · Daylight 11h (winter) to 13h (summer)

Visa Categories & Immigration Authority

Major Visa Categories

Tourist (severely restricted)
Business
Work
Family
Diplomatic

Authority: Immigration, Passports & Naturalisation Authority
Official Portal: ipna.gov.ye

Naturalisation Details

Residence Years: 10
Language Test: Yes (Arabic (Modern Standard; functional proficiency assessed informally by officials))
Civic Test: No
Oath Required: Yes
Dual Allowed: No
Fee: $50
Processing: ~24 months

Safety

GPI Rank

#163

Global Peace Index ranking (lower is safer)

Common Risks

⚠Fake humanitarian-aid or NGO employment offers targeting foreign nationals online
⚠Currency exchange fraud exploiting dual exchange-rate gap between official and black-market rates
⚠Checkpoint extortion by armed non-state actors demanding payment or confiscating vehicles and goods

Examples of areas to avoid: All of Sa'dah governorate — Houthi stronghold and frequent Saudi-led coalition airstrike zone, Al-Hudaydah port district — ceasefire line between Houthi and anti-Houthi forces; active skirmishes, Marib city perimeter — front-line of Houthi–government forces clashes; shifting control, Aden suburbs (Sheikh Othman, Mansoura) — inter-factional armed group activity and assassinations, Note: the FCDO, US State Department, and UN advise against all travel to Yemen; no area can be considered safe

Related Guides

Exit tax: countries that charge you to leave

Country-by-country reference of departure taxes, deemed-disposition rules, and wealth-locking regimes that trigger when tax residency ends.

Sources & last verified

Last verified 2026-06-15