Frequently Asked Questions

A: Erivista is an e-commerce platform that specializes in delivering products to Eritrea. It operates similarly to Amazon, but with a focus on serving customers who want to send items to family and friends in Eritrea.
Erivista is based in Dubai, UAE, which allows us to offer very competitive pricing, especially for customers shipping from North America or Europe. Since Dubai is in close proximity to Eritrea, we can deliver orders faster than if they were shipped from further away.
 
Here’s how the process works:
 
  1. You browse our online store from USA, Canada or Europe etc, and add the items you want to send to your cart. This can be as little as a single 1kg product, or as much as 100-500kg for larger air or sea cargo shipments. For This example let’s say it’s 1 washing machine only.
  2. At checkout, you select the shipping method that works best for your order. Options include:
  • Small under-20kg orders, which are sent with our Eritrean traders in Dubai and delivered to the recipient’s location in Eritrea.
  • Air cargo, which is packaged in cardboard boxes and typically arrives in 9-15 days. No 2% tax is required for air shipments. So for a washing machine this is a good option it gets delivered fast within 2 weeks and no 2% document is required.
  • Sea cargo, which is packed in airtight plastic barrels and takes around 30 days to reach Eritrea. The 2% tax is mandatory for sea cargo. Sea cargo is also good choice but there will be a longer wait 30 days to reach Massawa, and few month to get cleared with in Eritrea.
  1. Once your order is processed and shipped, the recipient in Eritrea will be contacted by customs to come collect the items. They’ll need to pay a small amount of import tax at that time. And finally receive their brand new washing machine with in 1-2 weeks via air cargo.

There are three main advantages to using Erivista:

  1. It’s much faster and more convenient – you can complete your entire order online in minutes, without having to physically gather and pack the items yourself.
  2. It’s more affordable, especially if you’re shipping from North America or Europe. Prices are lower in Dubai, and we work hard to keep our rates competitive.
  3. Shipping directly from Dubai to Eritrea is quicker than sending from further away.

The allowable product quantities as of January 2022:

Download PFD file.

Our store is conveniently located in Dubai, UAE. This means:

  • Faster shipping: Since Dubai is closer to Eritrea, you can expect your shipments to arrive quicker.
  • Competitive pricing: Dubai’s lower taxes allow us to offer you products at more affordable prices.

 

Our rates are as follows:

  • Express light items under-20kg: $10-12 per kg and the minimum weight is 1kg.
  • Air cargo: $3.2 – 4.5 $ per kg and the minimum weight . 
  • Sea cargo: $0.5 -0.8 per kg and the minimum weight.
    Those rates do fluctuate and there are also minimum weights and other small processing fees to consider. You can see the exact costs during the checkout page.

Currently, Erivista only delivers to Eritrea, but buyers can be located anywhere around the world. The shipment will be sent to their families and friends in Eritrea.

Yes, many of our clients live abroad, such as in the USA, Canada, and Europe. We receive their orders and their relatives shipping addresses in Eritrea and then we process and ship their orders accordingly.

Shipment by sea cargo can take between 25-50 days to reach Massawa. Afterward, the customs and duties process in Eritrea can take between 1-2 month. Once cleared, family members will be contacted to collect their package.

It depends on the shipping method. For small under-20kg orders and air cargo shipments, the 2% tax clearance is not required. We’ll let you know if it’s needed in any rare cases. However, the 2% tax is mandatory for sea cargo orders. After you place an order, we’ll guide you through the process and let you know if you need to provide any tax documents. You may also use family or relatives documents to process the shipment if you don’t have the 2% document yet.

Yes, you can ship to any city in Eritrea. However, the recipient will need to travel to Asmara to pick up the order, as we don’t deliver directly to other locations.

When your shipment arrives in Eritrea by sea or air cargo, the Eritrean customs and duties will carefully inspect it, which may take between few Weeks to Months, depending on various factors. Once completed, they will contact the recipient by the phone number you have provided, to sign the required documents, pay customs fee and  finally to collect the package from their storage.

For air and sea cargo shipments, you will need your Eritrean ID (Tasera), and your passport. And the 2% document for sea cargo.

Solar panels are simple and easy to install, and this can be done by local electricians in Eritrea. This will be the responsibility of the receiver.
Absolutely. You can send even a single item weighing under 1kg. For example, you could order just one jar of Nutella or one can of Nido milk powder. The shipping cost is a bit higher for small items, around $10-12 per kg, but it will arrive within 7-10 days.
We offer three shipping options once you place an order. For small items under 20kg, the delivery time is 7-10 days. For heavier items shipped by air cargo, it takes 9-15 days. And for large shipments sent by sea cargo, the typical delivery time is around 25-50 days. But usually 30 days under normal conditions.
It depends on the shipping method. For small under-20kg orders, the items are sent with our Eritrean traders in Dubai, packed in a sturdy fabric shopping bag. Air cargo orders are shipped in cardboard boxes & plastic Barrels. And for sea cargo, the products are packed in airtight plastic barrels and cardboard boxes if required. All depends on the quantity and type of products and space available. As its difficult to estimate the exact space required before processing the order.
Absolutely. At Erivista, our top priority is providing our customers with genuine, premium-quality products and brands. We care more about building a base of satisfied, repeat customers than making quick profits. You can trust that everything in our store meets the highest standards – we don’t stock any cheap or low-quality items.

Using Erivista is very straightforward, similar to shopping on Amazon. The key difference is that you’re buying items to be shipped to your family or friends in Eritrea, rather than your own address.  Here you can buy the products online from our store in Dubai. Most of our clients are from USA, CANADA and Europe. And here’s how it works step by step:

  1. Add the products you want to send to your cart. This can be as little as a single 1kg item, or as much as 100-500kg for air/sea cargo.
  2. Select the shipping method at checkout – air cargo (no 2% tax), sea cargo (2% tax required), or small under-20kg orders (shipped with Individual Eritrean traders).
  3. Once you place an order, we will get it processed and shipped to Eritrea, then finally the  Eritrean customs will contact the recipient (using the phone number you provided during check out) to come collect the items. They’ll need to pay a small amount of import tax at that stage.

Note that sea cargo shipments may take a few months to clear customs in Eritrea.

No, we don’t offer door-to-door delivery. Instead, the recipient will be contacted by Eritrean customs to come collect the shipment once it has cleared.

  1. Add the products you want to send to your cart. This can be as little as a single 1kg item, or as much as 100-500kg for air/sea cargo.
  2. Select the shipping method at checkout – air cargo (no 2% tax), sea cargo (2% tax required), or small under-20kg orders (shipped with Eritrean traders).
  3. Once your order is processed and shipped, the Eritrean customs will contact the recipient to come collect the items. They’ll need to pay a small amount of import tax at that stage.

Note that sea cargo shipments may take a few months to clear customs in Eritrea.

You’ll get a tracking number a few days after placing your order. For air cargo, this is usually within 7 days. For sea cargo, it can take 10-15 days, as shipping options have been limited due to the conflict in the Red Sea region.

We accept all major credit and debit cards, including Mastercard, as well as PayPal. The prices are listed in USD, but you can pay in any currency – the payment processor will handle the conversion.