Do Indian passport holders need a visa for Eritrea?

Visa required. Apply for a visa at an embassy/consulate (or via an authorised centre) before you travel. Always verify current rules with the official embassy before you travel.

When is the best time to visit Eritrea?

The most comfortable months are typically Jan · Feb · Sep, based on climate normals.

How far is Eritrea from India?

Eritrea is roughly 4,200 km from Delhi — about a 6-hour non-stop flight.

🇮🇳 Indian passport

Flying into your destination…

Cleared for take-off…

Eritrea visa for Indians — Visa required — Raahi

Asmara ↗

Africa

Eritrea

Visa required

Boarding pass · Raahi

From

DEL

Apply for a visa at an embassy/consulate (or via an authorised centre) before you travel.

Passenger

Eritrea

Flight

~6h · 4,200km

Best window

Jan · Feb · Sep

₹1,000 buys

156 ERN

Destination

Eritrea

Should you choose Eritrea?

A passport-first decision desk — tune the month and trip length

Raahi fit score

68Worth a look

Balances entry ease, Jul climate, value profile, flight effort and India-friendly payments.

Entry45

Weather95

Value58

Flight76

Set your travel window

Trip lengthIdeal · 26°C · 107mm rain

Best for

a short break from India

Think twice if

you do not have time for an advance visa application

Price this trip with real dates

Flight and hotel costs depend on your exact dates, route, room and traveller count. Raahi deliberately does not turn a distance or a generic daily band into a price.

Estimate with live prices →

The live estimator combines current flight and hotel offers for your dates before you book.

Entry-friction timeline

Visa required

Advance approval is the main planning gate.

1Confirm the official embassy/VFS route and lead time.
2Prepare the application, supporting documents and appointment.
3Travel only after approval is in hand.

Build a document checklist →

Month-by-month decision table

Climate normals; demand is an editorial signal, not live pricing.

Flight reality

No non-stop route appears in our route snapshot; plan for a connection.

~6h non-stop flying from Delhi · 4,200 km straight-line

First-timer confidence

70/100

Based on entry effort, flight length, payments and your selected month—not a safety rating.

Carry an international card and local cash plan.

Accommodation reality

Before booking, test a listing’s claimed walk time, review patterns and photos against open-map evidence.

Run the Stay Truth check →

Make it a wider trip

🇩🇯 Djibouti · ~580 km · On arrival 🇪🇹 Ethiopia · ~790 km · On arrival 🇶🇦 Qatar · ~1,730 km · On arrival 🇯🇴 Jordan · ~1,810 km · On arrival

See route pairings →

Live watchlist

Visa record: refreshed from the passport dataset daily. No category change against Raahi’s tracked baseline.

Travel advice: the official UK FCDO advisory further down this brief is checked daily when available.

Open passport change watch →

Applying for a Eritrea visa

A visa is required in advance for Indian passports

How to apply

1Check the exact requirements, fees and visa type on the official route below.
2Fill in the online application form and pay the fee.
3Book an appointment at the embassy / VFS Global centre.
4Attend in person with your documents and give biometrics (photo + fingerprints).
5Sit a short interview if the mission asks for one.
6Track your application and collect your passport (or choose courier return).

Eligibility & documents

How to get in

1Check the latest visa requirements from the official embassy or authorised centre website.
2Gather all required documents and complete the visa application form.
3Submit the application and pay the fee at the embassy, consulate, or authorised visa centre.
4Provide any additional documents or biometric data if requested.
5Allow processing time and collect your passport with the visa before departure.
6Verify the visa details on arrival to ensure correctness.

The fine print — documents, pitfalls & local tips (tap to open)

Typically bring

Official advisory · Eritrea

Updated 27 Jul 2026

There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets. Stay aware of your surroundings at all times.

Full UK FCDO advice

Getting there from India

Delhi → Eritrea: ~6h non-stop · 4,200 km

Check live flights

Find lowest fare

No non-stop India route appears in the current route snapshot. Check the live desk for available direct fares.

Route snapshot, not a live timetable. Confirm schedules and fares before booking.

Live trip estimate

Flight + stay, grounded in current offers

Delhi · 1 traveller · 1 room

Fly outCheck out

Uses live flight offers and live hotel inventory. INR subtotal uses the current mid-market USD/INR rate; it excludes return flights, food, transfers, taxes or fees not in the provider total, and can change before checkout.

Live stays

Hotel rates for your dates

No daily-budget guesswork

🗓️ When to visit

Open-Meteo · ERA5 2021–2023

Sweet spotJanuary · 25°CFebruary · 27°CSeptember · 27°C

January and February offer ideal conditions with warm days (25–27°C), cool nights (10–11°C), and minimal rain (4–6mm), making them the best time to visit Eritrea.

Best window

January – February

Shoulder tip

September offers excellent comfort (100/100) with moderate temperatures (27°C high, 13°C low) and only 23mm rain, plus Revolution Day on September 1 brings local celebrations and fewer tourist crowds.

Maybe skip

August should be avoided due to heavy rainfall (171mm) that can disrupt travel, despite comfortable temperatures.

January features New Year's Day, Orthodox Christmas (Jan 7), and Orthodox Epiphany (Jan 19) — expect local gatherings and cultural events.
Pack light layers for cool nights and light cotton clothing for warm days throughout the year.
March and April bring increasing heat (up to 30°C) and more rain, but remain comfortable for those preferring fewer crowds.
May Day (May 1) and Independence Day (May 24) create festive atmosphere in urban areas.

🎉 Public holidays (2026)

Jan · New Year's DayJan · Orthodox ChristmasJan · Orthodox EpiphanyMar · Women's DayApr · Good FridayApr · Easter Sunday

Comfort is a travel guide from climate averages, not a forecast · timing notes explained by AI. Always check current conditions before booking.

What to pack

Clothing

Tech & power

Health

Documents & money

Built from this destination’s climate, plugs & vibe — tick as you pack.

Staying connected in Eritrea

eSIM, local SIM, or roam on your Indian number

eSIM — easiest

Buy before you fly and activate on landing — no shop, no swapping. Works on most phones since the iPhone XS / recent Android. Providers: Airalo, Holafly, Nomad.

Eritrea eSIMs

Local SIM — cheapest

Best value for longer stays. Grab a prepaid tourist SIM at the airport or a carrier store — carry your passport (needed to register).

Roam on your Indian SIM

Simplest — keep your number. Activate an international-roaming pack (activating abroad is costlier).

Your money in Eritrea

💱 Quick converter

You spend (₹)

You get (ERN)

156

Indicative mid-market rate — not a transaction rate.

Pay like home in Eritrea

UPI

UPI QR payments

○ Not live yet

RuPay cards

○ Not live yet

UPI and RuPay aren't live here yet — carry an international debit/credit card and some local cash for small spends.

Acceptance changes as NPCI adds corridors — confirm at the point of sale.

Money & forex in Eritrea

Forex card, cash & cards — the cheapest ways to spend

Forex card — best value

Load ₹ into USD/EUR before you flyat a locked rate — no ~3.5% card markup, works at ATMs & shops. ERN usually isn't loadable, so carry a USD/EUR card and withdraw ERN locally.

BookMyForex Niyo

Cash

Buy ERN or USD from an authorised dealer in India (your bank, BookMyForex) before travel — it beats airport rates. Abroad, use bank ATMs and skip airport exchange counters.

How “home” Eritrea feels

An Indian traveller will find Asmara relatively unfamiliar, yet the presence of a small Indian community and colonial-era architecture offers some sense of familiarity. The city feels exotic but generally welcoming to visitors from the subcontinent.

Indian community

A modest, long-established Indian community lives mainly in Asmara’s city centre and Massawa, running small businesses and social clubs.

Veg / Jain food

Vegetarian food is readily available in most restaurants, with many local dishes naturally Jain-friendly.

Indian food

Indian restaurants are scarce but can be found in Asmara’s commercial district, and basic spices like turmeric and cumin are stocked in local markets.

Places of worship

Hindu temples are limited to a few expatriate-run shrines in Asmara, while churches and mosques are plentiful for Christian and Muslim worship.

Safe & healthy in Eritrea

Overall, Eritrea feels safe for visitors, with low violent crime but occasional petty theft in crowded areas.

Health

Drink only bottled or filtered water and avoid ice cubes
Consult a doctor about hepatitis A, typhoid and routine vaccinations
Take precautions against strong sun and heat, especially during daytime walks

Watch for

Overcharging for taxi rides or “tourist” services
Fake guide scams offering cheap tours that lead to hidden fees
Currency exchange scams at informal kiosks

Solo / women

Dress modestly and be prepared for occasional unwanted attention in public spaces
Travel with a local contact or group when moving around at night

“Watch out for bicycle riders, vehicle drivers and pedestrians. People don’t look when crossing streets and bike riding accidents are common. Eritrea is generally safe though and you can walk about at night and anywhere in the cities and not worry about crime. There are sometimes children that aggressively beg and th…”

On the ground · via Wikivoyage

General guidance, explained by AI — confirm health needs with a doctor and safety with official advisories before you travel.

Time it with a festival

Independence Day

late May

Celebrates Eritrea’s liberation from Ethiopia with street parades, music and cultural displays in Asmara.

Meskel

late September

A Christian festival where locals light bonfires and chant, reflecting deep religious traditions.

Eritrean New Year (Zait)

early September

Marks the start of the agricultural year with traditional dances, food fairs and community gatherings.

3 days in Eritrea

A rough sketch, built around real places

1Asmara

Day 1 — Art Deco awakening

morning: stroll along the historic Via Roma to admire the city's iconic Art Deco facades and the iconic Fiat Taglialatela building
afternoon: visit the grand Cinema Impero for a glimpse of its lavish interior and maybe catch a local film screening
evening: wander through the lively central market, soaking in the colours, sounds and aromas of Eritrean daily life

2Asmara

Day 2 — Spiritual and civic landmarks

morning: explore the striking modernist St. Mary’s Cathedral with its soaring concrete arches
afternoon: walk to the Asmara Railway Station, admire its blend of Italian modernism and local touches, and watch a passing train
evening: sit on a rooftop terrace in the city centre to watch the sunset over the distinctive skyline of Asmara

3Asmara

Day 3 — Cultural immersion

morning: visit the National Museum of Eritrea to see artefacts spanning the country's history
afternoon: meander through the bustling streets of the Harnet neighbourhood, observing everyday life and local crafts
evening: join a casual gathering at a public square to enjoy traditional Eritrean music and perhaps a spontaneous dance

A rough sketch to inspire — built around real places, not a booking. Drafted by AI.

Ask about Eritrea

Grounded in this page's data — visa, timing, money, safety

Answers are grounded in this page’s data and won’t invent fees, dates or numbers. General info — verify official sources before you travel.

Pair Eritrea with…

Nearby hops for one big trip

On arrival

On arrival

On arrival

On arrival

Straight-line distance between capitals — a rough sense of how close, not a route.

Africa

Eritrea

banner via Wikivoyage

More to see in Eritrea

Famous spots across the country, ranked by renown

English

Amharic

Horn of Africa

Eritrea through travellers' eyes

Real photos shared by people around the world

📷 Awet AminePexels

Evidence ledger · Eritrea

What Raahi used, when it was last refreshed, and what it cannot promise

Entry category ↗Passport-index dataset for the Indian passport · refreshed daily Climate timing ↗Open-Meteo · ERA5 2021–2023 Official safety advice ↗UK FCDO summary when available · refreshed daily

Source data supports Raahi’s recommendations; it does not replace the destination’s immigration authority, airline or live booking provider.

Important — verify before you travel

Raahi presents visa and entry information for the Indian passport compiled from public datasets. This is general information for planning, not legal or immigration advice.

Visa rules, fees, and processing times change frequently and without notice, and the underlying data can be outdated, incomplete, or wrong. Requirements also depend on your specific situation — purpose of travel, length of stay, past travel history, and connecting/transit countries.

Before you book or travel, always confirmwith the destination country's official embassy, consulate, or immigration website, and with your airline. Raahi holds no responsibility for travel decisions made using this information.