Ethiopia Tourist Visa: How to Check Requirements and Apply
Visa requirements depend on your passport, reason for travel and arrival plan. Check the Ethiopian Government’s official e-Visa portal before booking. Do not rely on old visa-on-arrival lists or third-party application sites.
Start with the official portal
Use evisa.gov.et to check current tourist visa options, application requirements, fees and application status. The portal lists online tourist visas and separate on-arrival information, and warns about unauthorized lookalike sites. Confirm the web address before entering passport or payment details.
What to prepare for an online tourist e-Visa
The official portal currently lists a passport valid for at least six months after the intended entry date, a recent passport photo and a color scan of the passport. It says normal processing takes three days. Apply earlier when possible in case a correction or additional processing is needed.
- Choose the visa type that matches your visit.
- Enter your arrival date and passport details exactly as shown on your travel document.
- Upload clear, readable image files in the formats and sizes accepted by the portal.
- Review every field before payment. The portal says application fees are non-refundable.
- Keep your reference number, check your status on the official portal and save a copy of the approved visa for your trip.
Visa on arrival
The official portal lists a tourist visa-on-arrival option, but do not assume it is available for every passport, route or situation. Confirm eligibility and document requirements with the official tourist visa information and your airline before departure. If you cannot verify that you are eligible, apply online early enough to receive a decision before travel.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Applying through a lookalike or visa-agent website instead of the government portal.
- Using a passport that does not meet the portal’s validity rule.
- Entering an arrival date or passport number that differs from your travel document.
- Uploading blurred, cropped or unreadable images.
- Confusing an application receipt with an approved visa.
- Assuming a visa guarantees entry; the final decision is made at the port of entry.
- Applying for a tourist visa when your trip is for business, employment, study, journalism or another purpose that may need a different visa type.
Check the rules again before departure
Fees, processing times and eligibility can change. Recheck the official tourist visa guidance, the portal’s general information and your government’s current Ethiopia travel advice close to your departure. Contact an Ethiopian immigration office or embassy if the official information does not cover your situation.
Information checked 13 October 2026. This guide is general travel information and is not a visa decision or legal advice.
Once your visa is sorted, read before you go, exchanging money and arriving at Bole Airport. Print the arrival checklist for your first day.
