Key points
- Libya has immediately suspended its visa-on-arrival facility at all airports and air border checkpoints.
- The emergency restriction aims to eliminate entry permit forgery and enhance state border controls.
- Implicated immigration authorities have 30 days to draft a brand-new regulatory framework for the prime minister's review.
- The electronic visa (eVisa) system is not mentioned in the circular and remains an active route for incoming travelers.
The provisional border measure aims to prevent document fraud and evaluate entry procedures
Libya’s Government of National Unity has temporarily suspended the issuance of visas on arrival at all airports and air entry points across the country. The immediate border adjustment aims to reinforce national security, mitigate the misuse of entry clearances, and prevent document forgery.
According to an official circular issued by the Libyan administration, this immediate suspension will stay active until border management entities complete a full review of current entry processes and establish updated regulatory safeguards.
The policy shift follows public pressure and ongoing campaigns from domestic civil rights advocates demanding stricter controls against illegal immigration, document manipulation, and unregulated entry at key transit channels.
Government orders comprehensive review of visa policy
As part of the directive, the Libyan executive branch has mandated the Ministry of Interior alongside the Passport, Nationality and Foreign Affairs Authority to address current administrative gaps. These institutions are tasked with developing a thorough technical and security framework to properly manage how entry permits are granted.
The specialized border committee must submit its formal proposal for new visa protocols to the Prime Minister’s Office within 30 days. The forthcoming strategy is expected to introduce modern administrative checks and digital safeguards to prevent future exploitation of border arrival facilities.
Electronic visa system remains operational
The newly enacted circular applies strictly to authorizations delivered directly upon physical arrival at Libyan airports and air terminals. For international travelers, obtaining a visa directly upon landing at a Libyan port of entry is no longer a viable or legal option while this administrative freeze remains in effect.
Crucially, the emergency border directive does not state any disruptions to Libya’s automated electronic visa system. First introduced by the Government of National Unity in March 2024, the separate eVisa platform appears completely unaffected by the airport suspension. Foreign nationals intending to visit the country should seek approved authorizations online or coordinate with authorized entities well in advance of arranging air travel.
Official channels clarify entry parameters
According to a report published by VisasNews, the language of the state directive isolates air corridors specifically, using the phrasing “via airports and air entry points.” The announcement does not outline similar freezes for travelers processing entry via maritime routes or active land borders.
Furthermore, the document omits any mention of specific targeted nationalities, meaning the temporary border policy functions as a blanket suspension on the airport visa-on-arrival facility itself rather than an entry ban directed at explicit foreign states.
