How to get a visa for Ethiopia

Ethiopia is an African country with an area of over one million square kilometres and a population of almost 100 million. Its capital is Addis Ababa, and although at first sight, it may appear to be a developing country, it has a unique cultural richness. Ethiopia claims the most monuments declared by UNESCO as world heritage of any African country.

Do I need a visa to travel to Ethiopia?

Almost all foreign citizens require a visa to visit Ethiopia, regardless of the reason for the trip. To apply for a visa, you will need to complete a form that includes personal information, the reason for your visit, and the period you will spend in the country.

Please check our eligibility verification to make sure you need a visa to Ethiopia.

Types of visas for Ethiopia

If the reason for your visit is tourism, you must apply for either a 30- or 90-day tourist visa. With this visa, you will only be able to participate in tourism activities and will not be able to partake in any type of employment. To work in Ethiopia, you must apply for a specific visa, which requires other conditions.

There are several types of visas that you can apply for online, in embassies or on arrival at the international airport. The most advisable and quickest way to obtain an Ethiopian visa is to process the application online, provided that your nationality or your reason for being in the country allows for this provision. These are the types of visas available for entry to Ethiopia:

Tourist visa, (VT);

This visa is processed online. It is a single-entry visa for visitors who wish to travel to the country for tourism or other non-business-related purposes. It has a maximum validity of 90 days. You may request an extension before it expires at the Central Office of the Department of Immigration Affairs in the Ethiopian capital.

On Arrival Visa, (VT):

This visa is issued on arrival at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport and is valid for a maximum of 90 days.

Conference visa, (CV):

This visa is for people travelling to the country to attend international conferences. It can be processed online or from an embassy. A letter of invitation to the conference or seminar is required.

Investor visa, (IV):

This visa is for foreigners who wish to carry out investment activities in the country.

Visa for International Organisations or Embassies, (RI):

This visa is issued to foreigners with ordinary passports, who are invited by international organisations or embassies present in Ethiopia.

Working visa for foreign companies, (WV):

This visa will be issued to persons with foreign nationality, who come to Ethiopia to work for foreign companies located in the country.

Working Visa of the Government of Ethiopia, (GV):

This visa is granted to foreign nationals coming to the country to work in institutions or ministries of the Ethiopian government.

Journalist visa, (JV):

As the name suggests, this visa is intended for foreign journalists, filmmakers, people from the audio-visual media, televisions, etc.

Working visa for private companies in Ethiopia, (EP)

This visa will be issued to foreign nationals coming to work or perform short term work activities in private Ethiopian companies.

Working visa for government tasks, (GIV):

This visa is for foreigners who wish to enter Ethiopia to perform specific tasks for government institutions for a short time.

Working Visa for Non-Governmental Organisations (NV):

This visa is for foreigners who wish to enter Ethiopia to perform certain tasks for government institutions for a short time: This visa is issued to foreigners invited by Ethiopian NGOs to work or engage in short-term activities.

How do I apply for an Ethiopian visa?

Visas can be obtained online or on arrival at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport or at the nearest embassy. The on-arrival visa is for tourism only and will not be granted at any of the country's land borders. If you enter by land, it is necessary to apply for a visa from the embassy closest to your place of residence.

All visas for tourism, family visits or business, where you enter the country through an airport can be processed online. The rest of the visas have to be processed in person from an embassy.

Who needs a visa for Ethiopia?

All foreign travellers wishing to visit or enter Ethiopia, for whatever reason, must select one of the visas offered by the Ethiopian government to enter the country.

Virtually all nationalities can obtain a visa; however, you can verify this for your nationality with our eligibility tracker.  All European citizens entering the country through airports can apply for a visa online.

What are the requirements to apply for a visa to Ethiopia?

Different documents and data are required from the applicants according to the type of visa you wish to obtain. Below, we will detail the requirements for each of the available visas.

Tourist and transit visas:

• Recent passport-size photograph.
• A passport that is valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry.

Conference visa:

• Recent passport-size photograph.
• Passport valid for at least 6 months from date of entry.
• A formal invitation from the body holding the conference.

Investor's visa:

• Recent passport-size photograph.
• A passport that is valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry.
• Letter of support (proof that you will travel for investment purposes).
• If you have been invited by a company, you must attach the invitation letter.

Work visa for foreign companies:

• Recent passport size photo.
• A passport that is valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry.
• Formal application letter from the company.
• Business license from the company making the claim.
• Certificate of Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) of the company.
• A contractual agreement between the company and the visa applicant.

Work visa for International Organizations or Embassies:

• Recent passport-size photograph.
• A passport that is valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry.
• Formal application letter from the organization or Ethiopian Foreign Affairs Embassy.
• Verbal note or letter of support from the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Working visa from the Ethiopian Government:

• Recent passport-size photograph.
• A passport that is valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry.
• Letter of application written by the relevant government institution.

Journalist visa:

• Recent passport-size photograph.
• A passport that is valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry.
• A written request from the institution or company through which you have been authorized or invited to work.
• Letter of support from the Ethiopian Government's communications office.

Working visa for private companies in Ethiopia:

• Recent passport-size photograph.
• A passport that is valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry.
• Official letter of application written by the company and addressed to the Ethiopian Department of Immigration and Nationality Affairs.
• Business license from the company.
• Certified Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) of the company.
• A contractual agreement between the company and the visa applicant.

Government short term work visa:

• Recent passport-size photograph.
• A passport that is valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry.
• Letter of application written by the relevant government institution.

Working visa for non-governmental organizations:

• Recent passport-size photograph.
• A passport that is valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry.
• Official letter of application written by the company and addressed to the Principal Department of Immigration and Nationality Affairs of Ethiopia.
• Registration license from the organization by which you have been invited.

Can the Ethiopia visa be changed once it has been processed?

Once the visa application has been processed, you cannot change or modify the data. Government authorities do not allow applications to be updated once they have been submitted. You must take care of and verify all data before sending the application.

How much does a visa to Ethiopia cost?

There are different fees, for the different categories of visas:

• Tourist and transit visa (30 days maximum): 52 USD
• Tourist Visa (90 days maximum): 72 USD
• Conference visa (duration of the conference): 32 USD
• Journalist visa (project duration): 42 USD
• The investor visa (30 days maximum): 32 USD
• The investor visa (90 days maximum): 42 USD
• The investor visa (6 months maximum): 62 USD
• The investor visa (12 months maximum): 122 USD
• Working visa for International Organizations or Embassies: 52 USD
• Work visa for foreign companies: 42 USD
• Government of Ethiopia working visa: USD 32
• Working visa for private companies in Ethiopia: 32 USD
• Working visa for Non-governmental Organizations: 62 USD
• Short term government working visa (30 days maximum): 22 USD
• Short term government working visa (90 days maximum): 82 USD
• Short term government working visa (6 months maximum): 122 USD

How far in advance do I need to apply for the visa?

Processing times are usually quite fast and can take between 3 and 5 working days for electronic visas. However, it is advisable to apply at least 15 days in advance to account for any setbacks that may occur. The electronic visa's validity begins at the moment of entry and will have a maximum duration of the selected stay.

In the case of visas for land border crossings, it will be 30 or 90 days from the moment you enter the country, depending on the stay you have requested. Therefore, you can apply for the visa up to 1 year in advance, without worrying about its validity for use.

What are the entry borders to Ethiopia?

Ethiopia borders Djibouti and Eritrea to the north, Kenya to the south, Somalia to the east, and Sudan and Southern Sudan to the west. It has no coastline and is neither landlocked nor sea-going.

The main entrance to the country is through Addis Ababa Bole International Airport. This airport is located 18 km from the capital city of Addis Ababa. This is the only way to enter the country if you have a tourist visa or wish to apply for a visa upon arrival.

If you wish to enter through a land border post, you must contact the embassy to apply for a permit and visa, as no visas are issued at land border posts.

Do I need any vaccines to travel to Ethiopia?

Yellow Fever vaccination is mandatory for all people coming from a country where the disease still exists. It is also recommended that you be vaccinated against Tetanus-Diphtheria or Tetanus-Pertussis, MMR (Measles, Rubella and Mumps) and Hepatitis A.

What is the currency of Ethiopia?

The country’s official currency is the Ethiopian Birr (ETB), which is a non-convertible currency, so the currency is marked by the monetary authority and not by the foreign exchange market. You can exchange currency at any bank, legal exchange establishment or any of the country's major hotels, just by presenting an identification document.

However, if you want to change from Birr to another international currency, it will be somewhat more complicated. You will have to have government authorization to be able to carry out this currency exchange. Due to this inconvenience, it is advisable not to exchange large amounts of money to avoid being overloaded with local currency.

When is the best time to travel to Ethiopia?

The best time to visit Ethiopia is from January to March. The days are warmer and the skies are mostly clear. It also coincides with celebrations such as Timkat, which is a 3-day celebration commemorating the baptism of Christ. It is a very colourful celebration where they make processions carrying reproductions of the Ark of the Covenant. All this to the rhythm of the most faithful song and dance, it is the most popular and colourful celebration of the country.

The low season is from the end of April to the end of September because the atmosphere is very humid and sultry. It is also the rainy season.

Is it safe to travel to Ethiopia?

Yes, as far as crime is concerned, Ethiopia is a safe country. Apart from petty thefts that we can find in any other country in the world.

The greatest danger lies in some risk areas, such as the border areas with Eritrea, Somalia, Sudan and Southern Sudan. In these areas, there is a high risk of kidnapping and often violent clashes. Travelling to the Somali region is also inadvisable because of the country's instability and the Gambella, Oromia and Amhara regions.

Important tips for travelling to Ethiopia

• The Ethiopian calendar is different than the one you are likely familiar. The Ethiopian calendar has 13 months and is 7 to 8 years behind the calendar we know. The same thing happens with the hours as Ethiopians use another system where the days start at 06:00 in the morning, instead of 00:00 as it is in our case. You must consider this data to calculate your stay and times when entering and leaving the country so that you do not get confused about either the day or the time.
• You must be careful when showing affection to your partner in public places, especially if between people of the same sex. Homosexuality is punishable by imprisonment from 1 year to 5 years, and in some cases up to 15 years.
• The possession, sale or consumption of drugs is also punishable by imprisonment of up to 10 years, and fines that could reach up to 8000 euros.
• Beware of taking pictures of government buildings, military bases or high-ranking buildings in the country. Unless you have a specific permit, you should avoid taking your camera out altogether in these areas. We should also be careful if we carry professional photographic equipment that may attract attention, and do not carry press permission to use it.
• Ethiopia has a very high death rate from traffic accidents, so driving on isolated roads, or at night, is discouraged. It is advisable to travel with an authorized guide, or with a professional local driver.
• Try to get to Lalibela; a small village of barely 15,000 inhabitants, located in the region of Amhara, a holy city of pilgrimage, where its churches carved in stone stand out.
• Take out travel insurance with medical coverage. You should always take out travel insurance, but above all, you should do so where health care is excessively expensive or difficult to access.