Key facts
Key facts for business in Eritrea
The short answer
We could not confirm the company registry’s website for Eritrea. Requirements, fees and timelines change – confirm them with the body concerned and a lawyer admitted in Eritrea before you act.
| Legal system | Civil law (codified), with customary and Islamic law in personal matters |
|---|---|
| Official languages | No official language; Tigrinya, Arabic and English are the main working languages |
| Currency | Eritrean nakfa (ERN) |
| Regional blocs | COMESA |
| OHADA business law | No |
| AfCFTA (continental free trade) | Not yet ratified (tralac, 7 Sep 2026) |
| New York Convention (arbitral awards) | Not a party (checked October 2026) |
| ICSID Convention (investment disputes) | Not a member (checked October 2026) |
| Apostille Convention (public documents) | Not a party – documents usually need legalization |
Treaty status from the official depositary records (UNCITRAL, ICSID, HCCH), regional blocs from their own websites, AfCFTA from tralac – checked October 2026. Not legal advice.
Official bodies
Who does what in Eritrea
We could not confirm official websites for Eritrea’s business registration, tax or investment bodies in October 2026. Ask a lawyer admitted in Eritrea, or the country’s embassy, which bodies apply to you.
Getting started
What foreign businesses usually sort out first
- Choose how you will operate. A subsidiary, a branch, a representative office, or working through a local partner or distributor. The options and their conditions are set by national company law.
- Register the business. Company registration: the national company registry.
- Register for tax. Tax registration: the national tax administration.
- Check investment rules and incentives. Some sectors have licensing, local-ownership or registration rules, and some investors qualify for incentives. Investment agency: the national investment agency.
- Permits for foreign staff. Work and residence permits: the national immigration authority.
- Banking and foreign exchange. Rules on accounts, moving money in and out and paying dividends abroad come from the central bank (the central bank) and the banks.
- Contracts and disputes. Agree the governing law, the courts or arbitration seat, and the language. Eritrea is not a party to the New York Convention – take advice on how a foreign judgment or award would be enforced.
A general checklist, not legal advice. What applies to you depends on your sector, structure and nationality.
Law firms
Law firms in Eritrea for business matters
We have not listed law firms in Eritrea that state business practice areas yet. Law firms in Eritrea · List a firm
Checking a lawyer in Eritrea
We could not find an official online source for who admits lawyers in Eritrea. Ask any lawyer you consider for their bar or law-society membership and admission details, and confirm them with that body or with the courts.
Questions
Doing business in Eritrea: questions
Is Eritrea a party to the New York Convention?
No, according to the UNCITRAL status table checked October 2026.
Does Eritrea accept apostilles?
Eritrea is not a party to the Apostille Convention (HCCH status table, checked October 2026), so foreign public documents usually need legalization – typically through the issuing country’s foreign ministry and Eritrea’s embassy or consulate. Confirm with the authority that will receive the document.
What currency is used in Eritrea?
Eritrean nakfa (ERN).