Ethiopia medical treatment visa (MDV)

The MDV is meant for foreign nationals whose purpose is to receive medical treatment in Ethiopia. The treating hospital or clinic plays the role of host: it issues the invitation that the portal requires. The visa is separate from the tourist visa, which is meant for tourism and non-business visits.

Because treatment can take longer than a tourist stay, the MDV offers longer multiple-entry options of 6 and 12 months, which suit patients who need several visits for follow-up care.

The portal lists a recent passport-sized photograph, a passport valid for at least six months from the intended entry date, an application letter to the health organisation and an invitation letter from the health organisation. Keep the medical correspondence with you when you travel, as it explains the purpose of the visit at the border.

Four options are published: single entry for 30 days, USD 102; multiple entry for 90 days, USD 202; multiple entry for 6 months, USD 352; multiple entry for 12 months, USD 502. Validity starts on the intended entry date, and fees paid on the portal are not refunded.

Choosing a longer multiple-entry option at the start can be simpler than extending later, since an extension requires a visit to the ICS head office.

Apply only on evisa.gov.et; the portal warns that look-alike sites are not authorised and that payments made there are not accepted. Upload clear files under 2 MB, and if a payment stays pending, check with your bank instead of paying a second time, because duplicate payments are not refunded.

Border officers may refuse entry to an e-Visa holder without explanation, so carry the invitation from the health organisation and the treatment dates. A companion who is not being treated travels on a tourist visa, which does not allow any work during the stay.

An MDV can be extended if the request is made before it expires; the holder then goes to the ICS head office in Addis Ababa. The extension fees are USD 152 for 30 days and USD 252 for 90 days. Patients who overstay are subject to fines and legal penalties, so plan any extension well before the end date.