Libyan Visa - available in Tunisa? - how long?
 

I'm getting together a trip with a mate riding down to Ethiopia from Munich on ATs, passing through Tunisia, Libya, Eygpt, Sudan and into Northern Ethiopia in June.

I currently live in Addis, but we are having problems getting visas through the Libyan embassy here. Anyone had experience of getting visas in Tunisia whilst passing through - if so how long did it take? And what hoops did you have to jump through?

FYI it's a Brit and/or Aussie passport, and an American passport.

I have heard that you may need to be accompanied - or has that changed in recent years?

Advice welcome!!!

I was recently emailing with a Brit heading from Alg to Egypt who was trying to get a Libyan transit visa in Tunis. He was told 'days' and was waiting weeks. He may have given up (I would not even have bothered trying). (Just read on his blog: he paid through the nose for a tour guide) If you take the more expensive 'escorted tour' option there is much more chance of getting a visa, but from Tunis, unlikely. Apply in UK with your Au ppt.
It's hard to know if they even do transit visas any more - but from Tunis I would say again, it's virtually unheard of (unlike most sub-Saharan countries where you can usually get your visa in the country before).

Oh and there is something about minimum group size too. See here:
Sahara Overland ~ Libya visa information

I just noticed: American ppt. AFAIK, he won't get in without a 'VIP' visa or some such and i suspect with less than 8 weeks to go the hoops for him to jump through will be small, on fire and covered in spikes (oh - nearly forgot the bath of cyanide on the far side).

Happy to hear I am all wrong about this but generally in Libya the goal posts move more than the players.

Ch

Hadi Bkai can sort out visas on arrival at border (including for Americans).

Please send me an email:

[see signature]

and I'll forward your email to him.

Sam.

can sort out visas on arrival at border

Correct me if I'm wrong Sam, but before a rush of hopefuls reading this flock for the border, it's worth clarifying that this is a 'visa collection' with prior invitations/authorisations/dates etc arranged by a recognised tour op with the Lib embassy in the applicant's country. It's not like arriving in Tunisia and getting a stamp.

Glad to hear it's all clear for Americans at last.

Ch

Hi Chris,

It still needs to be organised in advance (!), but it is just a question of turning up at the border and getting the stamp.

You do need to have an Arabic translation in your passport (as always), but there is no requirement to send your passport to any embassy beforehand.

For Americans, it's still more complicated than for others, but has become easier the last 12 months or so.

'later, Sam.