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International Travel > Learn About Your Destination > Libya International Travel Information
Last Update: Reissued with updates to health information.
Do not travel to Libya due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, and armed conflict.
Country Summary: Crime levels in Libya remain high, including the threat of kidnapping for ransom. Westerners and U.S. citizens have been targets of these crimes.
Terrorist groups continue plotting attacks in Libya. Violent extremist activity in Libya remains high, and extremist groups have made threats against U.S. government officials and citizens. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, hotels, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, and government facilities.
Outbreaks of violence between competing armed groups can occur with little warning and have the potential to impact U.S. citizens. The capital, Tripoli, and other cities, such as Surman, Al-Jufra, Misrata, Ajdabiya, Benghazi, Sabha, and Dernah, have witnessed fighting among armed groups, as well as terrorist attacks. Hotels and airports frequented by Westerners have been the targets of these attacks. Even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence.
Militia or armed groups sometimes detain travelers for arbitrary reasons, do not grant detainees access to a lawyer or a legal process, and do not allow detainees to inform others of their status. U.S. citizens should carry proof of citizenship and valid immigration status at all times, but having these documents does not guarantee fair treatment.
Some international and national airports are closed, and flights out of operational airports are sporadic and may be cancelled without warning. The U.S. government is very concerned about the targeting of commercial transportation in Libya and prohibits U.S. commercial aviation operations within Libyan airspace.
The U.S. government is unable to provide emergency or routine assistance to U.S. citizens in Libya, as the U.S. Embassy in Tripoli suspended its operations in July 2014.
Due to risks to civil aviation operating within or in the vicinity of Libya, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) and/or a Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR). For more information U.S. citizens should consult the Federal Aviation Administration’s Prohibitions, Restrictions and Notices.
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Libya.
If you decide to travel to Libya:
Valid at time of entry
One page per entry stamp
Yes
None
The import of local currency for both residents and non-residents is prohibited.
The export of local currency for both residents and non-residents is prohibited.
North East Zone
Les Berges du Lac
1053 Tunis, Tunisia
Telephone:+(216) 71-107-000, press 0 and ask for the Libya Office consular officer.
Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(216) 58 575 409
Fax: +(216) 71-964-360
Email: LibyaACS@state.gov
There is currently no U.S. Embassy in Libya. Questions may be addressed to the Libya External Office located in Tunis or the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Tunis.
Inquiries regarding U.S. citizens in Libya may be directed to the Department of State’s Office of Overseas Citizens Services. Callers in the United States and Canada may dial the toll-free number 1-888-407-4747. Callers outside the United States and Canada may dial 1-202-501-4444.
Passports and Visas:
Passports and visas are required for all U.S. citizens traveling to Libya.
Business Visas: Obtain an invitation from or sponsorship by a company operating in Libya. U.S. citizens who apply for Libyan business visas often experience significant delays, regularly waiting several weeks or months for their visas.
Dual Citizens: U.S.-Libyan citizens need valid passports from both countries.
U.S. citizens must enter and exit the United States using their U.S. passport, and Libya requires Libyan citizens to use their Libyan passports when entering and exiting Libya.
Entry/Exit Requirements:
The Department of State advises U.S. citizens against all travel to Libya, as the security situation in Libya remains unpredictable and unstable. If in Libya, make contingency emergency plans to leave at a moment’s notice and maintain situational awareness at all times.
Carry proof of citizenship and valid immigration status at all times. If in Libya, make contingency emergency plans and maintain situational awareness at all times.
Terrorist Threats:
Extremist groups seek to target U.S. government officials, citizens, and interests in Libya. Terrorists may also target areas perceived to be frequented by Westerners, such as tourist sites, hotels, restaurants, shopping malls, businesses, transportation hubs, foreign embassies, expatriate residential areas, and schools.
The following groups, including those on the U.S. government’s list of designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations, pose a high risk to U.S. citizens in the region:
Recent terrorist attacks have occurred in Libya and the surrounding region. Extremists have kidnapped foreigners. Please note the country pages for neighboring countries, Algeria, Tunisia, Chad, Niger, Sudan, and Egypt.
Clashes among armed groups, including government-aligned forces, occur regularly throughout the country, including Tripoli, other urban areas.
Militia:
Maritime Security:
CRIME:
See our webpage on help for U.S. victims of crime overseas.
Domestic Violence: U.S. citizen victims of domestic violence may contact the closest U.S. Embassy for assistance.
Tourism: No formal tourism industry infrastructure is in place. Tourists are considered to be participating in activities at their own risk. Emergency response and subsequent appropriate medical treatment is not available in-country. U.S. citizens are encouraged to purchase medical evacuation insurance. See our webpage for more information on insurance providers for overseas coverage.
CRIMINAL PENALTIES: You are subject to local laws. If you violate local laws, even unknowingly, you may be arrested, imprisoned, or expelled.
Furthermore, some laws are also prosecutable in the U.S., regardless of local law. For examples, see our website on crimes against minors abroad and the Department of Justice website.
Arrest Notification: If you are arrested or detained, ask for police or prison officials to notify the U.S. Embassy immediately. See our webpage for further information.
If you are detained, you may be detained indefinitely with no rights to a trial or access to an attorney. The Department of State may not be notified of your detention, and Department of State officials cannot visit detainees, due to security reasons throughout the country. Since most law enforcement is currently performed by militias, there is no clear legal process to be navigated. During your detention, you may not be provided with basic toiletries or appropriate nutrition.
SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES
Currency:
Dual Nationality:
Faith-Based Travelers: Proselytizing is illegal in Libya. Penalties are severe. In addition to possibly facing the death penalty, proselytizers may be the target of extra-judicial killings.
See our following webpages for details:
LGBTI Travelers: Same-sex sexual relations are criminalized in Libya. Penalties include fines or jail time. See our LGBTI Travel Information page and section 6 of our Human Rights Report for further details.
Student Travelers: See our Students Abroad page and FBI travel tips.
Women Travelers: See our travel tips for Women Travelers.
Travelers Who Require Accessibility Assistance: Few public facilities have adequate access for persons with physical disabilities.
While some health care providers have been trained in the United States or Europe, basic modern medical care and/or medicines may not be available in Libya. Many Libyan citizens prefer to be treated outside Libya for serious medical conditions.
The U.S. government does not pay medical bills. Be aware that U.S. Medicare does not apply overseas.
Medical Insurance: Make sure your health insurance plan provides coverage overseas. Most care providers overseas only accept cash payments. See our webpage for more information on insurance providers for overseas coverage.
We strongly recommend supplemental insurance to cover medical evacuation.
If traveling with prescription medication, check with the Libyan Embassy in Washington, D.C. to ensure the medication is legal in Libya. Always carry your prescription medication in original packaging with your doctor’s prescription.
ROAD CONDITIONS: U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions in Libya that differ significantly from those in the United States.
Driving in Libya:
AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT:
Most international airports are closed in Libya, and flights out of operational airports are sporadic and may be cancelled without warning. The United States is very concerned about the targeting of commercial transportation in Libya. The U.S. government prohibits U.S. commercial aviation operations within Libyan airspace.
As there is no direct commercial air service to the United States by carriers registered in Libya, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not assessed the government of Libya’s Civil Aviation Authority for compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards. Further information may be found on the FAA’s safety assessment page.
Maritime Travel: The Commandant of the Coast Guard has determined that effective anti-terrorism measures are not in place in Libya ports and has imposed conditions of entry on vessels that arrive in U.S. ports having visited ports in Libya. Mariners and passengers on commercial vessels traveling through the ports of Libya should exercise increased caution.
Mariners planning travel to Lebanon should also check for U.S. maritime advisories and alerts within the MARAD website. Information may also be posted to the U.S. Coast Guard homeport website, and the NGA broadcast warnings website. Select “broadcast warnings” from within the NGA site.
Review information about International Parental Child Abduction in Libya. For additional IPCA-related information, please see the International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act (ICAPRA) report.
Make two copies of all of your travel documents in case of emergency, and leave one with a trusted friend or relative.
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