Passport/Visa | Passport Required? | Visa Required? | Return Ticket Required? |
| British | Yes | Yes/1 | Yes |
| Australian | Yes | Yes/1 | Yes |
| Canadian | Yes | Yes/1 | Yes |
| USA | Yes | Yes/1 | Yes |
| Other EU | Yes | Yes/1 | Yes |
PassportsPassport valid for
six months required by all nationals referred to in the chart above.
VisasRequired by all nationals referred to in the chart above except the following:
(a) transit passengers continuing to a third country within 12 hours, provided not leaving the airport and holding valid travel documents for onward destination.
1. Some tourist visas can be issued on arrival at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport to:
(a) Foreign nationals coming from countries where there is no Ethiopian mission.
(b) Foreign nationals coming from and who are permanent residents in any of the following countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, UK and USA.
If applying for a tourist visa on arrival, visitors will require two passport photographs and US$20; application can take up to two hours.
Visa Note(a) An exit permit is required by all nationals of Ethiopia and visitors staying more than 30 days. (b) Journalists should contact the Ethiopian embassy press office in advance of applying for a visa. (c) Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements (see
General Info).
Types of Visa and CostTourist: £12 (single-entry, one month); £18 (multiple-entry, three months); £24 (multiple-entry, six months).
Business: £12 (single-entry, one month); £18 (multiple-entry, three months); £30 (multiple-entry, six months); £60 (multiple-entry, one year).
Transit: £12 (single-entry); £18 (double-entry).
Note: The above prices do not apply to US citizens. By special arrangement with the US government, citizens receive a two-year multiple entry visa for both business and tourism for £42 (US$66).
ValidityTourist: Single-entry visas are valid for 30 days, multiple-entry visas are valid for three or six months.
Business: Single-entry visas are valid for 30 days, multiple-entry visas are valid for three, six months or one year. Applications for extensions should be made to the Immigration Department in Ethiopia.
Transit: Seven days.
Note: Visas are valid from the date of issue, not from the date of entry; visas cannot be post-dated.
Applications to:Consulate (or consular section at embassy; see
General Info)
in person or by post. For application on arrival, see below.
Working Days RequiredTwo to three days, longer if application is by post. Applications by journalists and photographers may take up to two weeks.
WarningMost visits to Ethiopia are trouble-free. There is a low level of crime. We do not advise against travel to the main tourist destinations including Bahir Dar, Gonder, Lalibela, Axum and the rift valley lakes and the Omo Valley.
Travelers are advised against all travel to areas off the principal roads/towns within 50km (31 miles) of the border areas with Eritrea because of the risk of landmines. The Ethiopia/Eritrea border remains closed and the situation is very tense and could deteriorate extremely rapidly.
It is advised against all travel to the Danakil desert area bounded by the Dessie-Adigrat road, the Dessie-Djibouti road and the Ethiopian/Eritrean border. On 1 March 2007, 14 people including a group of Western tourists and their tour guides were abducted by an armed group near Lake Asele in the Danakil Depression region. Five of those abducted were released on 13 March 2007 and the remaining nine were released on 23 April.
It is advised against all travel to the Gambella Region where the situation remains volatile.
It is advised against all travel to areas off the principal roads/towns within 50km (31mph) of the borders with Sudan and Kenya. Along the border with Kenya, cross-border banditry related to the drought in the region have increased. Armed groups hostile to the Government of Ethiopia operate in several areas near the border with Kenya.
We advise against crossing the Ethiopia/Somalia border by road. It is also advised against travel to the Jijiga, Fik, Degehabur, Gode, Korahe amd Warder zones of the Somali region where rebels groups are active and the situation remains volatile.The outbreak of conflict in Somalia could increase the risk of conflict in Somali Regional State.
There is a high threat from terrorism in Ethiopia; attacks could be against civilian targets including places frequented by foreigners. Since the mid-1990s, Somali groups affiliated with terrorist organizations have clashed with government forces in the border states, particularly in the Ogaden region. They may also occasionally operate within the Oromiya, and Afar regions.
Following serious politically-motivated disturbances in Addis Ababa in late 2005, the situation remains unpredictable. Travelers should remain extremely vigilant at all times if in public places and avoid any public demonstrations or large gatherings of people.
This advice is based on information provided by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the UK. It is correct at time of publishing. As the situation can change rapidly, visitors are advised to contact the following organizations for the latest travel advice:
British Foreign and Commonwealth Office Tel: 0845 850 2829.
Website:
www.fco.gov.uk US Department of State Website:
http://travel.state.gov/travelHealth | Special Precautions | Certificate Required? |
| Diphtheria | Yes | |
| Hepatitis A | Yes | |
| Malaria | Yes | |
| Rabies | Sometimes | |
| Tetanus | Yes | |
| Typhoid | Yes | |
| Yellow Fever | Yes* | |
Health CareHealth facilities are extremely limited in Addis Ababa and inadequate outside the city. Travelers should bring their own prescription drugs accompanied by a doctor’s note. The high altitude and low oxygen level of much of Ethiopia need time to be acclimatized to. Anyone who suffers from heart ailments or high blood pressure should consult a doctor before traveling. Health insurance is strongly advised.
Note* A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travelers aged over one year traveling from an infected area. Ethiopia is listed in the endemic zone for yellow fever and travelers arriving from non-endemic zones should note that vaccination is strongly recommended for travel outside the urban areas, even if an outbreak of the disease has not been reported and they would normally not require a vaccination certificate to enter the country.
Next Page »
