Travel Summary
- There are confirmed human cases of the A (H1N1) virus (Swine Flu) in Libya (source: Libyan Health Ministry). Please see 'health' below for details of monitoring/quarantine procedures at Libyan ports of entry.
- The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised its pandemic threat alert phase to Level 6. The WHO website has further details. You should monitor local media reports for any further developments and advice. There is a dedicated swine flu page on the FCO website. Guidance on pandemic flu is available on the UK Department of Health website.
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We advise against all but essential travel to areas bordering Sudan, Chad, Niger and Algeria (see specific advice below on the towns of Ghadames and Ghat), owing to the threat from cross-border criminal activity and instability in the region. With the exception of the official land border crossings to Tunisia and Egypt, visitors and residents are not permitted to travel in the interior or to border areas without an officially sanctioned guide or specific permission from the Libyan authorities.
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The Libyan authorities may restrict access to the more remote parts of the country (e.g. desert areas and remote towns) at short notice. Visitors should check with their tour operator or the Libyan authorities for the latest information.
- There is a general threat from terrorism. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
- You should take sensible precautions for your personal safety and avoid political gatherings and demonstrations. You should follow news reports and be alert to developments in Libya and the Middle East that might trigger public disturbances, e.g. recent adverse developments in Swiss/Libyan relations have created difficulties for Swiss citizens in Libya.
- British citizens who are currently in Libya or planning to visit Libya should keep in close touch with political developments that might impact on British interests. British organisations in Libya should keep their contingency plans up-to-date.
- A visa is required for travel to Libya. Following the introduction of a new biometric visa system on 1 December 2008, visa-applicants are required to visit the Libyan People’s Bureau to give their fingerprints and submit the required documents and passport photos. Multiple entry visas are available for business people. On 11 November 2007, the Libyan authorities reimposed a requirement for all travellers entering (including those re-entering) the country to have an Arabic transcript of their passport’s details page. If you travel without this transcript, you may not be able to enter the country. Travellers requiring a visa on arrival in Libya are required to prove they have access to $1000 upon entry. See the Entry Requirements (Visas) section of this advice for more details.
- Thousands of UK citizens visit Libya every year. Most visits are trouble-free. 10 British nationals required consular assistance in Afghanistan in the period 01 April 2008 – 31 March 2009 for the following types of incident; deaths (3 cases), hospitalisations (2 cases), and arrests, for a variety of offences (4 cases). During this period assistance was also requested with regard to lost or stolen passports (24 cases).
- We recommend that comprehensive travel and medical insurance is obtained before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. See the general (insurance) section of this advice and travel insurance for more details.
Safety and security
Terrorism
There is a general threat from terrorism. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers. For more general information see terrorism abroad.
There is a risk of kidnap from terrorists operating in North Africa. You should be aware that the long-standing policy of the British government is not to make substantive concessions to hostage takers. The British government considers that paying ransoms and releasing prisoners increase the risk of further hostage taking.
Crime
Violent crime is not a major problem in Libya, but it is on the increase. You should take steps to protect your safety and personal security. There are increasingly frequent incidents of pick pocketing in the busy market areas and house break-ins. Ex-pats may be a particular target. Car theft has increased recently: be vigilant at all times.
Political Situation
You should be aware of the impact that the situation in Iraq, as well as violence between the Israelis and Palestinians, has had across the Arab world and the risk of public disturbance in response. You should follow news reports and be alert to developments in the Middle East that might trigger public disturbances. For example, a recent deterioration in Libyan/Swiss relations has caused difficulties for Swiss citizens in Libya. You should take sensible precautions for your personal safety and avoid political gatherings and demonstrations.
British citizens who are currently in Libya or planning to visit Libya should monitor political developments that might impact on British interests. British organisations in Libya should keep their contingency plans up-to-date.
We advise against all but essential travel to areas bordering Sudan, Chad, Niger and Algeria (see specific advice below on the towns of Ghadames and Ghat), owing to the threat from cross-border criminal activity and regional instability. There is a higher threat from terrorism and other criminal activity in these areas. With the exception of the official land border crossings to Tunisia and Egypt, visitors and residents are not permitted to travel in the interior or to border areas without an officially sanctioned guide or specific permission from the Libyan authorities.
Given their proximity to the border, you should exercise caution in the towns of Ghadames and Ghat, taking sensible precautions for your personal safety and travelling only with an officially sanctioned guide or specific permission from the Libyan authorities.
You require prior permission (a desert pass) from the Libyan authorities if you intend to travel to the desert regions. Your tour operator will usually be able to do this for you. If you obtain a desert pass you should avoid those desert areas where oil extraction is in operation and the border areas mentioned above. Oil companies will provide passes for their employees.
The Libyan authorities may restrict access to the more remote parts of the country (e.g. desert areas and remote towns) at short notice. Visitors should check with their tour operator or the Libyan authorities for the latest information.
British citizens who are currently in Libya or planning to visit Libya should monitor political developments that might impact on British interests. British organisations in Libya should keep their contingency plans up-to-date.
Local Travel
We advise against all but essential travel to areas bordering Sudan, Chad, Niger and Algeria (see specific advice below on the towns of Ghadames and Ghat), owing to the threat from cross-border criminal activity and regional instability. There is a higher threat from terrorism and other criminal activity in these areas. With the exception of the official land border crossings to Tunisia and Egypt, visitors and residents are not permitted to travel in the interior or to border areas without an officially sanctioned guide or specific permission from the Libyan authorities.
Given their proximity to the border, you should exercise caution in the towns of Ghadames and Ghat, taking sensible precautions for your personal safety and travelling only with an officially sanctioned guide or specific permission from the Libyan authorities.
You require prior permission (a desert pass) from the Libyan authorities if you intend to travel to the desert regions. Your tour operator will usually be able to do this for you. If you obtain a desert pass you should avoid those desert areas where oil extraction is in operation and the border areas mentioned above. Oil companies will provide passes for their employees.
The Libyan authorities may restrict access to the more remote parts of the country (e.g. desert areas and remote towns) at short notice. Visitors should check with their tour operator or the Libyan authorities for the latest information.
Road Travel
The standard of driving in Libya is very poor, but the roads are generally in a reasonable condition. You should take care when driving anywhere in Libya - always wear a seatbelt and drive defensively. All off-road driving to the desert is best done in groups. You should ensure that you are well prepared with enough fuel, water and food etc.
Local laws and customs
Local laws reflect the fact that Libya is a Muslim country. You should respect local traditions, customs, laws and religions at all times and be aware of your actions to ensure that they do not offend other cultures or religious beliefs, especially during the holy month of Ramadan or if you intend to visit religious areas. You should dress accordingly at all times, covering arms, shoulders and legs. Avoid shorts, tight fitting or revealing clothes in public. As a courtesy during Ramadan, non-Muslims should be careful not to eat, drink or smoke in public during daylight hours. Greater emphasis is placed on the need to dress and behave modestly. For more general information see travelling during Ramadan.
You should respect Libyan laws and regulations. Severe penalties are imposed for criticising the country, its leadership or religion. Sale and consumption of alcohol are against the law. Stern penalties are imposed for the possession or use of alcohol. You should on no account attempt to bring alcohol into the country.
Drugs laws are severe. Those found in possession of any illegal drug may receive a prison sentence.
You are advised to carry some form of identification with you at all times.
Homosexuality is considered a criminal offence in Libya, for which the minimum prison sentence is three years. The authorities are known to charge and convict homosexuals under this law. Sexual relations outside marriage are also punishable by law.
You are advised not to use cameras close to military or official sites.
For more general information for different types of travellers see your trip.
For more general information for different types of travellers see your trip.
Entry requirements
Visas
British nationals should obtain a visa before travelling to Libya. Passports showing previous travel to Israel are not accepted for travel to Libya.
On 1 December 2008, the Libyan Government introduced a new biometric visa system. This requires visa-applicants to visit the Libyan People’s Bureau to give their fingerprints and submit the required documents and passport photos. Multiple entry visas are available for business people, but must be requested on application. Tour groups may be able to arrange through their tour agency to receive visas on arrival in Libya (i.e. without visiting the People’s Bureau). However they should check with their tour agency whether this is possible. For further information on entry requirements and biometric visas, you are advised to check with the Libyan People’s Bureau in London.
On 1 December 2008, the Libyan Government introduced a new biometric visa system. This requires visa-applicants to visit the Libyan People’s Bureau to give their fingerprints and submit the required documents and passport photos. Multiple entry visas are available for business people, but must be requested on application. Tour groups may be able to arrange through their tour agency to receive visas on arrival in Libya (i.e. without visiting the People’s Bureau). However they should check with their tour agency whether this is possible. For further information on entry requirements and biometric visas, you are advised to check with the Libyan People’s Bureau in London.
On 11 November 2007, the Libyan authorities reimposed a requirement for all travellers entering (and including those re-entering) the country to have an Arabic transcript of their passport’s details page. You can obtain a stamp in your passport, which provides the format for this transcript, from the Identity and Passport Service. UK travel authorities cannot provide the Arabic transcript itself. You should obtain this from a reputable translator, who will provide an accurate and legible transcript. The translator must stamp their translation. You should then submit your passport, containing the stamps and the transcript, to the Libyan People's Bureau in London, in order to obtain a visa. Transcripts on a separate piece of paper are not acceptable to the Libyan authorities. If you travel without the correct transcript in your passport, you may not be able to enter the country.
There is a requirement for all travellers to Libya to carry with them $1,000 (or equivalent in another currency) on entry to the country. While the law is seldom enforced, individuals have occasionally been turned back on arrival for failing to carry this sum.
Passport validity
Passports should have at least six months' remaining validity.
Registering with the Libya authorities
All tourists and short stay visitors must register their passports with the police within one week of arrival. This is usually arranged by the company you are visiting or the local travel agency you are travelling with. A fee of LD 10-15 is usually charged for this. Failure to comply with this requirement may lead to you being fined when you come to leave the country.
Health
There are confirmed human cases of the A (H1N1) virus (swine flu) in Libya (source: Libyan Health Ministry). The Libyan authorities have announced a number of measures to combat the spread of the H1N1 virus in Libya.
- On arrival in Libya, all passengers must complete an information card, giving details of recent travel and any flu-like symptoms that they have experienced in the last two weeks. A copy of the card [PDF, 85KB] can be found on the website of the National Centre for the Prevention of Infectious Diseases.
- The Libyan authorities may also take the temperatures of passengers arriving from abroad. This is done using a forehead thermometer.
- Any travellers displaying flu-like symptoms may be placed in quarantine for several days or barred entry and returned to the country from which they have come.
The latest information (in Arabic only) on swine flu in Libya can be obtained from the National Centre for the Prevention of Infectious Diseases.
The Libyan authorities confirmed a small outbreak of bubonic plague in the Al-Tarsha area, approximately 40 km south of Tubruq, in May 2009. A World Health Organisation (WHO) team travelled to the area and reported that the outbreak had been contained.
Health care in Libya is on the whole below the standard available in the UK. There are, however, a couple of private clinics in Tripoli. If you require treatment local hospitals and private clinics should be able to stabilise you, but you would normally be medically evacuated to Malta or mainland Europe for further treatment. You should ensure that your insurance covers you for such an event.
Health care in Libya is on the whole below the standard available in the UK. There are, however, a couple of private clinics in Tripoli. If you require treatment local hospitals and private clinics should be able to stabilise you, but you would normally be medically evacuated to Malta or mainland Europe for further treatment. You should ensure that your insurance covers you for such an event.
If your itinerary includes travel to remote or desert areas you should be aware that it might prove impossible for you to receive timely assistance in the case of serious injury or illness. Even if your travel agent or insurance company has arrangements with an international air ambulance provider, they may not be allowed to carry out a rescue operation within Libya. The current status of Libyan rescue services is undetermined.
You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. For more general information on how to do this see HIV and AIDS.
You should seek medical advice before travelling to Libya and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date. For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit the websites of the NaTHNaC and NHS Scotland's Fit For Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.
General
Insurance
We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake, including the costs of medical evacuation. For more general information see travel insurance.
If things do go wrong when you are oversees then this is how we can help.
Registration
British nationals visiting Libya for short periods may wish to register with the British Embassy so that contact details are available in case of emergency. British nationals remaining for longer periods should register as soon as possible. Register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency.
If you need your passport replacing
The Consular Section at the British Embassy in Libya offers a full passport issuing service. If you lose your passport while on holiday, you should immediately report the loss first to the nearest Police Station, and then to the Consular Section, who will advise on the arrangements for a replacement passport to be issued.
Money
Libya has a cash society. Credit cards are not widely used although VISA and MASTERCARD are starting to be accepted in some outlets. There are a few reliable ATMs in Tripoli. There are branches of Western Union and Moneygram at Tripoli International Airport and in Tripoli. Money transfers can also be arranged through some banks.
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