Ethiopia · entry
Ethiopia entry applications are not available here
Ethiopia’s immigration authority says it does not accept applications or payments through third-party websites. This page is informational only; govr.me does not submit or take payment for Ethiopia entries.
Ethiopia’s immigration authority says it does not accept applications or payments through third-party websites. This page is informational only; govr.me does not submit or take payment for Ethiopia entries.
Ethiopia
ETHIOPIA · WHY TRAVELLERS FALL FOR IT
Ethiopia
Before you apply
Applying for your Ethiopia travel authorisation
Ethiopia's travel authorisation is issued by Immigration and Citizenship Service (ICS) of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. govr.me is a private, independent service — we are not a government department. We check your documents, complete the official form and submit your application for you. You can also apply yourself, directly and for the government fee only, at the official portal authority website.
Passport
- Valid for at least 6 months from your application date.
- At least 2 blank pages.
Photo
- Size: 2 × 2 inches
- Background: white
- Format: JPEG, up to 1 MB
- 600 × 600 px
- Within last 6 months
- No glasses
- Neutral expression
Documents you'll need
- Coloured passport bio-page scan
- Recent passport-style photo (white background)
- Return / onward ticket
- Hotel booking OR host invitation letter
- Yellow fever vaccination certificate (mandatory if arriving from / transiting >12h through endemic country)
- Business: invitation letter on letterhead + host's business registration
- Conference: invitation letter from registered organiser
How the application works
- Permit type selection
- Personal & passport details
- Travel details (arrival, port, accommodation)
- Document uploads
- Payment
Payment: travel application; Mastercard; Amex; UnionPay. Approved entry emailed as PDF + retrievable via reference. QR scanned at Bole on arrival. 1–3 days typical.
Do
- Apply at least 7 days before travel — system is fast but allow buffer for queries.
- Use the original passport you'll travel on; passport number must match exactly on arrival.
- Pay with a credit/debit card matching the applicant's name where possible.
- Upload high-resolution, glare-free scans.
- Print the entry approval PDF in colour and carry alongside the e-version on phone.
- Carry your yellow-fever vaccination card if you have visited an endemic country in the last 12 months.
Don't
- Don't apply through unofficial agent sites — only the authority website is official.
- Don't submit a passport that expires within 6 months of your travel date.
- Don't use selfies or photos with strong shadows / coloured backgrounds.
- Don't enter mismatched name spelling (the name on the permit must EXACTLY match passport MRZ).
- Don't overstay — Ethiopian fines escalate sharply after 30 days.
- Don't photograph government, military, or airport facilities.
Why applications are refused
Decisions rest entirely with Immigration and Citizenship Service (ICS) of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. The most common reasons an application is turned down:
- Passport expiring within 6 months of travel.
- Photo specifications not met (background, lighting, head size).
- Inconsistent or missing onward-ticket / accommodation evidence.
- Previous Ethiopian overstay or immigration violation.
- Application data mismatch with passport bio data.
govr.me is an independent travel-document assistance service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by any government, embassy or consulate. Requirements and fees are set by Immigration and Citizenship Service (ICS) of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and can change — always confirm the current rules on the official portal (authority website) before you travel. Powered by IRCC FZCO.