Djibouti

Visas

All visitors, including French nationals, need visas. Tourist visas cost from US$35 to US$60 and are usually valid for one month. Visas can be obtained at the nearest Djibouti embassy (including Addis Ababa and Asmara if you’re in the Horn) or, when there is none, from the French embassy. Note that travellers from most Western countries can also obtain tourist visas on arrival at the airport: leave your passport with the immigration officer and you get it stamped the next day or, if you’re really lucky, within a couple of hours. It costs DFr3000 for 10 days and DFr5000 for one month.

Visas for onward travel

Visas for the following are available from embassies in Djibouti City:

Eritrea Visas are valid for one month and cost DFr7200 (US$40). You need one photo. Visa applications can be received at the embassy every morning from 8.30am to 10.30am except Friday, but visas are delivered on Wednesday and Sunday mornings only. A same-day service is also possible if you apply early morning; it costs DFr9000 (US$50).

Ethiopia Visas are valid for three months and cost DFr3600 (US$20) or DFr12, 600 (US$70) for US nationals. You need to supply one photo. The embassy is open from 7.30am to 1.30pm Sunday to Thursday and 9am to 1pm Saturday. Visas are issued within 24 hours.

Somaliland The first pages of your passport are faxed to Hargeisa from the Somaliland Liaison Office. Once the answer is favourable, you get a visa, which you will pay for when entering the country at Hargeisa airport (no visas were granted for overland travel at the time of research); it costs DFr5200 (US$30). The whole process takes about three days.