smartraveller.gov.au - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
It's a must see destination.
It's a must see destination.
Libya
| Libya overall | This Advice is current for Monday, 13 October 2008. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Be alert to own security | Exercise caution | High degree of caution | Reconsider your need to travel | Do not travel |
| Border areas with Niger, Chad and Sudan | ||||
| Be alert to own security | Exercise caution | High degree of caution | Reconsider your need to travel | Do not travel |
This advice has been reviewed and reissued. It contains new information under Safety and Security: Crime (update). The overall level of the advice has not changed.
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Terrorism is a threat throughout the world. You can find more information about this threat in our General Advice to Australian Travellers.
We advise you to exercise a high degree of caution in Libya because of the high threat of terrorist attack. Attacks could occur at any time and anywhere in Libya. Pay close attention to your personal security at all times and monitor the media for information about possible new safety or security risks.
There is a risk of terrorist attack against Western interests in Libya. In planning your activities, consider the kind of places known to be terrorist targets and the level of security provided. Possible targets include commercial and public areas known to be frequented by foreigners such as hotels, office buildings, restaurants, schools, places of worship, outdoor recreation events, public transport, embassies, markets and shopping areas, historic sites and tourist areas. Significant concentrations of foreign workers in remote locations may also be at risk.
You should avoid public gatherings and demonstrations as they have the potential to turn violent.
Theft and muggings occur. Travellers to remote areas, including beaches, have been robbed and assaulted when travelling alone.
Borders with Niger, Chad and Sudan: We advise you not to travel to the border areas with Niger, Chad and Sudan, or undertake cross-border travel between Libya and Niger, Chad or Sudan, because of banditry and the presence of armed tribal groups. There is also increased military activity in these areas due to problems with illegal immigration.
Although road conditions are reasonable throughout Libya, driving standards are poor.
Visitors are required to carry identification documents at all times.
Travellers may require permits for travel to remote areas of the country.
Passengers on international flights to and from Australia are only allowed to carry a small amount of liquids (including aerosols and gels) in their carry-on baggage. You can find out more information at the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government website. Similar restrictions apply to flights in an increasing number of countries. Contact your airline for further information.
If you have concerns about the safety standards of a particular airline or aircraft, we recommend you research the airline or aircraft through organisations such as Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government has published fact sheets on security for air travellers. When staff at Australia's overseas missions are advised not to use particular airlines due to safety concerns, this will be included in the travel advisory.
The European Union (EU) has published a list of airlines that are subject to operating bans or restrictions within the EU. The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) through its foreign assessment program focuses on a country's ability, not the individual airline, to adhere to international standards and recommended practices for aircraft operations and maintenance established by ICAO.
Australians are advised to maintain a safe and legal distance when observing wildlife, including marine animals and birds. You should only use reputable and professional guides or tour operators and closely follow park regulations and wardens' advice.
Libya is a cash society and credit card use is extremely limited. Travellers' cheques are not accepted and the number of ATMs is extremely limited. ATMs in Libya only accept VISA cards.
Make two photocopies of valuables such as your passport, tickets, visas and travellers' cheques. Keep one copy with you in a separate place to the original and leave another copy with someone at home.
While travelling, don't carry too much cash and remember that expensive watches, jewellery and cameras may be tempting targets for thieves.
As a sensible precaution against luggage tampering, including theft, lock your luggage. Information on luggage safety is available from Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
Your passport is a valuable document that is attractive to criminals who may try to use your identity to commit crimes. It should always be kept in a safe place. You are required by Australian law to report a lost or stolen passport. If your passport is lost or stolen overseas, report it online or contact the nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate as soon as possible.
Replacing a passport incurs an additional fee. In some cases, the Government may also restrict the length of validity or type of replacement passports. For further information, see Lost or stolen passport.
If you are planning on placing your children in schools or childcare facilities overseas we encourage you to research the standards of security, care and staff training within those establishments. You should exercise the same precautions you would take before placing children into schools or childcare facilities in Australia.
Ideas on how to select childcare providers are available from the smartraveller Children's Issues page, Child Wise and the National Childcare Accreditation Council.
When you are in Libya, be aware that local laws and penalties, including ones that appear harsh by Australian standards, do apply to you. If you are arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you but we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail.
Information on what Australian consular officers can and cannot do to help Australians in trouble overseas is available from the Consular Services Charter.
Penalties for drug offences are severe and include the death penalty or life imprisonment.
Other serious crimes, such as murder, may attract the death penalty.
Sexual relations outside of marriage are illegal in Libya and punishments include imprisonment.
Homosexual acts are illegal in Libya and punishments include a minimum three years imprisonment.
There are severe penalties for importing and using alcohol in Libya.
Photography around military zones, assets and personnel and police assets and police personnel is illegal and may result in arrest and detention.
Foreigners involved in business disputes may have their passports confiscated and/or may not be permitted to depart Libya until the dispute has been settled.
Child custody decisions are based on Islamic law.
Some Australian criminal laws, such as those relating to money laundering, bribery of foreign public officials, terrorism and child sex tourism, apply to Australians overseas. Australians who commit these offences while overseas may be prosecuted in Australia.
Australian authorities are committed to combating sexual exploitation of children by Australians overseas. Australians may be prosecuted at home under Australian child sex tourism laws. These laws provide severe penalties of up to 17 years imprisonment for Australians who engage in sexual activity with children under 16 while outside of Australia.
There are strong Islamic codes of dress and behaviour in Libya. You should take care not to offend.
During Ramadan, eating, drinking and smoking between sunrise and sunset is forbidden for Muslims.
Our Travel Information for Dual Nationals brochure provides further information.
Visa and other entry and exit conditions (such as currency, customs and quarantine regulations) change regularly. Contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Libya for the most up to date information. Tourist visas are generally not available to individuals unless you are part of an organised tour group travelling with a Libyan tourist company.
Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the date of your expected departure from Libya. Your passport details must be translated into Arabic by an accredited translator and written into the passport, as prescribed by the Libyan Government. For details, please consult the Australian Passports Office web-site,
Arabic Translation.
Travellers whose passport contains evidence of entry to Israel or to other-country border crossings with Israel will be refused entry.
Under Libyan law, children born to Libyan fathers need their father's permission to depart Libya.
A valid Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate is required for entry into Libya if you are arriving from a country endemic for yellow fever. The World Health Organisation provides a list of countries endemic for yellow fever.
Some airlines may require passengers to present a valid Yellow Fever Vaccination Certificate before being allowed to board flights out of Libya. If in doubt, check with your airline.
Religious material and antiquities are subject to strict customs regulations.
All currency must be declared on arrival and a currency declaration form must be completed on departure.
We strongly recommend that you take out comprehensive travel insurance that will cover any overseas medical costs, before you depart. Confirm that your insurance covers you for the whole time you'll be away and check what circumstances and activities are not included in your policy. Remember, regardless of how healthy and fit you are, if you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel.
Your doctor or travel clinic is the best source of information about immunisations (including booster doses of childhood vaccinations) and disease outbreaks overseas. The World Health Organization (WHO) provides information for travellers and our 'Travelling Well' brochure also provides useful tips for travelling with medicines and staying healthy while overseas.
Medical facilities in Libya are limited and some medicines are in short supply. Medical facilities in remote areas can be very limited or non-existent. Travellers may wish to consider carrying limited medical supplies for personal use. Foreigners will be required to pay an up-front deposit for medical services. In the event of a serious illness or accident, medical evacuation to a destination with appropriate facilities would be necessary. Costs for a medical evacuation could be considerable (over $A50, 000).
Water-borne, food-borne, parasitic and other infectious diseases (including typhoid, hepatitis, tuberculosis and measles) are prevalent with more serious outbreaks occurring from time to time. We encourage you to consider having vaccinations before travelling. We advise you to boil all drinking water or drink bottled water and avoid ice cubes and raw and undercooked food. Do not swim in fresh water to avoid exposure to parasitic diseases such as schistosomiasis (bilharzia). Seek medical advice if you have a fever or are suffering from diarrhoea.
The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) has confirmed cases of avian influenza in birds in a number of countries throughout the world. For a list of these countries, visit the OIE website. For information on our advice to Australians on how to reduce the risk of infection and on Australian Government precautions see our travel bulletin on avian influenza.
The Australian Consulate-General in Libya now provides full consular assistance.
In Libya, you can obtain consular assistance from the:
Australian Consulate-General
Office 203, Level 20
Alfateh Tower 1
Tripoli, Libya
Telephone (218 0) 21 335 1468/69
Facsimile (218 0) 21 335 1368
The working week is from Sunday to Thursday, in accordance with local practice.
If you are travelling to Libya, whatever the reason and however long you'll be there, we encourage you to register with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. You can register online or in person at any Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate. The information you provide will help us to contact you in an emergency - whether it is a natural disaster, civil disturbance or a family issue.
In a consular emergency, if you are unable to contact the Consulate-General, you can contact the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 or 1300 555 135 within Australia.
In Australia, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra may be contacted on (02) 6261 3305.
While every care has been taken in preparing this travel information for travellers, neither the Australian Government nor its agents or employees including any member of Australia's consular staff abroad, can accept liability for injury, loss or damage arising in respect of any statement contained therein.
