Bush Administration Lifts Travel Ban on Libya
 
March 5, 2004
 

On February 26, 2004, the United States Government lifted the travel ban to Libya. On the same day, the Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) published a General License amending the Libyan Sanctions Regulations (31 § CFR 550).

The travel ban was lifted as a consequence of the progress made by Libya in its decision to cease all development programs related to weapons of mass destruction and missile technology.

The U.S. and Libya have recently acknowledged the fact that in the search for greater understanding, the lifting of the travel ban will increase contact between the two countries, helping to achieve that goal.

Prior to the travel ban being lifted, Representative Tom Lantos (D-Calif.), ranking Democrat on the House of International Relations Committee, stated that "given the level of Libyan cooperation and the rapid pace of developments, I believe Libya soon will have totally severed its ties to terrorism and ended its program for weapons of mass destruction and the means to deliver them. I therefore find it appropriate that the United States, for its part, undertake to give an initial response to the Libyans' new policies in order to encourage it to continue taking actions along these lines."

The license will permit U.S. persons to engage in travel-related transactions with Libya. Travel-related services, such as U.S. travel agents' booking of travel and accommodations within Libya for U.S. persons also will be permitted. However, certain payment restrictions still apply to these transactions, and the license does not authorize flights by U.S. carriers to Libya.

Note that while this change to the Libyan Sanctions Regulations opens up travel, specific licenses will still be required for individual business transactions.