The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Egyptian Expatriates announced on Monday, 26 October 2026, that Egyptian citizens holding a valid Libyan residence permit and an exit-and-re-entry visa issued by the Libyan authorities may travel to Libya without prior permission, in coordination with the relevant national authorities.
The ministry said in its statement that the facilitation covers the residency holder’s first-degree relatives, the father, mother, wife and children, whether they travel with him or alone, provided they present to officials at Egyptian departure airports proof that the residency holder has a valid residence permit and an exit-and-re-entry visa issued by the Libyan authorities. It asked national companies that wish to send Egyptian workers who are not covered by these facilitations to complete projects in Libya to obtain prior approval through the ministry’s authentication and consular services office in Mohandessin.
Ambassador Haddad El-Gohary, Assistant Foreign Minister for Egyptians Abroad and Consular Affairs, said in press remarks that the new facilitations do not mean cancelling the prior security permit for all travellers, explaining that citizens who do not fall within the eligible categories, and those wishing to travel to Libya for the first time, are still required to obtain the security permit.
In December 2014, Egypt began requiring men aged 18 to 40 to obtain security approval before travelling to Libya, and it has repeatedly warned its citizens against travelling there since February 2015, after the Islamic State group beheaded 20 Egyptian Coptic workers there.
Photo: Eassa via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
