EritreaBritish Indian Ocean Territory: Visa required

EritreaBritish Indian Ocean Territory

Do Eritrea passport holders need a visa for British Indian Ocean Territory?

Visa required

Yes. Eritrea passport holders need to obtain a visa in advance before travelling to British Indian Ocean Territory.

A visa must be obtained in advance, typically from an embassy or consulate, before travel.

Source: en.wikipedia.org (checked September 4, 2026).

RequirementVisa required

Maximum stayLength of stay varies

ScopeTourism, ordinary passport

Action before travelYes, arrange in advance

Data as of2026-10-19

Visa-free access to British Indian Ocean Territory0 of 243 nationalities tracked

Travelling the other way? British Indian Ocean Territory passport holders visiting Eritrea: Visa required.

Other visa-free destinations for Eritrea passport holders

See all Eritrea destinations →

Frequently asked questions

Do Eritrea passport holders need a visa for British Indian Ocean Territory?

Yes. Eritrea passport holders need to obtain a visa in advance before travelling to British Indian Ocean Territory.

What currency is used in British Indian Ocean Territory?

United States dollar (USD).

How many countries can enter British Indian Ocean Territory without a visa?

0 of the 243 nationalities this site tracks can enter British Indian Ocean Territory visa-free, with a visa on arrival, or with an eTA.

Visa rules change frequently and can depend on your specific circumstances. This site is compiled from public government sources and is provided for general information only. Always confirm requirements with the official immigration authority or a consulate of your destination before you travel.

About Eritrea

Eritrea, officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa region of East Africa. Its capital and largest city is Asmara. The country is bordered by Ethiopia to the south, Sudan to the west, and Djibouti to the southeast. The northeastern and eastern parts of Eritrea have an extensive coastline along the Red Sea. The country has a total area of approximately 117,600 km2 (45,406 sq mi), and includes the Dahlak Archipelago and several of the Hanish Islands.

CapitalAsmara

RegionEastern Africa

Population3.6M

Area117,600 km²

CurrencyEritrean nakfa (1 USD ≈ 15.00 ERN)

LanguagesArabic, English, Tigrinya

Calling code+291

Drives on theright

TimezoneAsmara (UTC+3)

Nearest airportAsmara International Airport (ASM), 4 km

Emergency number113 / 114 / 116

UNESCO sites1

Income levelLow income

GDP per capita$689 (2011)

Tourist arrivals142K (2016)

Climate in Asmara

Warmest June, coolest January, driest March, sunniest June. Best time to visit: March, June.

Monthly climate normals for Asmara, 2020
Month	High	Low	Rainfall	Sunshine
January	19.9°C	8.1°C	14mm	339h
February	22°C	10.6°C	15mm	313h
March	24.4°C	12.7°C	1mm	357h
April	24.8°C	13.7°C	32mm	352h
May	23.7°C	14°C	44mm	366h
June	24.9°C	14.7°C	19mm	368h
July	21.5°C	14°C	143mm	287h
August	20.7°C	13.6°C	159mm	299h
September	23.4°C	12.5°C	5mm	345h
October	21.5°C	10.8°C	8mm	360h
November	19.8°C	10.1°C	50mm	334h
December	19.1°C	9.3°C	21mm	336h

Avg. high/low, °C (left axis) Rainfall, mm (bar maxes out at 250mm/month)

Daily normals for 2020. Hover a month for exact figures.

Travel guide

Eritrea is a country in East Africa. Formerly an Italian colony, the country shares a common language and culture with its large neighbour, Ethiopia, which it was once a part of until Eritrea gained its independence in 1993. It used to be Africa's youngest country until 2011, which was when South Sudan gained its independence.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Asmara: A Modernist African City

Upcoming public holidays

January 1, 2027Amet ሓዲሽ ዓመት

January 7, 2027Lidet ልደት

January 19, 2027Timket ጥምቀት

Full source list on About.

About British Indian Ocean Territory

The British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) is a British Overseas Territory situated in the Indian Ocean. The territory comprises the seven atolls of the Chagos Archipelago with over 1,000 individual islands, many very small, amounting to a total land area of 60 square kilometres. The largest and most southerly island is Diego Garcia, 27 square kilometres, the site of a Joint Military Facility of the United Kingdom and the United States. Official administration is remote from London, though the local capital is often regarded as being on Diego Garcia.

RegionEastern Africa

Area60 km²

CurrencyUnited States dollar (1 USD ≈ 1.00 USD)

LanguagesEnglish

Calling code+246

Drives on theright

Climate in British Indian Ocean Territory

Warmest April, coolest August, driest October, sunniest October. Best time to visit: April, May, June, August, September, October, November.

Monthly climate normals for British Indian Ocean Territory, 2020
Month	High	Low	Rainfall	Sunshine
January	27.9°C	26.1°C	404mm	268h
February	28.4°C	26.9°C	315mm	294h
March	28.5°C	26.6°C	258mm	309h
April	28.9°C	27.2°C	122mm	316h
May	28.5°C	26.7°C	209mm	315h
June	28.1°C	26.4°C	211mm	307h
July	27.6°C	26.2°C	251mm	255h
August	26.8°C	25.8°C	87mm	315h
September	27°C	25.8°C	49mm	347h
October	28°C	26.7°C	43mm	366h
November	28.1°C	26.3°C	238mm	305h
December	27.7°C	25.8°C	365mm	296h

Avg. high/low, °C (left axis) Rainfall, mm (bar maxes out at 250mm/month)

Daily normals for 2020. Hover a month for exact figures.

Travel guide

The British Indian Ocean Territory, also known as the Chagos Islands, is centrally located in the Indian Ocean, south of the Maldives, about halfway between Madagascar and Indonesia. The main island, Diego Garcia, is a military facility off limits to anyone not on official duty, but some of the uninhabited outer islands can be visited by independent yachters with advance permission.

Full source list on About.