Category: Libya

If you are an American or Canadian applying for a visa to travel to Libya, you must contact the Libyan Embassy in Ottawa, Canada. This is the only embassy that can process visas for Americans. As of March 2006, there is no diplomatic embassy in the United States.

Here is the website for the Libya Embassy in Ottawa. You can find all the details and documents for traveling to the country. The phone number is 613-216-0136. If you get a voice mail, it will start in Arabic and eventually will give you options for English.

Two year after Libya was opened to outsiders, it looks like the door is closed – at least part way. The San Fransisco chronicle about the problem with getting Libya visas. Apparently, the government is changing the entry requirments and, for the time being, nobody is getting a visa – even though countless people have paid for tours. This will

Read the Libya Tourism Article

If you want to cross into Libya via Egypt or Tunisia, we have read reports that it’s difficult to secure a visa at the border. I think this applys only to American nationals. Ideally Libya visas should be done in advance, in your home country. There are some overlanders who have managed to get visas on the spots, but these reports are far and few between.

As of March 2006, you cannot travel independently in Libya. You must work with a tour company on an itinerary while you are traveling in the country. The tour company will take care of arranging your visa with the Libyan government.

This does not, however, mean you are confined to tourist areas. The tour companies are fairly liberal with where you choose to go. You can arrange for a Libya tour company to take you to Tripoli for a few weeks, or you can arrange for a tour company to help you with a visa as you drive your overland vehicle across the Sahara.

This is an email I received for getting a visa for Libya. This is the process you follow, although I am not sure if it’s still the same.

1. A tour company approachs the immigration authority for an invitation to be sent

2. An invitation is sent to the Libyan People’s Bureau in your country. For the US, this is in Ottawa, Canada.

3. When the confirmation ahs been sent, you take your passport, two photographs, and fill in an application form for the visa.

4. Before you hand in your passport, make sure it has your passport information translated into Arabic and printed on your passport by a sworn translator or official department. This, we hear, is no longer true.

5. The visa takes from a few days to two weeks to be issued.

6. People with an Israeli Visa stamp on their Passport will not be issued the Visa in compliance with Libyan embargo against Israel

7. American citizens are indeed allowed to enter Libya.

8. Your Passport must be valid for at least 6 months from date of applying for the visa.

9. Due to recently introduced regulations, you are no longer able to travel in Libya without booking some tour services through a company.

This is the required information for the issue of the Libya tourist visa :

1. First Name

2. Father’s Full Name

3. Family Name (Surname)

4. Mother’s Full Name

5. Date of Birth

6. Place of Birth

7. Nationality

8. Passport No.

9. Passport Date of Issue

10. Passport Date of Expire

11. Passport Issuing Authority

12. Religion

13. Marital Status (Single/Married)

14. Sex (male/Female)

15. Job (Profession)

16. Name of Employer

17. Address of Employer

18. Permenant Address

19. Have you been to Libya before :

20. If Yes, when and for what purpose :

21. The last date of departure from Libya :

22. Address in Libya during last visit :

23. When do you wish to enter Libya :

24. How long do you wish to stay in Libya :

25. Where is the Invitation to be sent :

26. Services required :

27. What is your entry point to Libya :

28. Address in Libya (if known) :

29. Tel and Fax No. both at Home and at Work

30. E-Mail