American travellers need authorisation to enter Djibouti, and the route has moved online: an electronic visa obtained before travel is the normal course, rather than an application at the embassy. Confirm which applies to you close to the date, because arrangements have changed.
Quick facts
Unlike several neighbours in this directory, the United States does maintain an embassy in Djibouti, which matters if something goes wrong while you are there.
Fees breakdown
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Electronic visa | Published on the portal | Obtained before travel |
| Business visa | Higher tariff | With company documentation |
| Yellow fever vaccination | Charged by your clinic | By route |
| Extension of stay | Charged in Djibouti | Immigration authorities |
| Work permit | Charged in Djibouti | Through the employer |
Djibouti hosts foreign military bases and a major port, so a good share of foreign travel there is official or corporate, arranged by the organisation rather than the individual.
How to apply
- Check the current entry requirement for your nationality before booking.
- Apply through the official electronic visa portal, not a reseller.
- Arrange vaccinations where your route requires them.
- Carry the printed approval, since airlines check it.
- For long stays, ask the embassy which category applies.
- Confirm insurance that covers the region.
Required documents
- Passport valid well beyond the intended stay.
- Completed application and photograph.
- Return or onward ticket.
- Accommodation or host details.
- Proof of lawful residence in the United States for third-country nationals.
- Vaccination certificate where required.
Where to apply
Online for the electronic visa; at the embassy in Washington for categories the portal does not cover.
Additional notes
Only official portals
Resellers advertise Djiboutian visas at a markup. The government system publishes the real price.
Djiboutians need no visa
Citizens travel on their own passport. Registering with the embassy is the sensible starting point.
Heat and season
Summer temperatures are extreme and affect what is practical to do. Plan accordingly.
Verify close to travel
Entry arrangements have changed more than once. Confirm near the date.