Libya, how to get visas and cross...

[frankie boy]

just got mail from jill at Libyatravelandtours that they can not help with visa for Libya at the moment due to problems with the legality of the business visas supplied by their contact .I think they are trying to find a solution but for now no visa possible through them. I hope this problem can be sorted

[mcheaiteli]

Hi i am planning tyo getting the visa of Libya from Tunis this 4th of February. Do you have any idea if the tourist visas are still not issued?

[Arch]

Originally Posted by mcheaiteli

Hi i am planning tyo getting the visa of Libya from Tunis this 4th of February. Do you have any idea if the tourist visas are still not issued?

Business visas seem to be the only way to enter via a border crossing, but these seem to be harder to come by as again LibyaTravelandTours has stopped issuing them to overlanders.

I am trying to currently organise mine through Tidwa tours...has anyone had any experience with this company?

With the recent incident in Algeria, Has anyone had any further information on crossing Libya?

[Endurorally]

We used Nuri at Savile Row Travel (office in Henley) who is very well connected and got the visas in ten days, (business grade), we set out from Cape Town on Feb lst for the attempt on the non-stop driving record to London (more on www.africarecordrun.com). Travcour got all our other visas, and also did the courier-work for the Libya visa (Amanda there is great).

[mcheaiteli]

Originally Posted by Arch

I am trying to currently organise mine through Tidwa tours...has anyone had any experience with this company?

With the recent incident in Algeria, Has anyone had any further information on crossing Libya?

Hi,
Thanks for the help.
I realized that business visa is indeed the only way into Libya. Also that the borders from Algeria to Libya are closed. The other thing is I found this guy that works for a company that had an option to get me an invitation and the visa process will be of 2 weeks and it costs 250$. his email is:
majedeforever@yahoo.com

As for Algerian situation I am applyiong for my visa from Cote d'ivoire this coming friday and they assured me that everything was chill. I will be in Algeria around the 20th of February. I will update whenever i can, Ill also be updaing live on www.fb.com/saharadreaming

[roro]

A lot of very fresh infos from Temehu about visas and borders crossing:

Libyan Travel & Visa News

RR.

[Richard Washington]

The UK FCO travel advisory issued the following today:
"We are aware of a specific, imminent threat to Westerners in Benghazi. We advise against all travel to Benghazi and urge any British nationals who are there against our advice to leave immediately."

This warning seems to be based on some intercepted intelligence.

[Chris Scott]

I read somewhere that some of the surviving attackers from the Algerian gas plant had claimed involvement in the Benghazi attack last September.
Maybe it came from them.

Ch

[brettsyoung]

Might be wise to avoid Libya for a bit. The Australian Govt warning also uses the language of the UK and US govts

"We are aware of a specific, imminent threat to Westerners in Benghazi. All Australians in Benghazi should leave immediately." This should be taken seriously.

Many media reports are also linking recent events in Algeria and the general activities of the AQIM with jihadists in Libya and Egypt.

[Arch]

"the border crossing at Ras Jedir remains closed in both directions other than to Libyans and Tunisians"

Foreigners banned from using Egypt-Libya border crossing | Libya Herald

[roro]

[QUOTE=Arch;409172]"the border crossing at Ras Jedir remains closed in both directions other than to Libyans and Tunisians"
I think it's not always true but it's difficult to know
whenyou can cross or not!

See infos from Temehu, I think they reliable:


Libyan Travel & Visa News

RR.

[Pheebs]

Didn't realise this thread was here when I posted the other one!! My bad! Sam and I are vurrently in tripoli and are getting on perfectly fine! The border crossing into libya from Tunisia was pretty amazing really! Where we were held back by sand storms in Tunisia we arrived at the border a day later which happened to be Friday - their day of rest. This meant we could not change or get out any monies because all the banks and businesses were closed! We ended up doing a dodgy deal with some locals on the Tunisian border side for swapping euros for libyan dollars (a border guard went with Sam to even help out! Not only that but he gave us an extra dinar to round up to what we needed!! Such a nice guy!) so before you go, bare the above in mind on timing!

The libyan border took a while to process papers -there was a lot of driving backwards and forwards between posts and then hanging on for an hour during prayer but the guards were SUPER friendly. We were offered seats in a court yard as well as water we then found out we needed to pay for two temporary number plates which we didn't have the money for. Originally the border guards said it was not a problem and we could spend a night at his home until the banks were open the next day and we could return to the border and buy them then (140dinars for 2 which you supposedly get back when leaving to Egypt) After about 20mins though we were given them for a two week period only for free! Awesome!

The border guards then escorted us to the petrol station about a kilometre or less up the road on the opposite side. You wouldn't recognise it as a petrol station it is absolutely huge building which is a washed out red colour. It looks blooming posh for a petrol station! To fill up our two bikes front tanks (32litres) it cost us 2libyan dinars (less than a pound / euro / dollar!) the border guards tgen presented us with a hot couscous and beef meal along with fanta and oranges!!

Yeh it took a while with papers (the Tunisian paper work confused matters) but all in all it was quite simply the most awesome borde crossing ever

Going to do some updates on our webby today and Facebook about how libya is to travel right now so keep an eye out! We just thought we would update the borde crossing now for you guys

Email or facebook us (clare ATA chasinghorizons.co.uk www.facebook.com/chasinghorizons)

[roro]

Thanks Pheebs for your report.
Are you planning to enter in Egypt?

RR.

[roro]

Originally Posted by roro

A lot of very fresh infos from Temehu about visas and borders crossing:

Libyan Travel & Visa News

RR.

More news (not so good); 27 January 2013:

Libyan Travel & Visa News :

"The spokesman of the Ministry of Interior, Mr. Magdi al-Arafi, was reported to have announced that the land border with Egypt will be closed for all foreigners, except Egyptian nationals. Foreign nationals who have entry visa to Libya must now travel to Libya by air [1]. ..."

RR.

[gvdaa]

But this is Libya! The government in Tripoli has no power. The customs officer in charge is the one that decides. If you have visa, they will let you in, I think