Exchanging Money in Ethiopia: A Practical Guide

Updated September 2026 by Dawit Deggu Mohis, Addis Ababa.

This page is about the practical act of changing money in Ethiopia: where to go, what to bring, what to expect at the counter, and what to do with the birr left in your pocket at the end of your trip. For what the currency is and what it is worth, see the Ethiopian birr. For withdrawing cash instead of exchanging foreign notes, see ATMs and cards in Ethiopia.

The short answer

For most visitors, the simplest approach is to change a modest amount at a bank counter at Bole Airport when you arrive, then compare bank and licensed independent forex-bureau rates once you are in Addis Ababa. US dollars are the easiest foreign cash to exchange; euros and British pounds are also widely quoted, while availability for other currencies varies. Bring your passport and always take the receipt.

Do not assume that every legal exchange outlet offers roughly the same rate. Since Ethiopia’s 2024 foreign-exchange reform, banks and licensed forex bureaus set their own rates, and the difference between them can be meaningful.

Your main legal options

1. Licensed independent forex bureaus

Independent foreign-exchange bureaus are one of the biggest changes to the Ethiopian cash-exchange market. The National Bank of Ethiopia began licensing non-bank forex bureaus after the 2024 reform, and by September 2026 its public directory listed 15 of them, including Ammann, Ethio, Robust, Haron, Rooha and Walia. These businesses specialise in buying and selling foreign-currency cash notes.

They set their own buying and selling rates, so check the displayed rate before exchanging — rates can differ noticeably both between bureaus and between bureaus and banks. A legitimate bureau is licensed by the National Bank, displays its rates, and gives you a receipt for the transaction. If you are changing a significant amount of cash in Addis Ababa, it is worth comparing a forex bureau with one or two banks first.

2. Bank forex counters

Commercial banks remain the most widespread and straightforward place to exchange foreign currency. CBE, Dashen, Awash, Bank of Abyssinia, Zemen, Wegagen, Hibret and other banks publish their own foreign-exchange rates, and since the 2024 reform there is no single mandatory rate that every bank must use. If you are handing over foreign cash and receiving birr, the figure to look at is the cash buying rate.

Not every ordinary branch provides the same level of foreign-exchange service, so larger branches and dedicated forex counters are the safer choice. Carry your original passport, because the bank must identify you and record the transaction. Opening hours vary by bank and branch, so do not rely on one nationwide Monday-to-Saturday schedule.

3. Bole Airport on arrival

Bole International Airport has bank and foreign-exchange facilities in the arrivals area, including around baggage claim. For a newly arrived visitor this is the easiest place to get the first birr you need for transport, a SIM card, food and other immediate expenses.

There is no need to exchange your entire travel budget here. A useful approach is to change perhaps US$100–200 on arrival and compare rates again once you are in the city. Airport exchange is run by legitimate financial institutions, but that does not mean it will always offer the best rate available in Addis Ababa.

4. Hotels and tourism businesses

Do not assume that a hotel reception desk is automatically a licensed currency exchange. Ethiopian foreign-exchange rules allow certain licensed hotels, guest houses, tour operators and other tourism businesses to accept foreign-currency cash for their own services, but that is different from operating a general forex bureau. If a hotel contains an actual bank or licensed forex counter, you can exchange money there through that operator; otherwise, use a bank or a licensed bureau.

5. Tour operators

Some authorised tourism businesses can legally accept foreign currency for tourism-related services. If a tour is quoted in US dollars, ask in advance how payment will be made and, if a birr conversion is involved, which exchange rate will be used. Keep the invoice or receipt.

What about changing money on the street?

Avoid unlicensed street exchange. Ethiopia now has a much larger legal foreign-exchange market than it did before 2024, including independent forex bureaus that compete with banks for cash, so there is far less reason for a visitor to deal with an unlicensed individual. Apart from the legal issue, street exchange exposes you to counterfeit notes, short-changing, theft and disputes with no practical way to recover your money. If you want a better rate than your bank offers, compare licensed forex bureaus instead. There is more on this in the black market rate.

What currency should you bring?

US dollars

US dollars are the easiest foreign cash to exchange and are quoted by every bank and forex bureau. Bring notes that are clean and in good condition, and avoid badly torn, taped, heavily marked or otherwise damaged notes — a counter may refuse a note it cannot confidently authenticate or resell.

You will sometimes hear that Ethiopia only accepts US dollar notes from a particular year, such as 2013 or later. There is no nationwide National Bank rule setting such a cutoff, although newer, clean notes are always the easiest to exchange. Similarly, do not assume that every bank pays a different rate for US$20, US$50 and US$100 notes; check the displayed cash rate and ask whether the counter has any denomination-specific policy.

Euros, pounds and other currencies

Euros and British pounds are commonly exchanged. Major banks and some independent forex bureaus also quote UAE dirhams, Saudi riyals, Canadian dollars, Swiss francs and others. The less common your currency, the more sensible it is to exchange it in Addis Ababa or another large city rather than waiting until you reach a small town.

Can you bring Ethiopian birr into or out of the country?

Yes, but the amount is restricted. The general limit for a person entering or leaving Ethiopia is 3,000 birr per trip. A higher limit of 10,000 birr applies to certain travel to or from Djibouti and other port cities in neighbouring countries, but for an ordinary international air traveller, 3,000 birr is the relevant figure. Because that is small compared with normal travel expenses, there is little reason to bring birr from abroad or to leave Ethiopia carrying much of it.

Declaring foreign cash when you arrive

This rule changed in 2026, and published information has not completely caught up. Under the original 2024 foreign-exchange directive, travellers entering Ethiopia with more than US$10,000 or its equivalent had to make a customs declaration. However, National Bank Directive FXD/04/2026, effective 12 February 2026, removed the customs-declaration requirement for amounts above US$10,000 for border entry, foreign-exchange conversion and deposits into foreign-currency accounts.

The practical complication is that some public information still repeats the older US$10,000 rule. Anyone travelling with more than US$10,000 in cash should therefore confirm the current procedure with Ethiopian Customs or the National Bank before travelling, rather than relying on an older travel website. The US$3,000 declaration threshold found in some older Ethiopia guides is no longer current.

Keep your exchange receipts

Even though a receipt is not required for every future transaction, keeping them is still excellent advice, and licensed forex bureaus are required to give you evidence of a legal exchange. A good receipt shows:

• the foreign currency you exchanged and the amount;
• the exchange rate;
• the amount of birr you received; and
• the financial institution that did the exchange.

This gives you a clear record of where your birr came from, and it matters if you want to convert a substantial amount back into foreign currency before leaving. Keep the receipts together until you have left the country.

Changing birr back before you fly home

It is better not to build up a large unused birr balance in the first place: exchange money in stages during your trip and stop converting foreign cash in your final few days.

If you still have birr left, Ethiopian rules allow authorised forex bureaus to reconvert birr into foreign currency for non-resident foreigners and tourists, and there is an important threshold. A tourist may reconvert up to US$500 equivalent without evidence of where the birr came from, on presenting a passport, visa and travel documents. Above US$500, the bureau can require authenticated bank advice showing that an equivalent amount of foreign currency was lawfully converted into birr. That is why keeping your exchange documents still matters, even though it is not true that birr can never be changed back without a receipt.

Do the reconversion before you are committed to boarding rather than at the last possible minute. If only a small amount remains, spending it on final expenses may be easier than converting it. And remember the general limit of 3,000 birr for taking Ethiopian currency out of the country.

A realistic exchange routine for a two-week trip

On arrival at Bole, change enough for the first day or two — perhaps US$100–200. Once you are settled in Addis Ababa, look at the current cash-buying rates at a few banks and licensed forex bureaus, and if the difference is meaningful, use the better legal option for the next part of your trip.

Before travelling to a remote area, make sure you have enough birr for several days. Banks and ATMs exist throughout Ethiopia, but branch services, opening hours, network availability and cash supply are less predictable away from the major cities. During your final two or three days, stop exchanging new foreign currency and spend down the birr you already have, so you do not need to reconvert a large amount at the airport.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the best place to exchange money in Ethiopia?

A licensed independent forex bureau or a bank forex counter. Do not assume one is always cheaper — compare the current cash buying rate, because rates are now set by each bank and bureau. For the first small exchange after landing, the bank counters at Bole Airport are convenient.

Do I need my passport to change money?

Yes. Financial institutions must identify customers and record foreign-exchange transactions, and a passport is the normal identification for a foreign visitor. Carry the original.

Is it better to change money at the airport or in Addis Ababa?

The airport is convenient for your first exchange. For larger amounts, compare rates in the city, where independent forex bureaus and different banks can quote noticeably different rates.

Can I change money on a Sunday?

Bank schedules vary and many branches have reduced weekend hours. Airport exchange facilities and ATMs may still be available, but do not depend on a particular counter being open without checking. If you are travelling on a weekend, get enough birr beforehand.

Can I change birr back into dollars or euros?

Yes. A tourist can reconvert up to US$500 equivalent without proof of the original exchange, subject to the required travel documents. Above that, you need evidence that foreign currency was lawfully converted into birr, so keep your receipts until you leave.

How much cash should I change at once?

There is no single correct amount, but US$100–200 at a time suits most travellers because it limits how much unused birr you are left with. At 2026 rates even US$200 converts into tens of thousands of birr, so there is rarely any need to exchange your whole trip budget on the first day.

Are independent forex bureaus legal in Ethiopia?

Yes. Independent non-bank forex bureaus have been licensed by the National Bank of Ethiopia since the 2024 reform. Check that the operator is properly licensed, check the displayed rate before handing over your cash, and take a receipt.