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FAQs

Here are some of frequently asked questions on traveling to Ethiopia

Maximum weight per single bag: 32 kg for business class, 23 kg for economy class.

Business: up to 2 pieces, each with a maximum weight of 7 kg

Economy: 1 piece with a maximum weight of 7 kg and maximum sum of dimensions equal to 118 cm (46 in.)

In addition, passengers may also carry free of charge items of personal effects for use in flight, as listed below:

  • A handbag (laptop bag), pocket book or purse
  • A small camera and/or a pair of binoculars
  • A reasonable amount of reading material for the flight
  • Infant’s food for consumption in flight
  • Infant’s carrying basket
  • A fully collapsible cabin wheelchair and/or a pair of crutches, and/or braces or other prosthetic device provided that passengers are dependent on them
  • One laptop without accessories and attachments

Economy: up to 2 pieces, each with a maximum weight of 23 kg (50 lbs.) and maximum sum of dimension equal to 158 cm (62 in.)

Cloud Nine: up to 2 pieces, each with a maximum weight of 32 kg (70 lbs.) and a maximum sum of dimension equal to 158 cm (62 in.)

ShebaMiles Gold, ShebaMiles Silver, and Star Gold: up to 3 pieces

On long-haul flights:

  1. When weight system is used, ShebaMiles Gold members and Star Alliance Gold members will receive an additional 20 kg. ShebaMiles Silver members will receive an additional 15 kg.
  2. When piece system is used, ShebaMiles Gold members and Star Alliance Gold members are entitled to one additional baggage allowance with weight limited to the class of service used. ShebaMiles Silver members are entitled to one additional baggage allowance with weight limited to 23 kg.

Any additional checked bags beyond the complementary is subject to a fee. Please check www.ethiopianairlines.com in the Information/Baggage/Excess and Special Baggage section for current fees. 

Sports Equipment

One set of skiing equipment (one pair of skis, one pair of ski poles and/or one pair of boots) will be charged at the applicable rate for 3 kg of excess baggage. If you carry more than one set, the normal excess baggage charge shall apply for the extra weight.

One set of golfing equipment (one golf bag and one pair of golf shoes) will be charged at the applicable rate for 6 kg of excess baggage. If weight of golfing equipment exceeds 15 kg, the normal excess charge shall apply.

What are the policies when traveling with pets on Ethiopian Airlines flights?

Traveling with pets is allowed on Ethiopian Airline flights as long as they follow with the airline’s rules and regulations:

Only dogs and cats are accepted on Ethiopian Airlines flights.
Read The Ethiopian Airlines Pet Policy Click Here

Ethiopian Airlines recommends that passengers provide an advance notice of 48 hours and check-in one hour in advance to use their respirator, ventilator, CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine or POC (Portable Oxygen Concentrator).

The Ethiopian Immigration and Nationality Affairs Main Department in collaboration with Ethiopian Airlines has launched an e-visa service for all international visitors to Ethiopia effective June 01, 2018.

Though the e-visa service initially launched in June, 2017 was available for a limited number of countries, under the new initiative all international visitors will be able to travel to Ethiopia by processing their visa online.

The e- visa is processed and issued online on a single webpage where applicants apply, pay and secure their entry visa online. Once the application is approved, applicants will receive an email authorizing them to travel to Ethiopia and they will get their passport stamped with the visa upon arrival in Addis Ababa. Read Here Requirements and Rules of Ethiopian eVISA

Tourist Visa – VT Tourist visa is an electronic single-entry visa issued by the Ethiopian Government for visitors who wish to travel to the country for tourism or other non-business related purposes only.

Eligibility

Citizens of all countries in the globe are eligible for tourist visa provided that the below requirements are fulfilled..

Requirements

Copy of the following documents is mandatory.

  • Recent passport-size photo of the applicant.
  • Passport of the visa applicant which is valid for at least 6 months from the intended date of entry to Ethiopia.

Processing Time

Under normal circumstances, the processing time for tourist visa is 3 days. So, travelers should submit their application at least 3 days before their estimated date of arrival. Read Here for Fees and more info

Visa On Arrival Tourist visa (valid for up to three months) can be issued on arrival at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport to nationals of the following countries and territories, or persons holding residence permits issued by these countries or territories

Applicants who claim to have permanent residence in one of the eligible countries are required to show valid residence permit document up on arrival.

Good News!

Ethiopia has officially launched Visa-On-Arrival service for tourists from all African Union member states.
  • Nationals of Africa Union member states can pay the visa fee in cash at Bole International Airport to get tourist visa.
  • We encourage you to submit your visa applications online so that you will be notified of the status ahead of your travel and avoid inconveniences that might be created in case you are denied entry. Read More Info  Here

Visa Types and Cost

The cost for an e-VISA (applied at www.evisa.gov.et before travelling) and the cost for a tourist visa on arrival is the same: US$52 for a single-entry visa with validity up to 30 days, or US$72 for a single-entry visa with validity up to 90 days.

It may be cheaper to apply in person at a consulate near you. For example, applying in person at the Ethiopian Embassy in London will cost you £32 for a single-entry visa, instead of US$52 online.

Validity

Single-entry: 30 days or 90 days.

Multiple-entry: three months or six months.

You are not allowed to stay in Ethiopia beyond the validity period of your visa. If you want to request for an extension before the visa expires, please visit the head office of the main department for Immigration and Nationality Affairs in Addis Ababa in person.

Transit

A transit visa is required for transit passengers who plan to leave the airport for any length of time between flights. Transit visas are available for 12, 24, 48 or 72 hours. To apply for a transit visa, please visit a consulate near you before travelling to Addis Ababa.

For those who do not plan to leave the airport, no visa is required.

Application to

For single-entry visas, you can apply online at www.evisa.gov.et before travelling, or apply in person by visiting a consulate near you. You may also apply for a visa on arrival (please see above).

For multiple-entry and transit visas, please apply at a consulate near you.

 

Currency information

Ethiopian Birr (ETB; symbol Br) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of 100, 50, 10, 5 and 1. Coins are in denominations of 1 Birr, as well as 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1 cents.

Credit cards

Visa and MasterCard are accepted at major hotels.

ATM

ATMs are widely available in Addis Ababa and other major towns. Always get a receipt for every transaction, and immediately let your bank know if the ATM does not give you the amount you have entered.

Travellers cheques

Travel cheques are not popular nowadays but if you want to buy some, you’re advised to take traveller’s cheques in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling.

Banking hours

Mon-Fri 0800-1730 and Sat 0800-1600

Currency restrictions

The import of local currency is limited to 200 Birr. The export of local currency up to 200 Birr is permitted, provided the traveller holds a re-entry permit. The import and export of foreign currency is limited to US$3,000 or subject to declaration on arrival.

Currency exchange

US Dollar bills are the most convenient currency to exchange.

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FAQs

COVID-19 Restriction for Ethiopia​

COVID-19 Ethiopia Restriction

ETHIOPIA Restriction Detail

 

Ethiopia has revised the entry requirement in relation to COVID-19 Pandemic effective from 1st April 2022.

    Boarder 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.
  1. Notwithstanding the provisions of sub-article 1 of this Article, the traveler can enter the country without RT PCR or Antigen – RDT test certificate 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.
  1. 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 article 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 article 1 and 2 above shall apply or shall be tested negative with Antigen-RDT done at the airport or hotels designated by the airlines.
  1. 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.
  1. 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.
  2. 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 of the single dose of Johnson and Johnson, and 2 doses for Astra Zeneca, Sinopharm, Sinovac, Moderna, and Pfizer.
  • “Recovery” refers to declaration of an individual free from COVID-19 which is decided according to the health professional on time based, symptom based and test based criterions. If a patient is asymptomatic, he will be declared recovered 7 days after the day of sample collection for 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 minimum of 7 days from the date of start of symptoms and additional 3 days without symptoms. 
COVID-19 United States Restriction

United States Restriction Detail

Updated May 3, 2022
 

As a result of a court order, effective immediately and as of April 18, 2022, CDC’s January 29, 2021 Order requiring masks on public transportation conveyances and at transportation hubs is no longer in effect. Therefore, CDC will not enforce the Order. CDC continues to recommend that people wear masks in indoor public transportation settings at this time.

 

U.S. Citizens, U.S. Nationals, U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents, and Immigrants: Travel to and from the United States

Before Traveling to the United States

Testing – ALL Travelers

   REQUIRED

Before boarding a flight to the United States, you are required to show a negative COVID-19 test result taken no more than 1 day before travel. There is also an option for people who have documented recovery from COVID-19 in the past 90 days.

Children under 2 years old do not need to test.

Learn more about these requirements.

Contact Information – ALL Travelers

   REQUIRED

All air passengers to the United States will also be required to provide contact information to airlines before boarding flights to the United States. This strengthens a travel process already in place to rapidly identify and contact people in the U.S. who may have been exposed to a communicable disease, such as COVID-19. Access to travelers’ contact information will allow U.S. federal, state, and local health departments, and agencies to share appropriate health and public health information necessary to help keep the public safe.