BoleAirport.com: Your Independent Guide to Addis Ababa and Ethiopian Travel

Please visit the Embassy’s COVID-19 page more information on entry/ exit requirements related to COVID-19 in Ethiopia. 

Requirements for Entry:

• Passport
• Visa
• World Health Organization (WHO) card with yellow fever vaccination if coming from country with risk of yellow fever transmission (countries with risk of YF transmission)

To enter Ethiopia lawfully, all citizens of the United States must get a visa. If you don’t have a valid e-Visa, don’t go to Ethiopia. Entrance will be denied to visitors without a current visa. To prevent any disturbance to your trip plans, print your e-Visa and have a copy with you at all times. Please apply for an e-Visa at https://www.evisa.gov.et/visa/apply before traveling to Ethiopia. For the most recent details on Ethiopian visas, get in touch with the embassy. Consular or embassy of Ethiopia should be contacted if you have any questions about visas from abroad.

VISA: All visitors must be in the nation legally, according to the Ethiopian Immigration and Citizenship Service, which vigorously enforces immigration laws. If you stay beyond your visa limit, there is a daily penalty. For the purpose of obtaining an exit visa and obtaining permission to leave the country, this fine must be paid in full in US dollars at immigration.

Foreign Currency Restrictions:

• Visitors to Ethiopia, including transit passengers who do not intend to leave Bole International Airport, may carry up to 1,000 ETB per trip to and from Ethiopia. Residents of Ethiopia may enter with a maximum of $1,000 USD or other foreign currency equivalent. Non-Ethiopians can enter with 3,000 USD or other foreign currency equivalent. All foreign currency in excess of the above limits must be declared by travelers.
• Ethiopian residents are not permitted to keep foreign currency for more than 30 days after declaring it. Nonresidents are permitted to keep foreign currency for the duration of their visa.
• Nonresidents carrying more than 3,000 USD in foreign currency and residents carrying any amount of foreign currency must produce a valid bank document or foreign currency customs declaration that is less than 30 days old when leaving Ethiopia.
• These rules are strictly enforced, and failure to follow them will almost certainly result in the confiscation of excess or undeclared currency.

Ivory, Animal Skins, Souvenirs, Precious Stones and Minerals, Antiques/Artifacts:

• Travelers carrying ivory may be detained, imprisoned, fined, or have their ivory confiscated.
• Souvenirs that are reproductions of antiques or religious artifacts must be accompanied by a proper receipt and may still be confiscated.
• Antiques, including religious artifacts, Ethiopian crosses, and animal skins and other wildlife parts, require export permits processed by the airport customs office’s Export Section. For a permit, contact the Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority.
• The amount of precious stones and minerals that can be exported for personal use is limited. Check with your local government.
• Contact the Ethiopian Ministry of Revenues if you have any questions about exports.
• See our Customs and Import Restrictions information sheet.

Electronics:

• Laptop computers and video equipment that are not intended for personal use must be declared upon arrival and departure.
• Some recording devices may necessitate special customs clearance. If you need these items for work, you should notify the Ethiopian Embassy or the Ethiopian Communications Authority before traveling.
• The US Embassy cannot help you obtain permits or return confiscated equipment.

Consult the CDC website for Ethiopia prior to travel.

For emergency services in Ethiopia, dial the following numbers:

• Addis Ababa Police Commission Emergency: 991/922
• Fire (Addis Ababa): 939
• Traffic Police (Addis Ababa): 945
• Ambulance (Ethiopian Red Cross Society in Addis Ababa): 907

Medical care is extremely limited, with facilities only adequate for stabilization and emergency care. There is a severe shortage of physicians and other qualified medical personnel, as well as medical supplies such as respirators and oxygen. Emergency, ambulance, and psychiatric services are also scarce. Medicine is in short supply. Before treatment, all care providers, both public and private, require payment or a cash deposit in Ethiopian birr.

Ambulance services are:

• Except in Addis Ababa, they are not available throughout the country or are unreliable.
• Generally, they are not staffed with trained paramedics and frequently have little or no medical equipment.
• Travelers who have been injured or are seriously ill may prefer to take a taxi or private vehicle to the nearest major hospital rather than wait for an ambulance.

USA Medicare & Medicaid Insurance:

Be aware that US Medicare/Medicaid does not apply outside of the United States. Most hospitals and doctors in other countries do not accept American health insurance. Some clinics will require payment prior to service or payment at the time of checkout.

Medical Insurance:

Check to see if your health insurance plan covers you abroad. Most overseas caregivers only accept cash payments. More information on insurance providers for overseas coverage can be found on our website. For more information on the type of insurance you should consider before traveling abroad, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States.

We strongly advise you to purchase additional insurance to cover medical evacuation.

Carry your prescription medication in its original packaging, along with your doctor’s prescription, at all times. A permit from the Ministry of Health is required if the quantity of drugs exceeds what would be expected for personal use. To ensure that the medication is legal in Ethiopia, contact the Ethiopian Food and Drug Administration (EFDA) at +251-11-552-41-22 or *8484*.

Altitude:

Many Ethiopian cities, including Addis Ababa, are located at high altitudes. Be aware of the symptoms of altitude sickness and take appropriate precautions before traveling. More information about traveling to high altitudes can be found on the website of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States.

The following diseases are prevalent:

• Diarrheal diseases
• Cholera
• Malaria
• Rabies
• Schistosomiasis
• Tuberculosis

Vaccinations: Get all of the vaccinations recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States.

Further health information:

• World Health Organization
• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Air Quality: Visit AirNow Department of State for information on air quality at U.S. Embassies and Consulates.

The U.S. Embassy maintains a list of doctors and hospitals. We do not endorse or recommend any specific medical provider or clinic.