Can a British Driver Use Their Licence in Eritrea? — IDP Advised, Side Switch

Eritrea is a rare and tightly controlled place to drive, and an honest page is more useful than a padded one. For British visitors the licence is the simple part — the side switch, the road condition and the country’s travel-permit system are what deserve your attention.

The verdict for British licence holders

A UK licence holder can drive in Eritrea, with an International Driving Permit recommended to carry beside it. The IDP is a recognised translation of your British licence, helpful at the checkpoints you will meet. Keep the IDP, your UK licence and your passport together, and arrange the permit in Britain before travelling. One Eritrea-specific point: travel by road outside the capital, Asmara, frequently requires a separate movement permit from the authorities — check the current requirement before you plan any route.

The change to relearn: left to right

Britain drives on the left; Eritrea drives on the right. This is the most likely thing to catch you out, concentrated in your first hour — a roundabout flowing the other way, turning across oncoming traffic, or glancing the wrong direction at a junction. Start on a quiet stretch and be deliberate at every turn until the new side feels normal.

A low alcohol limit

Eritrea’s blood-alcohol limit is 0.04, well below the UK’s 0.08. The margin is slim enough that the safe rule is simply no alcohol before driving.

Speeds matter less than condition

Towns are signed at 50 km/h, rural roads around 80, and faster routes near 100, but signage is sparse and surfaces away from Asmara can be rough, so the numbers are a weak guide. Drive to the road, avoid night driving, and carry offline maps. The emergency number listed is 112.

Confirm your paperwork with the Driving Permit Checker, read our Eritrea driving guide, and see who pays driving fines abroad before you drive.