Ethiopia Immigration and Visas

Your Central Source for Information on Ethiopia

Free Case Assessment
5 Star Google Rating

Your Immigration to Ethiopia starts here

Ethiopia is a landlocked country in East Africa.
The capital city Addis Ababa is known for its great coffee.

Here are a few interesting facts about Ethiopia:

  • The Ethiopian calendar has 13 months and is 7 ½ years behind the Gregorian calendar.
  • New Year in Ethiopia starts on 11th September and a day later in a leap year.

The official currency is the Ethiopian Birr: ETB.

Ethiopia is one of the leading destinations for tourists exploring the Horn of Africa.
It has a beautiful blend of cultures and delicious exotic dishes.
It has numerous airports to get you to any destination within the country.
Among these key ports of entry is Addis Ababa Airport, also known as Bole International Airport.

Apply for a Visa in Ethiopia - Contact our Immigration Specialists today

Types of Permits (Visa) and Residence in Ethiopia

Ethiopia has four types of visas. Contact IBN Immigration Solutions, and we’ll assign a specialist in Ethiopian Visa Application and Immigration to oversee your case.

Your specialist will tell you which of the Ethiopian visas is best for you and your situation.

Ethiopia Tourist Visa
Ethiopia Business Visa
Ethiopia Investment Visa
Ethiopia Conference Visa

Ethiopia Tourist Visa

Ethiopia Tourist Visa

A tourist visa is a single-entry Ethiopian visa issued by the Ethiopian government.
It’s for travellers who have come to the country exclusively for tourism or other non-business-related purposes.

Ethiopia Tourist Visa Forms and Documents Required

The Ethiopian tourist visa requires the following:

  • A recent passport-size photo of the applicant.
  • Your passport that is valid for six months from the intended entry date to Ethiopia.

Cost of an Ethiopia Tourist Visa

The costs for the two Ethopian tourism visas are the following:

  • 30 days: ETB 960
  • 90 days: ETB 1300
Have a question? Ask us, it’s free!

Ethiopia Business Visa

Ethiopia Business Visa

This visa enables eligible travellers to come to Ethiopia for business.
You can submit applications for Ethiopian business visas online or at an embassy or consulate.

There are different business visas in Ethiopia, such as Investment and Conference Visas.

Have a question? Ask us, it’s free!

Ethiopia Investment Visa

Ethiopia Investment Visa

The Ethiopian investment visa is for those who currently have investments in Ethiopia or those who want to begin investing in Ethiopia.

Ethiopia Investment Visa Qualification

Qualifying Requirements:
You must already have invested in Ethiopia or be interested in investing.
Applications for an investment visa must be supported by a letter from your local Ethiopian Embassy stating that you are travelling for investment purposes.

The investment visa requires the following:

  • A recent passport-size photo
  • A copy of your passport that is valid for six months from the date of entry.

If you are coming to invest or investigate potential investments in Ethiopia for the first time, you need a support letter from the nearest Ethiopian Embassy to prove you are travelling for investment purposes.

If you are invited by a company involved in investment activities in Ethiopia, you need the following forms:

  • An official application letter written by the host organisation and addressed to the Immigration and Citizenship Service of Ethiopia.
  • Business license of the inviting company.
  • A support Letter from the Investment Commission of Ethiopia.

Cost of an Ethiopia Investment Visa

The costs for the types of investment visas are the following:

  • Single-entry for up to 30 days: ETB600
  • Multiple-entry for up to 90 days: ETB 770
  • Multiple-entry for up to six months: ETB 1146
  • Multiple-entry for up to 12 months: ETB 2255
Have a question? Ask us, it’s free!

Ethiopia Conference Visa

Ethiopia Conference Visa

A conference visa speaks for itself.
It is for those attending conferences, seminars, and symposiums in Ethiopia.

Ethiopia Conference Visa Qualification

The host entity must invite you to the conference (or similar). Host entities include:

  • Ministry or Department of the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
  • Regional state governments
  • Educational institutions and universities
  • Organisations owned by the private sector, the Ethiopian government, United Nations or its specialised agencies, African Union, or reputed NGOs.

General requirements for the conference visa:

  • A recent passport-size photo
  • A copy of your passport that is still valid for six months from the intended entry date to Ethiopia
  • An invitation letter

    • Requirements per hosting category

    Privately owned organisation:

    An application letter written by the inviting company to the Immigration And Citizenship Service of Ethiopia.
    The inviting company’s business license, which has been renewed for the fiscal year.
    The inviting company’s Taxpayer Identification Number(TIN) certificate, which has been renewed for the fiscal year.

    Ethiopian government-owned organisation:

    A formal application letter written by the inviting company to the Immigration and Citizenship Service of Ethiopia.

    NGO-owned organisation:

    A formal application letter written by the inviting organisation to the Immigration and Citizenship Service of Ethiopia.
    The host company’s registration license.

    Internationally-owned organisations:

    A formal application letter written by the inviting organisation to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia.
    Note Verbal (support letter) from Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

    Cost of an Ethiopia Investment Visa

    The cost of a conference visa in Ethiopia is the following:

    Single-entry for up to 30 days: ETB 580.

    Have a question? Ask us, it’s free!

    How to Apply for an Ethiopia Visa

    You have two options when you apply for Ethiopian visas.
    Your decision rests largely on the complexity of your application.
    The online option might be best for you if your application is straightforward.
    If your application is more complex, it might be better to go in person to state your case.
    Your specialist in Ethiopian visas will tell you which process is best for your situation.

    1. Go to your closest embassy and apply in person.
    2. Apply online and complete the following steps:
    • Select your Ethiopian visa type and citizenship
    • Provide your flight details and arrival information
    • Provide your personal information
    • Upload your supporting documents
    • Apply and wait for approval

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Ethiopia has only two visas to accommodate applicants’ needs. The options are a work visa and a tourist visa. Previously an additional business visa existed, but this merged with a work visa.

    The work visa in Ethiopia is unique because it has an option for each type of host entity. For example, an applicant who works for an NGO must apply for an NGO Employee work visa.

    Only two types of work permits are available in Ethiopisa:

    • long-term
    • short-term

    The long-term work permit is a three-year permit.
    You can renew it annually.

    The short-term work permit does not have a defined duration. The short-term work permit duration is issued according to the employer’s request.

    A work visa is known as a business visa in other countries. It enables entry into Ethiopia to work and attend business meetings for 30 days and can be renewed three times.

    The three-year work permit is issued for up to three years and can be renewed annually.

    A work permit is issued to a person after proving that an Ethiopian cannot carry out the work.

    This means that the foreign applicant has to prove a combination of education and experience in the field or at a level that is hard to find in the country.

    Work permit applications are adjudicated on a case-by-case basis. The short-term work permit is functionally not different from a long-term work permit.

    Work authorisation enables you to work in Ethiopia. However, an additional residence permit is required. The Main Department of Immigration and Nationality Affairs handles residence permit applications. Both work and residence permits are required to live and work in Ethiopia legally.

    Our local Ethiopian immigration service provider must submit the application for a work permit because local authorities must be approached. After approval of the work authorisation, the second application for the residence permit must be submitted.

    It is important to ensure that the immigration part of the relocation process is started as early as possible and well in advance of your actual assignment date, as requirements and procedures can change.

    The work authorisation permit is always processed inside the country. Currently, the adjudication process takes about 15 days. The processing time may increase or decrease depending on the queue of applications at the Ministry. It is issued by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and the Ethiopian Investment Commission.

    We provide a full range of immigration services for Ethiopia. With our professional and trusted network of partners, we are always up to date on policy issues that govern immigration rules and regulations.

    We will first consult to establish which Ethiopian visa or permit is the most suitable for your situation. We advise on the required documentation and compile the complete application on your behalf. We will help you save time gathering the required documents to finalise your application.

    There is a great advantage in having a reliable local representative who will submit the application in Ethiopia and collect the issued documents for you. All providers worldwide we work with have been screened and comply with our thorough due diligence.

    Related posts

    Immigration News from Africa: October/November 2023

    Immigration News from Africa: October/November 2023

    This month, IBN Immigration Solutions brings you the latest immigration news from South Africa, Namibia, Zambia, and Kenya.

    Read More
    Immigration News from Africa: August/September 2023

    Immigration News from Africa: August/September 2023

    This month, IBN Immigration Solutions bring you the latest immigration news from South Africa, Namibia, Mozambique, and Tanzania.

    Read More
    Immigration News from Africa: July 2023

    Immigration News from Africa: July 2023

    In our monthly Immigration News from Africa, we update you on important changes in African Immigration. This month, we cover South Africa, Nigeria, and Botswana.

    Read More
    See More