Passport Arabic Translation For Libyan Visa

Latest update: visa translation is no longer needed for tourist visas (2010)

This page was created to provide some information about approved passport Arabic translation for Libyan visa. Several groups of tourists were refused entry to Libya despite having Libyan visa, because their passports did not carry an Arabic translation: more at
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7092589.stm.)

Since the last translation law was passed on, on the 11th of November 2007, all visitors to Libya require an Arabic translation of their passport's bio page to be entered directly onto a blank passport page inside a special stamp provided for the translation. The bio page is the page in your passport that contains all the biographical information about the holder, like name, photo, expiry date, nationality and so on. Visitors should contact the Libyan Embassy to enquire about acceptable (or approved) translation service providers for the inclusion of the passport holder’s bio details within this stamp.

There are those who say (in the Internet) that the translation can be done by anyone who can write Arabic. We have seen some visitors turned away owing to improper translation. If that happens to you when coming from Tunisia, please contact us so that we can provide you with contact details of approved translators in Tunisia.

Approved Translators:

Here is our simple advice: the best and the cheapest way is to contact your local Arab Chamber of Commerce for the stamp and the approved translation. For example, visitors from the United Kingdom can contact the Arab-British Chamber of Commerce, to obtain the translation for just £25 for both: the stamp and the translation - this has now changed to £30 (as of October 2009). Here is an example of their translation (with personal details coloured green):

This is what the stamp and the translation of the passport should look like. The Arab-British Chamber of Commerce.

The large rectangular stamp specifies the fields to be filled in by the translator. The translation is then inserted by hand. If you cannot find an approved translator near you, try the Arab-(your country) Chamber of Commerce.

For example, if you are in Australia, then try the Arab-Australian Chamber of Commerce (see below). Google can provide you with the contact details of any other chamber; just google it.

List of Arab / Foreign Joint Chambers of Commerce

The Saudi Network provides a list of foreign chambers at:
http://www.the-saudi.net/business-center/joint-chambers-of-commerce.htm

Contact details for the Arab-British Chamber of Commerce:

The Arab-Australian Chamber of Commerce& Industry:

Documents may be taken or sent to:

AACCI
Seaway Agencies
Level 5
5 Elizabeth
Sydney
NSW 2000

(Enquiries: Tel 02 9239 4300)
Website: http://www.austarab.com.au/

Passport Arabic Translation on External Piece of Paper:

Translations done on a piece of paper and then stuck onto a blank page is often okay as long as the translator's stamp is half on the paper and the other half on the actual page of the passport, like this:

Please note that this method is not recommended and should be used only as a last resort. Request from your translator to do the translation directly onto the passport's page. Sometimes the border officers just wave you through and many travellers were surprised to experience an easy crossing (as opposed to the complications they were expecting). But at other times visitors can be subjected to a rigours check of everything. Therefore the decision is entirely yours, regarding what kind of translation to use. It is better to be safe than sorry.