Ethiopia
Ethiopia visa guide: every visa and residence permit
- 14 visa types
- checked 24 October 2026
How visas for Ethiopia work
Ethiopia’s visa system is run by the Immigration and Citizenship Service (ICS) in Addis Ababa. Almost every entry visa, from the tourist visa to employment visas, is requested on the government portal evisa.gov.et. Each visa has a two-letter or three-letter code (VT for tourists, BRV for business, IV for investment, WV for employees of foreign-owned firms, SV for students, IMV for residence) and a fee in US dollars that ranges from USD 32 to USD 1,002 for the initial visa. The portal states a normal processing time of 3 days and refuses to issue an e-Visa when the planned arrival is more than three months after the application.
Tourists have two channels. The tourist e-Visa is open to citizens of every country and costs USD 62 for a single entry of up to 30 days or USD 152 for up to 90 days. A tourist visa on arrival is also offered to the nationalities listed on the portal, which include the EU states, the United Kingdom, the United States, China, India and many African countries. Citizens of Kenya and Djibouti enter without a visa.
Work, business and official visas are sponsored: the inviting company, NGO, government body or international organisation must be registered on the portal and give the applicant a reference code before the visa can be requested. Holders who stay longer move on to a residence ID issued by ICS inside Ethiopia, for example a temporary residence ID for employees, shareholders, students and journalists, a temporary residence permit for spouses of Ethiopian citizens, or a five-year renewable permanent residence ID. Overstaying any visa leads to fines and legal penalties.
Which visa do I need?
Holiday, sightseeing or a family visit: the tourist e-Visa (USD 62 for 30 days, USD 152 for 90 days) or, for nationalities on the portal's list, the tourist visa on arrival. Tourist visa holders must not be found working at any organisation.
Meetings, market research or joint-venture talks: the Business and Related Studies Visa (BRV). A conference or workshop: the Conference Visa (CV). Sports events, film shoots or media work: the SPV, EIV or Journalist visa.
Paid employment: the employment visa that matches the employer, such as WV for foreign-owned firms, PE for Ethiopian private firms, NV for NGOs, GV for government bodies or RI for embassies and international organisations, followed by a residence ID. Investors use the Investment Visa (IV).
Studies: the Student Visa (SV) and then a temporary residence ID. Living with an Ethiopian spouse: entry visa, then the temporary residence permit through marriage. Medical treatment: the MDV. People fleeing persecution register with the Refugees and Returnees Service (RRS).
Visa types for Ethiopia
Visits and short stays
- Tourist visa Tourist Visa (VT)
Ethiopia’s Tourist Visa (VT) is a single-entry visa for tourism and other non-business purposes, open to citizens of every country.
Maximum stay: 30 days or 90 days, depending on the option chosen - Culture, sports and events visa Workshop/Conference Visa (CV), Sports Competition and Training Visa (SPV), Entertainment Industry Visa (EIV) and Journalist Visa (JV)
Ethiopia has separate visas for conference and workshop participants (CV, USD 52 for 30 days), athletes (SPV, USD 82 for 30 days or USD 202 for 90 days), film, television and live-production crews (EIV, USD 102 or USD 302) and journalists (JV, USD 152 for 30 days).
Maximum stay: CV and JV 30 days; SPV and EIV 30 or 90 days - Medical treatment visa Medical Treatment Visa (MDV)
The Medical Treatment Visa (MDV) is for foreign nationals entering Ethiopia to be treated for a medical condition.
Maximum stay: 30 days, 90 days, 6 months or 12 months depending on the option
Business and self-employment
- Business visa Business and Related Studies Visa (BRV)
The Business and Related Studies Visa (BRV) is for foreign nationals entering Ethiopia to do business, market research, joint-venture talks and similar activities.
Maximum stay: 30 days or 90 days - Investor visa Investment Visa (IV)
The Investment Visa (IV) is issued to foreign nationals engaged in investment activities in Ethiopia and to potential investors who want to come and invest.
Maximum stay: 30 days, 90 days, 6 months or 12 months
Study and training
- Student visa Student Visa (SV) and student temporary residence ID
Foreign students enter Ethiopia on the Student Visa (SV), a single-entry 30-day visa costing USD 62 that requires an acceptance letter for full-time study at a recognised institution.
Maximum stay: Visa: 30 days; then a temporary residence ID for the studies
Work
- Work visa Employment visas: Foreign Business Firm Employment Visa (WV), Private Business Firm Work Visa (PE), NGO Work Visa (NV), Government Employment Visa (GV), Government Institutions Short Task Visa (GIV), International Organizations/Embassies Work Visa (RI)
Ethiopia has no single work visa: the employment visa depends on who employs you.
Maximum stay: Initial visa 30 days; WV, NV and GIV also 90 days; GIV up to 6 months
Family
- Spouse and partner visa Temporary Residence Permit through Marriage and Ethiopian Origin ID by Marriage
Foreign nationals married to Ethiopian citizens can obtain a renewable Temporary Residence Permit through Marriage from ICS, after entering on a visa.
Validity: Temporary permit for a specified period, renewable
Residence
- Residence permit Residence Visa (IMV) and Temporary ID (temporary residence)
Living in Ethiopia combines an entry visa with a residence document from ICS.
Maximum stay: IMV 30 or 90 days; Temporary ID for a limited period set by ICS - Permanent residence Permanent Residence ID (five-year, renewable)
ICS issues a Permanent Residence ID that lets foreign nationals live in Ethiopia for an extended period.
Validity: Five years, renewable
Online travel permits
- e-Visa Ethiopian e-Visa (evisa.gov.et)
evisa.gov.et is the Immigration and Citizenship Service portal through which almost all Ethiopian entry visas are requested, from the USD 62 tourist visa to sponsored work and investment visas.
Maximum stay: Depends on the visa type: 30 or 90 days for tourists, up to 12 months for some business categories - Visa on arrival Tourist Visa on Arrival
Ethiopia issues the tourist visa on arrival to nationals of the countries on the official e-Visa portal’s list, which includes all large EU states, the United Kingdom, the United States, China, India and most African countries.
Processing time: Issued at the port of entry
Fast-track and priority services
- Fast-track and priority visa services Urgent service for the Ethiopian Origin ID
ICS publishes an urgent service for foreigners only for the Ethiopian Origin ID, including the version for spouses of Ethiopian citizens: USD 400 instead of USD 300.
Asylum and international protection
- Asylum and international protection Asylum and refugee status (Refugees Proclamation No. 1110/2019)
Asylum in Ethiopia is decided by the government’s Refugees and Returnees Service (RRS) under Refugees Proclamation No.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa for Ethiopia?
Yes, unless you are a citizen of Kenya or Djibouti. Every nationality can apply for the tourist e-Visa online at evisa.gov.et, and the nationalities on the portal's list can also get the tourist visa on arrival.
How much does an Ethiopian tourist visa cost?
The e-Visa portal lists USD 62 for a single entry of up to 30 days and USD 152 for a single entry of up to 90 days. Fees are not refunded.
Who can enter Ethiopia without a visa?
The official portal names citizens of Kenya and Djibouti with a valid passport. People of Ethiopian origin who hold an Ethiopian Origin ID also enter without a visa, according to ICS.
Can I extend my visa inside Ethiopia?
Many visas can be extended before they expire, for a fee. The portal handles short extensions online and sends longer ones to the ICS head office in Addis Ababa. Conference, journalist, sports and student visas cannot be extended.
Are other Ethiopia visa websites official?
No. The portal warns that the government has no agreement with look-alike sites and that applications or payments made through them are not accepted. The official address is evisa.gov.et.
Can I pay the e-Visa fee with any card?
The portal states that, since 18 November 2020, card payments are not accepted from applicants originating from Cuba, Iraq, Sudan, Yemen, Somalia, North Korea, Afghanistan, South Sudan, Syria and the Crimea region.
Embassies and consulates
Last checked 24 October 2026. Each visa page lists the official sources it is based on.