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Ethiopia

Ethiopia visa

Africa · Eastern Africa

Prepare your trip to Ethiopia: check the rule for your passport, choose between an e-Visa and a visa on arrival where your nationality permits, then gather the documents suited to your purpose of stay. Find tourist fees, application tracking, extension conditions and links to the Ethiopian Immigration and Citizenship Service.

Updated on 18 October 2026 · Official sources consulted on 18 October 2026

At a glance

Authority
Immigration and Citizenship Service (Ethiopia)
Your procedure
Nationality, passport and purpose determine the procedure. The visa on arrival concerns the countries on the official list; it differs from the e-Visa application.
Online application
Apply, pay, track and download on evisa.gov.et. Check payment restrictions before you start.
Before you leave
For the tourist e-Visa, the passport must remain valid for at least 6 months from the planned date of entry. An approved e-Visa does not guarantee admission.

Do you need a visa?

Egypt passport: e-Visa to apply for online for a short tourist stay.

Stay of up to 90 days.

For a short tourist stay with an ordinary passport. To work, study or stay longer, the rules are different: check your situation.

Good to know

General rule stated by the source: a single-entry tourist e-Visa is available to citizens of all countries (Tourist Visa-VT page), with a choice of 30 or 90 days and a passport valid for 6 months.

Official source: Immigration and Citizenship Service (Ethiopia) — official e-Visa portal, Tourist Visa On Arrival and Tourist Visa-VT pagesImmigration and Citizenship Service (Éthiopie) — portail officiel e-Visa, pages Tourist Visa On Arrival et Tourist Visa-VT (new tab) Verified on 7 October 2026

All destinations for this nationality

VisaGuideline helps you prepare your application. The decision belongs to the country’s authority: check the official page before paying or applying.

Ethiopia visa: who needs one?

Based on the verified entry rules, for a short tourist stay with an ordinary passport.

Visa exemption 2

List of nationalities

Visa on arrival 116

List of nationalities

Electronic visa 79

List of nationalities

A nationality missing from this list does not establish a visa exemption. Consult the official authority.

Documented visa types

Tourist e-Visa — VT
For tourism and other non-professional purposes: single entry, maximum duration of 30 or 90 days depending on the option. Validity begins on the planned entry date stated in the application. Official page (new tab)
Tourist visa on arrival and exemptions
The visa on arrival depends on the portal's country list. Citizens of Kenya and Djibouti holding a valid passport benefit from an exemption. Check the rule for your nationality before departure. Official page (new tab)
Investment — IV
For persons carrying out an investment activity and potential investors. The page provides for supporting documents related to the project and the inviting organisation: use the list specific to the IV visa. Official page (new tab)
Studies — SV
For a course of study in Ethiopia. The required documents include an admission letter for a full-time course at a recognised institution. Confirm the other documents needed for your situation. Official page (new tab)
Employment in a foreign company — WV
For working in a company owned or operated by foreigners. The page notably requires documents from the employer and a letter attesting work authorisation. Other forms of employment fall under distinct categories. Official page (new tab)
Business, NGOs, conferences, medical care and other purposes
The portal distinguishes business and related activities (BRV), NGO work (NV), conferences (CV), medical care (MDV) and other categories. Choose the page for your actual purpose; a tourist visa is not suitable for professional activity. Official page (new tab)

Choosing the right visa and the official portal

Use evisa.gov.et for electronic applications. The service warns that applications and payments sent to websites imitating this portal are not accepted. Open the page corresponding to the actual purpose of your stay before filling in the form.

For business, a joint venture or a related activity, the Information section directs you to the BRV visa. Business visa applications first require a reference code registered and approved for the organisation or company and the visa type concerned. The portal does not issue business visas to persons under 18; accompanying children may apply for a tourist visa.

If you hold several nationalities, use the one for the passport you will travel with. The investment, study and work categories have their own documents: tourist visa documents are not a sufficient list for these projects.

Applying for and tracking your e-Visa

  1. Check your nationality and purpose of stay. For a visa on arrival or an exemption, consult the dedicated official page before choosing an electronic application.
  2. For tourism, allow at least 3 days before the estimated arrival. The general conditions exclude the issuance of an e-Visa if more than 3 months separate the application and the arrival.
  3. Provide accurate information matching your travel passport. Incorrect information may lead to rejection of the application.
  4. Attach the required copies and photograph, then pay the fees on the official portal if that payment method is available to you.
  5. Check tracking with the passport number and application reference. Complete any missing elements; check with your bank about any payment already made before paying again.
  6. Once the application is approved, download the visa and check the planned entry date and the conditions of the document received.

Documents to prepare according to your project

The photograph and passport are not sufficient for all categories. Check the documents applicable to your situation on the corresponding page.

Tourist fees, processing times and payment

Tourist visa rates displayed on 18 October 2026: 62 USD for a single entry of up to 30 days, or 152 USD for up to 90 days. Tourist extensions are displayed at 102 USD for 30 days and 302 USD for 90 days. Other visas have their own rates.

Tourist processing is announced at 3 days under normal circumstances. Submit at least 3 days before the estimated arrival and allow a margin: this indicative period does not guarantee a decision on a given date.

Payments are non-refundable. If you have already paid and the status remains uncertain, contact your bank and check the tracking before paying again: an additional payment will not be refunded.

The portal states that it refuses credit card payments from applicants originating from Cuba, Iraq, Sudan, Yemen, Somalia, North Korea, Afghanistan, South Sudan, the Crimea region in Ukraine and Syria. If this applies to you, contact the official service before any payment to find out the possible procedure.

On arrival and extending your stay

The validity of the e-Visa begins on the planned entry date stated in the application, not on issuance. An approved document does not guarantee admission: border officers may refuse entry. Check your visa and its dates before travelling.

Apply for the extension before the tourist visa expires. The page provides for online processing when the visa expired 1 to 15 days ago, then an in-person procedure at the service headquarters in Addis Ababa beyond 15 days. These arrangements do not constitute authorisation for additional stay: remaining after validity without an extension exposes you to fines and legal penalties.

Extension rules depend on the visa. Do not apply tourist durations, rates or procedures to a student or professional visa; check its page and contact the service if your situation requires clarification.

Prepare your application

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a visa to go to Ethiopia?

This depends on your nationality, your passport and the purpose of stay. Use the selector on this page, then the official source. The portal distinguishes e-Visa, visa on arrival and exemption; it indicates an exemption for citizens of Kenya and Djibouti holding a valid passport.

What is the price of the electronic tourist visa?

Rates displayed on 18 October 2026: 62 USD for a single entry of up to 30 days and 152 USD for up to 90 days. Fees are non-refundable. Check the applicable amount before paying.

When should you apply for the e-Visa?

For tourism, submit at least 3 days before the estimated arrival; the 3-day period corresponds to normal circumstances. The general conditions state that an e-Visa is not issued if more than 3 months separate the application and the arrival.

How do you track the application and retrieve the visa?

Open the official tracking with your passport number and application reference. The status tells you whether elements or payment are missing. If you have already paid, check with your bank before starting again. Download the visa once the application is approved.

Can you extend a tourist visa?

Apply for the extension before expiry. The page indicates online processing when the visa expired 1 to 15 days ago, and an in-person procedure in Addis Ababa beyond 15 days. This is not an authorised stay period after expiry: fines and penalties may apply.

Can you use a tourist visa to work or study?

The tourist visa concerns tourism and non-professional purposes. To work, invest or study, consult the category corresponding to your project and prepare its specific supporting documents.

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