... by the way, in case you haven't heard latest update on Libyan visa - you now have to provide an Arabic translation of your passport details within your passport (or attached on a separate piece of paper). New rules. They won't let anyone into the country without otherwise....

As some of you may know, this was the rule for Libya until a couple of years ago.
In London you used to be able to get the official UKPA-approved blank stamp (as pictured here: Sahara Overland ~ Libya visa information) done for free over the counter from the Passport Office in Petty France, SW1 (just inside on the right, no need to queue) and maybe other UK ppt offices too. Then I recall a place nearby off Victoria Steet filled it out for a small fee - but this was all 6+ years ago.
Once you have the stamp anyone who writes Arabic could fill it out for you or you could try and DIY using an online arabic trans like: Professional Translation and Free Translator for websites and text

AFAIK, don't simply expect matey at the Lib embassy to fill out your details in Arabic onto the blank stamp for you while processing your visa app - even if it would take them 60 seconds.

Right now I am told visa agencies are charging an extra £100 for this service.

Ch

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Morocco Overland 4 (2025) • Trans Morocco Trail

It sounds like complete chaos with the visa. A friend who works in Libya was due to fly out on Sunday from the Middle East having received a new work visa this week but has been warned that they need to go through the same process at 4.30pm yesterday ... despite the visa being OK'd & fresh ink!

Will update if I hear anymore

Kira

From here (Libyaonline.com):

Visitors to Libya Must Provide Arabic Translation of Their Passports when Entering Country 2007-11-14

Libya authorities confirmed that Libya will turn away visitors from all over the world unless they provide Arabic translations of their passports.

They also said that regulations that require Arabic translation for all visitors to Libya is here to remain in effect and would be strictly applied in all points of entry to the country including road, air and sea.

The regulations have been in effect for over two decades and usually applied but with some lax sometimes.

Although the Western media has made the issue as if it was directed against Western visitors, the regulations have been applied to all visitors to Libya from all over the world.

Speaking after a meeting between Libyan officials and Western ambassadors in Tripoli, a Libyan diplomat was quoted by AFP on Monday as saying "the Libyan authorities said they had informed airlines in time about the rule change but that they had not in turn informed their passengers."

"Libya will not reverse its decision, nor will it take into consideration the international reaction" and uproar triggered by the new restrictions, a Libyan official told AFP.

"The West demands that we translate our passports into English and therefore we must act in kind. It is only normal," said the official.
"Travellers arriving with foreign language passports are perturbing officials at border posts and airports because these officials don't know foreign languages," he added.

On Sunday Libya turned back scores of passengers on a flight from Paris because they failed to provide Arabic translations of their passports.

Libya adopted Arabic as the country's sole language since the revolution in 1969, a policy that remained the consistent ever since.
"We must defend our Arabic language. There will be no compromise," he said.

According to the AFP as it quoted a Libyan aviation official, the measure could be in response to a decision to prevent Libyans with visas for the EU's Schengen border-free zone from entering certain European countries, notably France and Britain.

{Tripolipost}

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Seen whilst travelling - Fernwehstammtisch Karlsruhe - Relief action Togo Togoville e.V.

Various reports:
Switzerland has lodged a formal complaint to Libya after about 40 air passengers on board a Swiss carrier were denied entry to Tripoli on Sunday. The travellers were forced to return to Switzerland on the same plane later that evening.

Another 83 French nationals, already in Libya, were not able to leave Sebha on Sunday night, as the rule change also applies to tourists seeking to leave.

Eighteen French nationals were stranded at the Tripoli airport since Sunday night, until the French ambassador to Libya intervened Monday on their behalf and they were allowed to return home, a French Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Pascale Andreani, said in an online briefing Monday.

More than 170 passengers on board a charter flight run by France's Air Mediterranee had to do the same. They were not allowed to get off their plane which had landed at Sebha airport, in southern Libya.

An Italian cruise ship carrying more than 2,000 passengers was forced to turn away from Tripoli on Monday after being caught by surprise by the new unannounced measure.

"They enacted a law within 24 hours without informing us or giving tour operators time to respond," a press officer at cruise ship operator Msc Crociere in Rome said.

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Morocco Overland 4 (2025) • Trans Morocco Trail

Libya is basically a dance...

Two steps forward, one step back!

I love this:

"According to the AFP as it quoted a Libyan aviation official, the measure could be in response to a decision to prevent Libyans with visas for the EU's Schengen border-free zone from entering certain European countries, notably France and Britain."


Er, Britain is not a signatory to Schengen (a decision taken due to the lack of UK ID cards and not, as far as I know, simply to annoy the Libyans!).


Sam.

Hi

I've heard of people getting a Libyan transit visa in Tunis, but has anyone managed to get one in Cairo. I realise of course that I can only cross the coastal highway with this visa, but it's a long way round otherwise to get to Europe.

Thanks

Daniel

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4.5 years around Eurasia in a Toyota Hilux|http://eurasiaoverland.wordpress.com/
Pictures Here|https://picasaweb.google.com/113619413612674951960

I have just come from the British embassy in Cairo where after filling in a form and waiting an hour they have stamped a template from an arabic translation in my passport, they were aware it was for Libya and it cost me nothing. I asked where to get the details filled in, these were left blank, but they recommended no particular translator, I used one just up the road from my hotel who charged me 25 Egyptian pounds, about 2.30 sterling to fill it in. I will find out in 3 days if it is acceptable to the Libyans and let you know.

Less difficulties for italians tourists :
Rumor has hit that it will be shortly cancelled the actual limit 65 year’s of age for the Italians citizens who lived or are born in Libya before Great Revolution .

Cheers
Budrinna

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Budrinna Co.

Hello all,

My wife (Irish) and me (Dutch) travelling at the mo in Libya. Dutch embassy gives you a seperate piece of paper (for free) with Arabic template and had to go to official translator (on Tahrir square, Cairo is one). costs for this were 25 EP (2.3 GBP). After this you will have to go back to embassy and they will staple it in the last page of passport (so you don't loose any 'visa pages') and stamp with an official stamp the translation (half in passport, half on translation)
Irish embassy gives a Arabic stamp, same as the Brits, but will do the translation there and then. Cost 85EP.

All this was OK.
By the way...We met a French couple with a Land Rover here in Libya and they recieved a 7 day transit visa from the consul in Alexandria, Egypt which allowed them to travel without a guide. They had to wait a week for the visa to come through though. Costs, I don't know.

Roel