Frequently Asked Questions

Ethiopia has revised the entry requirement in relation to the COVID-19 Pandemic effective from 1st April 2022. It will be much easier to go to Ethiopia. No PCR test will be required from vaccinated persons.

ETHIOPIA Covid -19 Restriction Detail

Ethiopia has revised the entry requirement in relation to the COVID-19 Pandemic effective from 1st April 2022. It will be much easier to go to Ethiopia. No PCR test will be required from vaccinated persons.

Border and Point of Entry Controls

1. Any international traveler above the age of twelve coming through international airports of the country shall bring a certificate of negative RT PCR test done up to 72 hours or three days before departure or Antigen- RDT negative test up to 24 hours before arriving to Ethiopia.
2. Notwithstanding the provisions of sub-article 1 of this Article, the traveler shall enter the country if he/she has a certificate of recovery from COVID-19 within 90 days or if he/she has completed the COVID-19 vaccine in full and provides evidence.
3. Without prejudice to sub-article 1 and 2 of this article, if transit passenger entering through international airports of the county don’t enter the city or don’t leave his/her hotel designated by the airline, sub articles 1 and 2 does not apply on him/her. Whereas if he/she is to enter the city leaving the airport or hotel designated by the Airline, sub articles 1 and 2 above shall apply or shall be tested negative with Antigen-RDT done at the airport or hotels designated by the airline.
4. Notwithstanding the provisions of sub-article 1 and 2 of this article, if the traveler is a diplomat and fails to fulfill the requirements provided under sub-article 1 and 2 of this article, he/she shall be tested at the airport and enter the country. Whereas if the test result is positive or if he refuses for test, he/she shall self-isolate for 7 days.
5. Notwithstanding the provisions of sub- article 1 and 2 of this article, a returnee may enter the country by taking Antigen-RDT test at the airport if he does not fulfill the requirements provided under sub article 1 and 2 of this article. If the test result is positive, he/she shall be followed up in accordance with the relevant protocol.
6. Any person who is coronavirus positive is prohibited from entering the country.

Note:

• The COVID-19 RT-PCR test result certificate taken/issued in Ethiopia for travel from Ethiopia is not allowed to be used on the return flight.
• “Full vaccination” means 2 weeks after taking the single dose of Johnson and Johnson, and 2 doses for Astra Zeneca, Sinopharm, Sinovac, Moderna, and Pfizer.
• “Recovery” refers to the declaration of an individual free from COVID-19 which is decided according to the health professional on time-based, symptom-based, and test-based criteria. If a patient is asymptomatic, he will be declared recovered 7 days after the day of sample collection for the RT PCR test which turned positive or the day of positive Antigen RDT test. If a patient is symptomatic, he will be declared recovered after a minimum of 7 days from the date of start of symptoms and additional 3 days without symptoms.

The Euro, US Dollar and major travellers checks are easily convertible in banks and some hotels. ATMs are not in use. Credit card use is only available in 4 & 5-Star hotels in Addis Ababa. In order to change birr back to dollars on leaving the country, visitors will be asked to produce bank receipts.

Visa applications may be obtained at the Ethiopian Embassy in your country and since 1 June 2018, all international visitors to Ethiopia can apply for their tourist (e-visa) online www.evisa.gov.et. However, there are 33 countries, which are now allowed to obtain tourist visas upon arrival at Ethiopia’s Bole International Airport YEMREHANA, will meet you at the airport and process the visas for your group when you arrive. Those countries who are allowed to obtain visas upon arrival are: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korean Republic, Kuwait, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russian Federation, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and United States of America.