Visa Requirements for Ethiopian Citizens
Visa requirements for Ethiopian citizens are the rules and conditions that apply to Ethiopians upon entering foreign places. The stipulated requirements are set by the different governments making it clear how Ethiopian nationals can prepare for their planned travels.
Ethiopian travelers have quite strict requirements to meet and need to obtain a regular Embassy visa to nearly 200 destinations. This makes the Ethiopian passport rank at the 99th place regarding the overall traveling liberty.
The amount of time Ethiopian citizens can spend abroad depends on the selected destination. Some have a specified length of permitted stay at only 7 days. However, the most commonly seen option available is anywhere from 30 to even 90 days.
Moreover, all Ethiopian citizens can apply for not only regular Embassy visas but also the more accessible electronic visas or Visas on Arrival. The traditional travel permits, as well as electronic and those obtainable at the airport, are issued for various purposes.
Ethiopian nationals can travel for recreational purposes, such as leisure, vacation, exploring foreign destinations. Whatsmore, most of the time, work-related trips are also allowed, such as business trips, attending meetings, conferences, seminars, or negotiating future contracts.
Lastly, most travel authorization documents allow Ethiopian nationals to take on a transit trip as well.
Electronic visa for Ethiopian citizens
An eVisa is an electronic alternative to the regular Embassy visas. Contrary to the traditional travel permits, eVisas are obtainable entirely online, with no visits to official institutions needed.
Ethiopian citizens traveling with the electronic equivalents of regular visas can engage in many activities. Including tourist, business, or transit purposes, such as going on a relaxing getaway, handling professional matters, or simply reaching another final destination.
List of countries issuing electronic visas for Ethiopians:
- Anguilla
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Cambodia
- Cape Verde
- Colombia
- Djibouti
- Gabon
- Georgia
- Guinea-Bissau
- Ivory Coast
- Kazakhstan
- Kyrgyzstan
- Laos
- Lesotho
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Mexico
- Moldova
- Mongolia
- New Zealand
- Nigeria
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Qatar
- Rwanda
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Singapore
- South Sudan
- Sri Lanka
- Tajikistan
- Thailand
- Turkey
- Uganda
- United Arab Emirates
- Uzbekistan
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Over twenty countries make it possible for Ethiopian passport holders to visit their territories using the Electronic Travel Authorization System. Check if the destination you have selected allows Ethiopians to visit with an approved eVisa before the planned trip!
Usually, the processed eVisa enables Ethiopian nationals to stay in a selected foreign country for either 30 or 90 days. Thus, Ethiopians can use the electronic visa system for a relaxing one-month or even three-month getaway.
Exploring various destinations, enjoying all leisure-related activities, handling business matters, and transiting is now easily available for all Ethiopian citizens! However, please remember that the allowed purposes of travel may differ depending on the chosen destination.
Visa on Arrival
A Visa on Arrival for Ethiopian citizens is a travel authorization document that allows Ethiopians to enter a selected country for a specified amount of time. The main difference between Visas on Arrival between the rest of the travel permits is the way of obtaining the document. VoAs are obtainable upon crossing the border of a chosen foreign territory.
List of countries offering Visas on Arrival for Ethiopian nationals:
- Angola
- Bangladesh
- Bolivia
- Cambodia
- Cape Verde
- Comoros
- Eritrea
- Ghana
- Guinea-Bissau
- Iran
- Laos
- Macau
- Madagascar
- Maldives
- Mauritania
- Mauritius
- Mozambique
- Nicaragua
- Palau
- Rwanda
- Saint Lucia
- Samoa
- Senegal
- Somalia
- Somaliland
- Sri Lanka
- Thailand
- Timor-Leste
- Togo
- Tuvalu
- Uganda
- Zimbabwe
As can be seen from the above list, over thirty destinations are offering a Visa on Arrival for all Ethiopian passport holders. Ethiopian nationals have a variety of places to choose from that allow them to make a visa application once already arrived.
To get a Visa on Arrival when traveling from Ethiopia, it's crucial to complete a few steps. First, even before departing from Ethiopia, make sure to check the current Visa on Arrival requirements in place. The country you'll be visiting has probably already stipulated which documents need to be presented upon arrival to validate the reason to stay abroad.
Next, prepare the required documents along with your valid Ethiopian passport and head towards the airport, seaport, or start your road trip by car. Once you arrive in the selected country, make sure to go straight to the border control checkpoint and ask for a Visa on Arrival application form. Fill it out with correct data and wait until your application gets processed.
Please note! Some of the countries that offer a Visa on Arrival for Ethiopian citizens have an additional option in the form of eVisa. If an electronic visa is also available, it's best to apply online for this type of travel permit for numerous reasons.
First, you can avoid the long waiting lines at the border checkpoint. Next, traveling prepared with a visa already approved takes away from the stress and ensures crossing the border without any issues. Travel with electronic visas obtainable online whenever possible to make your traveling experience effortless!
Embassy Visa
An Embassy visa for Ethiopian nationals is a type of visa that is obtained upon visiting an Embassy. Unfortunately, travelers from Ethiopia need a visa to many different countries.
List of countries that issue Embassy visas for Ethiopians:
- Afghanistan
- Aland Islands
- Albania
- Algeria
- American Samoa
- Andorra
- Antarctica
- Argentina
- Armenia
- Aruba
- Australia
- Austria
- Azerbaijan
- Bahamas
- Bahrain
- Barbados
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Belize
- Bermuda
- Bhutan
- Bonaire
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Botswana
- Brazil
- British Indian Ocean Territory
- The British Virgin Islands
- Brunei Darussalam
- Bulgaria
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cameroon
- Canada
- Cayman Islands
- The central African Republic
- Chad
- Chile
- China
- Christmas Island
- Cocos Islands
- Congo
- Cook Islands
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Cuba
- Curacao
- Czech Republic
- The Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Denmark
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- Egypt
- El Salvador
- Equatorial Guinea
- Estonia
- Falkland Islands
- Faroe Islands
- Fiji
- Finland
- France
- French Guiana
- French Polynesia
- The Gambia
- Germany
- Gibraltar
- Greece
- Greenland
- Grenada
- Guadeloupe
- Guam
- Guatemala
- Guernsey
- Guinea
- Guyana
- Honduras
- Hong Kong
- Hungary
- Iceland
- India
- Indonesia
- Iraq
- Ireland
- Isle of Man
- Israel
- Italy
- Jamaica
- Japan
- Jersey
- Jordan
- Kiribati
- Latvia
- Lebanon
- Liberia
- Libya
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Macedonia
- Malaysia
- Mali
- Malta
- Marshall Islands
- Martinique
- Mayotte
- Monaco
- Montenegro
- Montserrat
- Morocco
- Myanmar
- Namibia
- Nauru
- Nepal
- Netherlands
- New Caledonia
- Niger
- Niue
- Norfolk Island
- North Korea
- Northern Mariana Islands
- Norway
- Palestinian Territory
- Panama
- Papua New Guinea
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Pitcairn Islands
- Poland
- Portugal
- Puerto Rico
- Republic of Cyprus
- Reunion
- Romania
- Russian Federation
- Saint Barthelemy
- Saint Helena
- Saint Martin
- Saint Pierre and Miquelon
- San Marino
- Saudi Arabia
- Serbia
- Seychelles
- Sierra Leone
- Sint Maarten
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Solomon Islands
- South Africa
- South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
- South Korea
- Spain
- Sudan
- Suriname
- Svalbard and Jan Mayen
- Swaziland
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- The Syrian Arab Republic
- Taiwan
- Tanzania
- Tokelau
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tunisia
- Turkmenistan
- Turks and Caicos Islands
- Ukraine
- United Kingdom
- United States
- United States Virgin Islands
- Uruguay
- Vanuatu
- Vatican City
- Venezuela
- Vietnam
- Wallis and Futuna
- Yemen
A Regular Embassy visa is required for Ethiopians to get upon visiting almost 200 foreign places. That is why Ethiopia does not rank high in the travel liberty ranking. An Embassy type of visa may be challenging to obtain and does have extensive requirements to meet.
To get an Embassy visa issued for your travel, start preparing for the application process at least a few weeks before the planned departure date. Since the Embassy visa processing may take a long time, it's best to apply in advance.
Contact the Embassy of the country you plan to visit and get a current list of visa requirements. Then, prepare the needed paperwork and submit everything along with a completed application form to the Embassy. Now, if a visa interview is not required, you'll be on your way for approval.
Please note! Embassy visas can serve as both short-term as well as long-term travel permits. Therefore, if you are an Ethiopian citizen who plans to study, work, or join a significant other living in a foreign country, you have the opportunity to do so with an approved Embassy visa.
The Embassy visa requirements for Ethiopian citizens may be quite extensive when applying for a long-term travel permit. Thus, make sure to check what is the current required paperwork to prepare in advance of applying.
Visa-free countries
Seventeen territories offer visa-free entrance to Ethiopian passport holders. Visa exemption is the biggest facility for Ethiopian travelers since the only document needed upon crossing the border is a valid passport.
Check the list of countries allowing Ethiopians to travel visa-free.
If you plan on visiting any of the above-listed destinations, the process of traveling will be effortless! All you need to prepare is your valid Ethiopian passport or an ID (if the selected foreign country allows it). Choose any visa-exempt country and travel visa-free. Show your passport upon arriving and enjoy your stay abroad!
Most of the time, countries that offer a visa waiver for Ethiopian nationals allow them to travel for various reasons.
The visa-free entry makes it possible for Ethiopians to go on a relaxing getaway, travel for leisure purposes, explore the tourist attractions.
Moreover, usually traveling without any type of visa also allows engaging in work-related purposes, including taking a business trip and attending conferences and seminars. Lastly, visa-free destinations can help Ethiopian nationals take on a transit trip when reaching another country.