The Ethiopian Visa for your Trip to Ethiopia
If you are considering of going to Ethiopia on a holiday or to see a relative or on a business trip, then applying for an Ethiopian visa can become a necessary task.
Generally, you can apply for the required Ethiopian visa online/ at the nearest Ethiopian embassy in the country of your residence.
General Visa Requirements and Validity Period of Ethiopian Visa
Before applying for a visa for Ethiopia, it is recommended you check whether you can apply for the Ethiopian visa.
A brief summary of the most important requirements and conditions when getting the visa for Ethiopia:
- You do not intend to perform voluntary work that may otherwise be carried out by a paid worker in Ethiopia.
- You do not plan to join a work relationship in Ethiopia.
- You do not intend to provide services to Ethiopian organisations (this is permitted with a Ethiopian work visa or business visa).
- You do not plan to offer or market services or products to consumers in Ethiopia.
- You and your family members are not in debt to the Ethiopia Government.
- You do not pose a risk to the health or safety of residents of Ethiopia.
- You are able to demonstrate that you have adequate funds to finance your stay and return from Ethiopia.
Do you require an Ethiopian visa?
It relies on your citizenship and also the kind of travel document you are using to take a trip to Ethiopia.Please visit here to check if you require an Ethiopian visa.
Exactly who can apply for an Ethiopian visa?
Anybody hoping to go on holiday to Ethiopia can make an application for an Ethiopian visa.
There are many types of visa for Ethiopia which you can use as a traveller to Ethiopia. If you are not exactly sure which sort of Ethiopian visa you require to apply, please speak to the closest Ethiopian visa office to obtain further clarification as aim of this web page is to provide you basic guide when applying for Ethiopian visa.
What kind of Ethiopian visa do I require?
This depends upon three aspects:
- The citizenship according to your passport – If the nationality according to the passport is from a country that is on visa free travel to Ethiopia or eligible to make an application for a visa on arrival in Ethiopia, then you may not need to make an application for an Ethiopian visa before leaving from your home country. Please go here to confirm if you need an Ethiopian visa.
- The timeframe of your visit in Ethiopia – If you want to stay in Ethiopia for a shorter period less than 90 days, then you can request the Ethiopian visa. If you want to remain longer, then contact the nearest Ethiopian visa office to secure the suitable visa for your travel.
- The activities you hope to accomplish in Ethiopia – If your sole purpose of travelling is for holiday, then you can make an application for all types of Ethiopian visas discussed on this web page.
General Visa Application Requirements to Apply for Ethiopian Visitor Visa
- Tourist visa Form for Ethiopia – Completed Ethiopian visa application form.
- Original and signed passport – The passport has to be valid for at least six months prior to entering Ethiopia and three months after departing Ethiopia. It should contain at the very least 2 extra visa pages and can not be older than ten years.
- Passport type photo – Photo needs to be no older than 6 months and must be 35 x 40mm in size.
- Previous passport – Supply a previous passport if you had any.
- Previous visas – Copies of previous Ethiopian visas information if you had any.
- Flight tickets to Ethiopia – Reservation of return or round trip flight tickets. In some situations the Ethiopian visa office may request for pre paid air travel tickets to Ethiopia.
- Travel insurance – Proof of travel insurance with a minimum cover set by the Ethiopian consular office provided with the Certificate of Insurance coverage and the table of benefits. The travel insurance coverage have to cover the cost of repatriation for medical reasons and the Certificate of Currency need to be issued by an insurance company. If you are thinking about utilizing your credit card travel insurance for your travel to Ethiopia, please get in touch with Ethiopian embassy for more details and travel insurance policy requirements for the Ethiopian visa.
- Original financial institution statements – Original bank statements for the last 3 months showing adequate funds to cover stay in Ethiopia. If statements are printed online then it needs to be Validated (marked) by the financial institution officials.
- Hotel Reservations in Ethiopia – Copy of confirmed hotel bookings including name of the applicant, name and address of the hotel, time-span of stay. In most scenarios, only bookings which are partly or completely pre-paid can be accepted.
- Work letter – This letter must be: original and signed letter from employer written on company letter head paper, validating your ongoing employment, the status of employment, monthly income and annual leave. Additionally, please give your three latest pay slips. If you are self-employed: offer certified copies of company registration, tax return.
- For students. Please provide the following:
- Proof of current student status: Certificate of Enrollment.
- Original and signed letter from university written on university letter head paper, affirming ongoing enrolment, verifying the payment of tuition fees or any kind of scholarships, and confirming semester break.
- Insurance from Organisation/University– Provide a letter from the University stating the purpose, duration of travel and confirmation that you are going to be covered by the insurance policy for the entire journey along with the Certificate of Currency and summary of benefits.
In general, visa applications for Ethiopian visa ought to be submitted for a maximum of 6 months, and no later than 15 days, before the journey.