Entry into Libya clarification
Aug 17th, 2006, 06:19 AM
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Entry into Libya clarification
Pardon my ignorance. Can anyone clarify for me if there is a ban for Americans to visit Libya?
I have read through all the Libya-related threads here and I get the impression that travel was allowed in 2005, but then it was banned some time in 2006, and then permitted again around June 2006? The State Department website says travel is permitted, but I will need permission of some sort from the Treasury Department?
Does anyone have any first-hand experience? Any information is much appreciated. Meanwhile, I have also e-mailed a Tripoli-based travel agent, but I have not heard back. I am very confused, but my husband and I are contemplating a trip to this, from what I have read and heard, fascinating country. Thank you in advance.
I have read through all the Libya-related threads here and I get the impression that travel was allowed in 2005, but then it was banned some time in 2006, and then permitted again around June 2006? The State Department website says travel is permitted, but I will need permission of some sort from the Treasury Department?
Does anyone have any first-hand experience? Any information is much appreciated. Meanwhile, I have also e-mailed a Tripoli-based travel agent, but I have not heard back. I am very confused, but my husband and I are contemplating a trip to this, from what I have read and heard, fascinating country. Thank you in advance.
Aug 17th, 2006, 09:44 AM
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Here's what the State Dept sez on LIBYA -
"Passport and visa required. Restrictions on the use of a U.S. passport for travel to, in, or through Libya have been lifted as of February 2004. At this time, neither Libya nor the U.S. provides visa services in each other’s countries; U.S. visitors to Libya should therefore plan to obtain a visa via a third country. Visa applications and inquiries may be made through the Libyan Mission to the United Nations in New York, (202/752-5775). Within 3 days of arrival, visitors must register at the police station nearest where they will be residing. Attention: U.S. citizens need a U.S. Treasury Department license in order to engage in any transactions related to travel to and within Libya. Before planning any travel to Libya, U.S. citizens should contact the Licensing Division, Office of Foreign Assets Control, U.S. Department of Treasury, (202/622-2480) or www.treas.gov/ofac"
It looks pretty straightforward.
(1) Contact the US Treasury Dept. to get information about going to Libya before you do any of the other steps. The telephone # and email address are provided above.
(2)(a) You either can contact the Libyan Embassy to the UN to get a visa using the # listed above.
Or
(2)(b) You can also get a visa to go to Libya at the Libyan Embassy to any other country with which Libya has diplomatic relations.
(3) Within 3 days of arrival in Libya you need to register at the closes police station. If you are going with a tour, they most likely will take care of this for you. But make sure you ask them.
Since US-Libya relations are off & on, I would rely upon this information rather than what others may tell you since their information may have been good in June, but no longer true in August. .
Things change rapidly.
"Passport and visa required. Restrictions on the use of a U.S. passport for travel to, in, or through Libya have been lifted as of February 2004. At this time, neither Libya nor the U.S. provides visa services in each other’s countries; U.S. visitors to Libya should therefore plan to obtain a visa via a third country. Visa applications and inquiries may be made through the Libyan Mission to the United Nations in New York, (202/752-5775). Within 3 days of arrival, visitors must register at the police station nearest where they will be residing. Attention: U.S. citizens need a U.S. Treasury Department license in order to engage in any transactions related to travel to and within Libya. Before planning any travel to Libya, U.S. citizens should contact the Licensing Division, Office of Foreign Assets Control, U.S. Department of Treasury, (202/622-2480) or www.treas.gov/ofac"
It looks pretty straightforward.
(1) Contact the US Treasury Dept. to get information about going to Libya before you do any of the other steps. The telephone # and email address are provided above.
(2)(a) You either can contact the Libyan Embassy to the UN to get a visa using the # listed above.
Or
(2)(b) You can also get a visa to go to Libya at the Libyan Embassy to any other country with which Libya has diplomatic relations.
(3) Within 3 days of arrival in Libya you need to register at the closes police station. If you are going with a tour, they most likely will take care of this for you. But make sure you ask them.
Since US-Libya relations are off & on, I would rely upon this information rather than what others may tell you since their information may have been good in June, but no longer true in August. .
Things change rapidly.
Aug 17th, 2006, 12:57 PM
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I went to Libya in April of 2005 aboard a small expedition ship. Everything was taken care of for the passengers as far as entry. We were mostly American and it certainly simplified everything. Shortly afterwards, entry was closed for Americans but I have heard it is open again. Also heard that some larger European ships were o.k. but any Americans had to stay on board. Libya's archaeological sights are truly marvelous and the people were wonderful to us. One amusing thing that happened is that upon docking the officials who boarded taped shut all the liquor cabinets for the duration of our three day stay.
I think I would have a tendency to stay with a group for the convenience of entry and also to have alternate plans.
I think I would have a tendency to stay with a group for the convenience of entry and also to have alternate plans.
Aug 18th, 2006, 01:43 AM
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Thank you for the comments and advice. I am still waiting for the Tripoli-based agent to respond. Since we live in Germany, I will start by contacting the U.S. and Libya embassies here.
Louise - Do you remember whether your cruise line also had to obtain approval from the Treasury Department, as stated in the State Department website? I agree that a group may be the best way to go, but our German is not good enough for us to join a German tour group. We're only thinking about a one-week trip, I guess we'll survive the liquor ban!
Louise - Do you remember whether your cruise line also had to obtain approval from the Treasury Department, as stated in the State Department website? I agree that a group may be the best way to go, but our German is not good enough for us to join a German tour group. We're only thinking about a one-week trip, I guess we'll survive the liquor ban!
Aug 18th, 2006, 06:31 AM
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I noticed that Oceania cruises has a ship that visits Lybia as part of a cruise originating in London I believe. We have had two fab. cruises with this company, but have not yet gone to Lybia. This cruise line deals mostly with Americans, so if they can get in, I guess you can too.
Aug 18th, 2006, 02:32 PM
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Here's the link from the NYTimes.com travel section on getting to Libya with the names of some tour agencies. It's from a couple of years ago, but may help get you started.
http://travel2.nytimes.com/2004/12/0...69&ei=5070
http://travel2.nytimes.com/2004/12/0...69&ei=5070
Aug 20th, 2006, 10:54 AM
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My girlfriend and I have also been trying to get visas to Libya. Last November, we bought tickets from SFO to Tripoli to show our intent and spent a lot of time on the internet contacting travel agents in Tripoli - the only way to get visas - to arrange a private guided tour (no un-escorted travelers are allowed). Virtually all travelers so far have been from cruise ships since they are easily organized and supervised and don't stay overnight. We finally had a trip organized with a complicated process of application for visas in Tripoli and after approval acquisitions from Montreal (there was no embassy in Washington).
Last fall as we all know now, Libya abruptly stopped issuing visas to Americans. All the American adventure travel groups had to cancel and so did we. This spring, Libya finally got their embassy in Washington and gradually opened the door again. We re-booked tickets for November and began looking for travel agents again. We finally found one who was willing to provide the tour we wanted - we not only wanted to go to Leptis Magna and Sabratha but also to Ghadames to get a taste of real Berber society. That was no small thing, there is no airport so it means renting a car and a 6 hour ride through who knows where.
He has copies of our passports and sees no problem getting visas but as we now know, Libya is a mercurial place where everything can change in a day on the whim of one man. But hey, I travel all over the world and how many places are left with a real sense of uncertainty and some adventure not to mention some of the best Roman ruins in the world.
Last fall as we all know now, Libya abruptly stopped issuing visas to Americans. All the American adventure travel groups had to cancel and so did we. This spring, Libya finally got their embassy in Washington and gradually opened the door again. We re-booked tickets for November and began looking for travel agents again. We finally found one who was willing to provide the tour we wanted - we not only wanted to go to Leptis Magna and Sabratha but also to Ghadames to get a taste of real Berber society. That was no small thing, there is no airport so it means renting a car and a 6 hour ride through who knows where.
He has copies of our passports and sees no problem getting visas but as we now know, Libya is a mercurial place where everything can change in a day on the whim of one man. But hey, I travel all over the world and how many places are left with a real sense of uncertainty and some adventure not to mention some of the best Roman ruins in the world.
Aug 21st, 2006, 01:57 AM
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Thanks everyone!
jd51 - Do you mind telling me who your agent in Tripoli is? Is the agent handling the whole visa process (or just providing the invitation letter and forwarding to you the approval from the government, which you need to send to the Libyan embassy yourself)?
Also, any idea about this Treasury Department approval? As quoted from the State Department website:
Attention: U.S. citizens need a U.S. Treasury Department license in order to engage in any transactions related to travel to and within Libya.
I hope you get to go as scheduled and I'd love to hear about it after your return. The earliest we are looking at is March 2007, I'm sure things would have changed again by then.
jd51 - Do you mind telling me who your agent in Tripoli is? Is the agent handling the whole visa process (or just providing the invitation letter and forwarding to you the approval from the government, which you need to send to the Libyan embassy yourself)?
Also, any idea about this Treasury Department approval? As quoted from the State Department website:
Attention: U.S. citizens need a U.S. Treasury Department license in order to engage in any transactions related to travel to and within Libya.
I hope you get to go as scheduled and I'd love to hear about it after your return. The earliest we are looking at is March 2007, I'm sure things would have changed again by then.
Aug 21st, 2006, 06:32 PM
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I was told today by a passport/visa expeditor, in addition to two large tour companies, that due to an incident recently involving the US and Libya at a United Nations event the Libyian government decided to no longer issue travel visas to US citizens. As everyone knows this can change on a whim but all people I spoke with seem to think this temporary ban could last for a while. I had to cancel a trip today to Libya scheduled for October as a result. Has anyone else had this happen? If you are waiting on a visa to Libya you may be out of luck.
Aug 23rd, 2006, 05:54 PM
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nqodeia
After reading Deanies response it may be a moot point, but the travel agent we are working with is Javed Iqbal at [email protected]. We are going to hold on to our tickets for a few months no matter what because anything could happen and I really want to go. Javed always responds to emails but probabaly won't respond to any problems that might cost him a contract.Let me know how it goes.
After reading Deanies response it may be a moot point, but the travel agent we are working with is Javed Iqbal at [email protected]. We are going to hold on to our tickets for a few months no matter what because anything could happen and I really want to go. Javed always responds to emails but probabaly won't respond to any problems that might cost him a contract.Let me know how it goes.
Aug 24th, 2006, 01:01 AM
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Deanie - Thanks for the info. Sorry to hear that you have to cancel your trip. I hope things get turned around.
jd51 - Thanks for passing along Javed's e-mail address. Based on what Deanie said, my husband and I will probably shelf the idea for the time being. Also, the agent I e-mailed still hasn't responded, which is not a good sign. Good luck with your trip!
jd51 - Thanks for passing along Javed's e-mail address. Based on what Deanie said, my husband and I will probably shelf the idea for the time being. Also, the agent I e-mailed still hasn't responded, which is not a good sign. Good luck with your trip!
Aug 25th, 2006, 06:52 AM
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An update ...
I got this message from a London-based agent today.
"Unfortunately, at this time the Libyan government has still not reinstated tourist visas for US citizens although we are expecting this to be settled shortly. "
Let's hope so.
I got this message from a London-based agent today.
"Unfortunately, at this time the Libyan government has still not reinstated tourist visas for US citizens although we are expecting this to be settled shortly. "
Let's hope so.
