Apply for your Ethiopia eVisa online

Yes, almost certainly. Unless you are a citizen of Kenya or Djibouti, you are required to have a visa to enter Ethiopia.

The good news is that Ethiopia has one of the most accessible visa systems in the world. Here are your primary options as of 2026:

1. Ethiopia Tourist eVisa (recommended) This is the fastest and most reliable way to secure your entry. Citizens of all countries are eligible to apply online. You can choose between a 30-day or 90-day single-entry visa. Strictly limited to arrival via Addis Ababa Bole International Airport. You cannot use an eVisa at land borders.

2. Visa on Arrival

If you are a citizen of an "eligible country" (which includes the US, UK, Canada, and most EU nations), you can also obtain a tourist visa upon landing at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport. Fees must be paid in hard currency (USD, EUR, GBP) or by card. While available, the government strongly recommends the eVisa to avoid long queues and potential processing issues at the airport.

It depends. If you remain in the transit area of Addis Ababa Bole International Airport and your layover is less than 24 hours, you generally do not need a visa. However, if you wish to leave the airport for any reason, you must have a valid eVisa or transit visa.

Please note that eVisa holders must enter Ethiopia via Addis Ababa; you cannot use an eVisa if entering via land borders.

You will receive your approved eVisa as a PDF document via email. This document contains your visa number, validity dates, and a barcode. While the system is digital, the Ethiopian authorities require you to print a physical copy to present to the immigration officer upon arrival at Bole International Airport.

If you applied through iVisa, you can also find a copy of your approval PDF in your dashboard.

Ethiopia offers two types of Tourist eVisas:

• 30-day eVisa: Valid for a single entry and a stay of up to 30 days from the date of entry.

• 90-day eVisa: Valid for a single entry and a stay of up to 90 days from the date of entry.

Both types are for tourism only and cannot be used for business or employment. The government fee for the 90-day visa is higher than the 30-day option.

Yes, it’s possible to extend your stay. It’s recommended to extend your visa at least a week before it expires.

For short extensions up to 15 days, you can use the official government eVisa portal. If you need a longer stay, you must visit the immigration headquarters in person in Addis Ababa (located in the Kazanchis area, near the UNECA building).

The government can take up to 6 business days to make a decision. With iVisa, you can get it in as little as 1 day.

Yes. Every traveler, including infants and children, must have their own individual eVisa.

You can use iVisa’s "Add another person" feature to easily manage applications for the whole family in one session, saving time and effort.

No. The Ethiopia eVisa is exclusively valid for travelers arriving via Addis Ababa Bole International Airport. If you plan to enter Ethiopia via land borders (such as from Kenya or Djibouti), you must obtain a traditional visa from an Ethiopian Embassy or Consulate prior to your trip.

If your Ethiopia eVisa application is rejected, typically due to minor clerical errors like blurred passport scans or inconsistent personal data, the government will send a refusal notification without a refund of the processing fee.

You can immediately submit a new application with corrected documents. To ensure your next attempt is successful, iVisa provides a professional review service where experts check your application for accuracy and document quality before submission, significantly reducing the risk of a second rejection.