Visas for Libya
Visa, Work Permits and Entry Requirements in Libya
Business visas and work permits for Libya are easy to obtain as most of the burden of organization falls to your employer. It is not possible to obtain a business visa or work permit without an employer sponsoring your entry into the country.
The company will initiate the application process by formally requesting the visa from within Libyan borders; you will need to supply your future employer with basic details to facilitate this process. At this point it is beneficial to advise if your family will be following, in some cases their visas can be piggybacked on yours and the extra admin of completing the process again can be avoided. If this is not feasible, then they can only formally apply for their visas once you have migrated to the country and you invite them.
Once your employer applies to the Libyan Embassy you will be issued a reference number and officially recorded in the system. At this point you must email the Libyan consulate in your country and request a visa application form. They will cross-check your reference number and email you the necessary document.
You will then need to send the consulate in your country the following:
- Formal letter of invitation from your employer
- Passport (must be valid for at least 6 months and have one page free for Libyan visa)
- Official Arabic translation of the vital pages of your passport
- 2 x Color passport photographs
- Copy of round trip air tickets/itinerary to/from Libya
- Libyan visa fee (amount dependent on your country of origin)
- Completed visa application form
This process can often take up to six months, so the best defense against frustration is to be fully aware of just how long you may have to wait.
Lastly, it is a good idea to have your personal identification documents officially translated into Arabic as well (i.e. birth certificate, marriage certificate, etc.).
Exit and Re-Entry Visas
If leaving Libya for a holiday or a business trip, it is necessary for expats to visit the police station within the first week of arrival and have their passport stamped. Expats living in Libya on a resident’s visa must formally obtain an exit/re-entry visa each and every time they depart and return to the country. The only exception to this rule is if the expat is in possession of a multi-entry resident’s visa – thus it is best to apply for this category in the beginning.
