Country driving guide · 2026
Everything UK and EU drivers need before crossing the border into Eritrea: 7 legal requirements + 7 other things worth knowing.
Required
Recommended
Good to know
Tick before you go
7 legal must-haves. Print it, tick them off, throw it in the glovebox.
Travel permit required to leave Asmara
Foreigners must obtain a travel permit from the Ministry of Tourism in Asmara at least 10 days before travelling more than 25km outside the capital. Permits are checked at frequent road checkpoints.
Source: Local laws →1949 IDP plus full UK/EU licence
Eritrea recognises the 1949 Geneva Convention International Driving Permit, which must be carried alongside your home licence and passport. Get the 1949 IDP from the UK Post Office for GBP 5.50.
Source: Post Office IDP →Local third-party insurance mandatory
UK/EU green cards are not valid; third-party motor insurance must be purchased locally from the National Insurance Corporation of Eritrea (NICE) on arrival. Carry the certificate in the vehicle at all times.
Drive on the right
Traffic drives on the right-hand side of the road. Overtaking is on the left.
Speed limits: 100 / 80 / 50 km/h
Open roads 100 km/h, rural roads 80 km/h, urban areas 50 km/h. There are no motorways in Eritrea; many rural roads are unpaved.
Zero-tolerance drink-drive limit
The blood alcohol limit is effectively 0.0 g/L: do not drink any alcohol before driving. Penalties include heavy fines and imprisonment.
Nakfa is a closed currency: cash only
The Eritrean nakfa (ERN, ~17 ERN to 1 EUR official rate) cannot be obtained outside the country and ATMs do not accept foreign cards. Bring USD or EUR cash and exchange at the Himbol bureau; declare amounts over USD 10,000 on entry.
The UK FCDO advises against all travel to within 25km of the borders with Ethiopia, Sudan and Djibouti, and against all but essential travel to the rest of the country. Self-drive tourism is not realistic: most visitors hire a local driver.
FCDO adviceForeigners must obtain a travel permit from the Ministry of Tourism in Asmara at least 10 days before travelling more than 25km outside the capital. Permits are checked at frequent road checkpoints.
Local lawsEritrea recognises the 1949 Geneva Convention International Driving Permit, which must be carried alongside your home licence and passport. Get the 1949 IDP from the UK Post Office for GBP 5.50.
Post Office IDPUK/EU green cards are not valid; third-party motor insurance must be purchased locally from the National Insurance Corporation of Eritrea (NICE) on arrival. Carry the certificate in the vehicle at all times.
Dial 113 for police and 114 for ambulance, though response outside Asmara is unreliable. The British Embassy in Asmara can be reached on +291 1 120145.
British EmbassyTraffic drives on the right-hand side of the road. Overtaking is on the left.
Open roads 100 km/h, rural roads 80 km/h, urban areas 50 km/h. There are no motorways in Eritrea; many rural roads are unpaved.
The blood alcohol limit is effectively 0.0 g/L: do not drink any alcohol before driving. Penalties include heavy fines and imprisonment.
Eritrea has no motorway network, no vignette sticker system and no electronic tolls. Expect police and military checkpoints instead, where documents and permits are inspected.
Roads outside Asmara are rough, fuel stations are sparse and breakdown services are essentially non-existent. Carry a spare tyre, basic tools, 5+ litres of water and a jerrycan of fuel for any trip beyond the capital.
Night driving is dangerous due to unlit roads, livestock, unmarked vehicles and the risk of unexploded ordnance near former front lines. Plan to be off the road before sunset.
The Asmara-Massawa descent drops over 2,000m on tight switchbacks; check brakes before tackling it. During the July-September kiremti rains, dry riverbed crossings can flash-flood without warning.
The Eritrean nakfa (ERN, ~17 ERN to 1 EUR official rate) cannot be obtained outside the country and ATMs do not accept foreign cards. Bring USD or EUR cash and exchange at the Himbol bureau; declare amounts over USD 10,000 on entry.
Petrol is rationed and frequently unavailable to foreigners; expect long queues and prices around 40-50 ERN per litre (approx EUR 2.40-3.00). Pay cash: cards are not accepted anywhere.
We'll build the itinerary, estimate fuel + tolls, and show EV chargers along the route, and this checklist appears automatically on every trip that crosses into Eritrea.
Start planning →Places to add to your Eritrea road trip.
Don't get caught out
Traffic drives on the right-hand side of the road. Overtaking is on the left.
Open roads 100 km/h, rural roads 80 km/h, urban areas 50 km/h. There are no motorways in Eritrea; many rural roads are unpaved.
The blood alcohol limit is effectively 0.0 g/L: do not drink any alcohol before driving. Penalties include heavy fines and imprisonment.