Ethiopia
France
France visa for Ethiopian citizens
Entry requirement
Ethiopian citizens need a visa for France, obtained before travel.
- Where to apply
- 1 mission
- Visa guide
- France visa guide
Checked 7 November 2026 · Passport Index · Confirm at et.ambafrance.org
Which France visa?
Uniform Schengen visa (type C) for tourism
Key facts
- Maximum stay
- Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
- Fee
- €90
- Processing time
- Usually 15 days after lodging the file, up to 45 days in individual cases; allow extra time to obtain an appointment.
For the tourist visa, France’s official sources give a standard fee of €90, and applications are made on france-visas.gouv.fr. Processing time, as France states it: Usually 15 days after lodging the file, up to 45 days in individual cases; allow extra time to obtain an appointment. Longest stay on the tourist visa: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
French missions in Ethiopia
France has 1 mission in Ethiopia, with its embassy in Addis Ababa.
France: visa decisions in Ethiopia
| Year | Applications | Visas issued | Refused | Refusal rate | Multiple-entry share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 3,831 | 2,450 | 1,247 | 33.5% | 18.9% |
| 2024 | 4,484 | 2,257 | 1,913 | 45.4% | 10.3% |
| 2025 | 4,277 | 2,940 | 1,066 | 26.5% | 4.3% |
In 2025, France’s embassy and consulates in Ethiopia (Addis Ababa) received 4,277 applications for short-stay Schengen visas and issued 2,940. The refusal rate was 26.5%. The refusal rate fell by 18.9 points from 45.4% in 2024, a clear improvement for applicants. Applications fell by 5% compared with 2024 (4,484).
For comparison, all Schengen states together refused 34.0% of the applications lodged in Ethiopia that year, from 14.1% at the consulates of Greece to 44.6% at those of Austria. France’s consulates worldwide refused 14.2%. France was the 2nd most applied-for Schengen state in Ethiopia.
You apply to the Schengen state that is your main destination (the longest stay or the main purpose; the state of first entry only when there is none), so a lower rate elsewhere is no reason to apply there. The figures cover applications lodged in Ethiopia, by any nationality: mostly citizens, but also residents from other countries.
Source: European Commission, Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates 2023–2025 (© European Union, reused under CC BY 4.0). Short-stay (type C) visas. How these figures are made
French citizens travelling to Ethiopia
FranceEthiopia Visa on arrival Ethiopia visa for citizens of France
Travel advice for France
- US State Department Level 2: Exercise increased caution
- UK Foreign Office (FCDO) No advice against travel
- German Foreign Office No travel warning
What the US, British and German foreign ministries tell their own citizens about travelling there, in each ministry’s own terms.
Ethiopian citizens planning a trip to France can compare how foreign ministries rate it: the US State Department rates France at Level 2, exercise increased caution (updated 20 October 2026), the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office does not advise against travel to France (updated 22 October 2026) and the German Foreign Office has no travel warning for France (updated 3 November 2026).
Good to know
How long Ethiopian citizens can stay in France
How long Ethiopian citizens may stay in France is set by the visa issued, and the visa type must match the purpose of the trip.
How Ethiopian citizens apply
In Ethiopia, applications go to the French embassy in Addis Ababa, or to a visa centre acting for France; fees, documents and processing times are published by France.
France and the Schengen area
A Schengen visa issued by France lets Ethiopian citizens travel in all Schengen states; apply to France when it is the main destination of the trip.
France’s neighbours for Ethiopian citizens
Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, Italy, Andorra, Monaco and Spain require Ethiopian citizens to obtain a visa in advance.
French citizens travelling to Ethiopia
Ethiopia issues French citizens a visa on arrival for stays of up to 90 days, so nothing has to be arranged in advance.
Frequently asked questions
Do Ethiopian citizens need a visa for France?
Ethiopian citizens need a visa for France, obtained before travel.
Where is the French embassy in Ethiopia?
The French embassy in Ethiopia is in Addis Ababa.
How much does the France tourist visa cost?
France’s official sources give a standard fee of €90 for the tourist visa. Processing time: Usually 15 days after lodging the file, up to 45 days in individual cases; allow extra time to obtain an appointment.
Do French citizens need a visa for Ethiopia?
Ethiopia issues French citizens a visa on arrival for stays of up to 90 days, so nothing has to be arranged in advance.
Can Ethiopian citizens enter France visa-free?
No; Ethiopian citizens need a visa for France obtained in advance.
Visa data: Passport Index via passport-index-data, as of 7 November 2026. Rules change, sometimes overnight. Confirm with the embassy or the official government portal before you book.