Libyan visa?
 

Anyone who knows if it's easier to obtain a Libyan visa nowadays? Can't find any open Libyan embassy to ask...

Heard everything between at the border to impossible.

Hi Ronnie,

We have been looking at the same as an alternative to crossing Syria.

We were put in touch with a Libyan company whom a friend who organises tours in the area uses. They have an update page on their website with info on the current visa situation and how it develops under the Transitional National Council. Link is below:

Libyan Visa: Law & Procedure In Libya:

His advice is that as of now the fighting along the coastal route is still prohibiting travel BUT he felt the situation could change in the coming weeks and the route become passable. Too late for us but may be OK for you in a couple of months time.

Cheers

Itchyfeet

Thank you for the great link. Just now I got in touch with another Libyan tour operator and as I understood they told me, just like your link, that the war is much more problem than the visa. Really hope it ends soon!

Libya Update
 

Hi All,
The information given to you is correct. There is heavy fighting in the city of Sirte and that area is a no go area. Today we have received reports of 50 casualties a day, sniper activity and other such negative behaviour in that town. There is a desert bypass road however loyalist elements are conducting nuisance raids on traffic passing there.

Also there is a check point west of Misurata (where I'm based) that stops all traffic that does not have legitimate business in Misurata & beyond.

Libyans are looking forward to seeing foreigners in their country, however I would advise to wait a while to see how things pan out.

From the south one doesn't hear much anymore. But a friend in Sebha is back on facebook, and he says the fighting is over.
One wonders what will happen next; the governor in Ghat may opt for autonomy for the tuaregs. Rebelles touaregs : orphelins de Kaddafi | Jeuneafrique.com - le premier site d'information et d'actualit� sur l'Afrique
That could mean a change for desert travel.

Hi I'm just back from Libya, got in at Ras Ijdir without a visa, but even as I was there they tightened up the border.

Visas are issued by embassies for diplomats or business only.

Transit is still difficult because of fighting - wait a little!

Safe travels, Sam.

Could be over sooner than we expected...
 

That's music to my ears.bier

Just came back from Libya, went there to report for Dutch media. I entered, just before the brotherleader was killed, with an official invitation from NTC. A collegue was refused because he had none. Officially you now need visa, the embassy in The Hague says they are issuing them, but only with invitation from Libya. So it seems the old procedure is back again.

Invites still needed
 

Libyan Travel & Visa News

Air Travel Ban Lifted: the UN Security Council has unanimously voted on the 27th of October 2011 to end its military operation in Libya and cancel its no-fly zone, and therefore all travel restriction will be lifted on the 31st of October 2011. Visitors still require an invitation letter from Libya in order to obtain Libyan visa (as previous update (2)). Safety remains a major issue and threat from terrorism cannot be excluded, as the country still does not have a police force in place and still is without an army. Read the full update at: Libyan Visa: Law & Procedure In Libya:

Also, I read somewhere this morning - but cant find my way back - that local Berbers (much put-upon in the old days) seem to have taken over Ras Ajdir (Tunisian border post) and plan to run it their way. Or something like that.

Ch

I just crossed the border at Ras Jadir two weeks ago. The border post is run by local (berber) forces. But I think that is normal that locals are in service there. You will find the berber-flag and (!) the new Libyan flag.
The main interest for the amazir is a good running border traffic because the border is and always was a vital line for them.

Until now I see no serious efforts of separatism behind that.

Regards Wolfgang

Thanks for clarifying Wolfgang.

Ch

Thanks Wolle for that, but how did you get on with your visa, did youy get it before you left via a tour operator or at the border, what type of visa did you have??

Andy

If you have a firm plan to go there and need some help in country, I have a Libyan friend based in Tripoli who works for a tour operator who may be able to assist you - drop me a message if you want me to pass details on - Darren

Thanks Darren,

I have a friend in ghadames who has sorted it for me previously, but am having trouble contacting him at the moment, last time we spoke was a couple of days before Gadaffi died & then he was not sure what was happening, but now, or even in a couple of months time, who knows!!

I am just trying to weigh up the pros & cons of getting to Egypt with my car again & now that Visemar are not running the ferry any more....:thumbdown: thats a big shame.

I have both driven accross libya & also containered into Alex and am trying to decide on which option to use this time
Andy

Hi Andy

This is my exact same problem. I have contacted a couple of shipping companies to container into Alex. I have 2 quotes already and waiting on 2 more. Email me if you need some of this info.

Cheers
-h

Libyan visas
 

Hi All,
We are attempting to resolve this issue now for all of our expat workers currently in Libya. The answer is that there is no clear answer. As I understand it the London might be able to help you out, or maybe they can't... We're dealing with the Malta embassy and things have come to a halt with no workable answers put forward in the short term.

I myself entered into Tripoli from Malta a couple of weeks ago carrying a letter from the NTC and also from my own employers indicating that I in fact had legitimate business in Libya, but was not required to show it to anyone. However some people have been turned around and sent back from whence they came without said letter.

At the moment, Libya is one great big pending issue. While the new government is installing itself, issues like these have been de-prioritised (forgotten about is more correct). If you are able to cross a border at this time without a visa, which undoubtedly is possible, you will attract a lot of attention at checkpoints in a foreign registered vehicle. Be prepared to do a lot of smooth talking.

Misurata, Sirte and Brega still suffer from a UXO + landmine threat (2 X Brit EOD guys injured in an accident yesterday with AP mine).Also Benghazi has seen an increase in criminality over the last months.

If you want a real adventure, give it a go.

Let me know if anyone is in country.

Cheers,
CJ.

I have to say the more I read the more I think all this talk of going back to Libya as a tourist may be as premature as galloping off to Iraq after Bush made his declaration on that aircraft carrier back in 2003.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/02/wo...n.html?_r=2&hp

Ch

visa
 

Eightpot,

I have been trying for months to get a visa for Libya, is your friend really able to get the invitation letter AND the approval from Immigration and Passport Office? I have contacted many people in Libya and to date nobody has been able to do that. I was seeking a business visa but really any sort of visa would do in the circumstances.

Lbbc
 

CJ,

The Libyan British Business Council is now saying that they can obtain business visas if you are one of their members the catch being the hefty membership fee (£500 to £1500 it seems). Plus I'm not sure if anyone off the street can just join.

LBBC - Libyan British Business Council | Multi Entry Business Visa Applications

Hi Andy,

I had no visa. I just got a stamp. I followed an invitation connected to a private relief project in favour of Libyan refugees in Tunisia. My hosts received me at the border and managed the stamps for me during 5 Minutes.

So I have no authoritative information how to manage an entry as tourist. There is still no new procedure for tourist visa, so I think that in first step it will be like before: Inviation by an “operator”, pickup service by him at the border and only a stamp in thepassport.


regards
Wolfgang

I don't know that he can do it, probably a tall order at the moment, but it's what he used to do before the war - though for tourist rather than business trips (along with arranging guides/tourist police escorts etc). For serious requests I'd be happy to pass details on in the hope he can pull the strings and earn an arrangement fee.

When I spoke with him recently he said the biggest problem was with armed 'bandits' roaming around. So as Chris says, don't think it sounds like a good idea to rock up there just yet as a tourist, would also seem a bit like going to have a look at a car crash. Can't wait to return though and hope the new regime means a more helpful visa system - inshallah

Benghazi - Misurata road.
 

Attachment 5675

Attachment 5676
Hi All,
Just did the coastal road trip. The (hopefully) attached images show the kind of check point you can expect and a pile of UXO by the roadside right next to a petrol station. Items in the pile included artillery shells, Grad rockets, mortars and even the thermal batteries for SA-7 infrared shoulder fired rockets.

It would appear that the immigration department just can't cope at the moment and our visas have been passed on to the Ministry of Defence.

It would seem to be a hopeless case for individuals to obtain the correct documentation at the moment.

I would wait a while for tourism.
Regards.

CJ.

Libyan visas, no problem.

Please contact me or Hadi -

fessano AT gmail dot com

or website www.advantagelibya.com

Takes 3 days, then collect from the Libyan embassy of your choice.

We're processing several every day.

Safe travels, Sam.

Tuareg tensions in Libya (article)
 

FEATURE-Tense reconciliation begins with Libya's Saharan tribes | Reuters

[I propose this thread becomes a place for all relevant news from Libya - including tourist visas as asked by the OP. Otherwise it all gets scattered.]

Ch

Visas suspended again?

Libyan Visa: Law & Procedure In Libya:

Wasn't going to mention it, but it seems this is what they are referring to:
BBC News - Libyan factions in deadly clashes near Zawiya

Ch

Incorrect
 

@Patrik911

Your source is an independant company/operator. They are saying that THEY are no longer doing visas.

We are still doing visas, but please note that tourist visas are not currently being issued by Libyan authorities - so business or diplomatic only. If you need a visa, please contact us.

The situation in Zawiya (where I was a short time ago) remains unstable. For info, Zawiya is on the highway between Tripoli and Ras Ijdir (Tunisian border), to be noted if you are entering by land.

Travel safe, Sam.

Transparency please, not spam
 

Well what are we concerned about here if not tourist visas?

This is not the HU Chamber of Commerce.

Sorry if it wasn't clear.

If you want to come to Libya you'll need a business visa.

It doesn't matter if you're actually coming for business or tourism.

Cheers, Sam.

That's a tad harsh...

Many overland travellers use business visas. It has been the only way of travelling through Russia if you require more than 2 entries for quite a while...

If you are seeking a route across Libya at present I think Sam's post was a constructive suggestion that the only way at present would be by using a Business Visa. I hardly think it warranted being called "spam"...

Srace, if it turns out to be as easy for overlanders as the Russian visa dance then I stand corrected.

Time will tell.

Ch

Business visas are taking about a week, cost about USD200, must be collected from your nearest embassy (or Cairo or Tunis if you are already on the road).

Cheers, Sam.

Easier than a Russian Business Visa then... bier

Cheaper too! bierbier

Saif Al-Islam captured in Ubari.
Qaddafi's Son Saif Captured in Southern Libya, Official Says - Businessweek

Just updating people, we spoke to an official at the Libyan embassy in London this week, NO visa's are being issued at the moment, business or tourist as Libya "is not ready"....

looks like business Visa's are out for the time being:(

Hm, not our experience. Though the Abu Dhabi Libyan office has closed (now using Dubai for UAE applications).

We've had two issued yesterday in London, and 6 more are being collected on Monday...

Travel safe, Sam.

What about the Arabic translation? Is it still compulsory to get visa for Libya?

Not required.

Safe travels, Sam.

Hey Sam, What do you need to show for a business visa? How long does it take?

Andy

Andy; Business vis - my recent experience:

At first you need an Invitation. This is to be arranged by the Company who wants you to come to LY. The LY immigration is sending then a telex with the invitation number to the LY Embassy in the Country, where you are resident. If you are for example a British Citizen living in CH, you would have to provide a copy of your residence in CH in additon to a copy of your passport.

Time needed to get the invitation is from a few days up to two weeks. How long it takes then until you have the visa in your passport depends on the workoad of "your" LY Embassy. It should actually not take longer than 4-5 days; sometimes even faster.

At least to me the LY Embassy and as well the inviting company both have confirmed that the translation of the passport into Arabic language is still required.

Takes about 7-10 working days from when we receive your application.

Pick up from the embassy of your choice, residency unimportant.

No translation required.

Safe travels, Sam.

Sounds a bit strange to me, Sam. I have just applied for my visa recently and got it on 5 December - would you say, that the rules have just changed now?

I would be interested to know in particular, if it is really no longer necessary to get the visa from the Embassy in the Country where you are resident.

I would not be surprised, if considered the current situation in LY, some contradicitive rules would be applied - but I guess it would be too bad for somebody, if he would be refused since he applied in the "wrong Country".

Is there any official information in this subject which you could provide?

I don't know how you applied, or with whom.

For 'our' visas:

Takes about 7-10 working days from when we receive your application.

Pick up from the embassy of your choice, residency unimportant.

No translation required.

Safe travels, Sam.

Regulations, or lack of them
 

Our Libyan visa saga has been completely different than the ones mentioned in this post as we've taken a different path to obtain them. At the moment there are no 'rules' to change as Kuno2 puts it. Libya has just emerged from a revolution that pertained to throwing out the old regime and it's infrastructure, consequently there is confusion about the way forward on all levels.

For the lack of better ideas, the old way is re-appearing according to my Libyan colleagues, much to their displeasure. New flag, same faces.

Until a new system can be implemented and put in place, everybody will have to find their own way through the visa hoop dance. However that means if one way is not working try a different approach. Our visas eventually came through the Malta consulate.

Also I recently drove the Benghazi - Tripoli coast road. Normal traffic has resumed and informal check points have dried up. Still many established checkpoints especially between Misurata and Tripoli & heavy rebel presence in the Sirte area. Expect delays at these checkpoints if you are self-driving a foreign auto/moto. Arabic language skills a definite bonus. Be expected to prove that you own the vehicle (perhaps arabic translation of ownership papers might help).

Attached pic of some bikers at Leptis Magna.

Regards,
Cam.

confused
 

Hi Sam

I am not sure, if I understand the whole ... so please make me a wise guy :confused1:

I am on a german passport (plus Carnet) going to South Africa, so first stop would be Tunis.

Can I apply / collect the Visa there?

Which Visa do I require for transit to Egypt (5days) Buissness or Tourist and how much do they cost?

Taking the normal route, possible ?

What about convoy or guide like in the past ?

any regulations or problems to take the electronic stuff like video,camera, GPS, etc. ?

What do you think about safety ?


Thanks

Thomas

Can I apply /

by email

collect the Visa there?
Yes

Which Visa do I require for transit to Egypt (5days) Buissness or Tourist and how much do they cost?
Business only, contact us.

Taking the normal route, possible ?
Yes


What about convoy or guide like in the past ?
Guide required

any regulations or problems to take the electronic stuff like video,camera, GPS, etc. ?
No

What do you think about safety ?
Presently okay.