Ethiopia Transit Visa
If you transit through Ethiopia, you don’t need a visa as long as you remain in the permitted transit area and depart within 12 hours.
However, if you have to wait for your connecting flight for longer than 12 hours, or want to leave the airport, then you need to obtain a transit visa for Ethiopia.
Generally speaking, all visitors (except citizens of Djibouti and Kenya) need a visa to transit through Ethiopia for 12 hours or more.
The eVisa for Ethiopia is the most convenient transit permit available for every nationality. Additionally, it allows you to stay in Ethiopia for up to 30 or 90 days (you can choose) if you need to extend your stay in the country.
You can apply for an visa for Ethiopia for transit online from the comfort of your own home. It only takes a few minutes to fill out the simple application, and you remove the need to visit an embassy or consulate in person.
Can You Get an Ethiopia Visa on Arrival at the Airport?
Most visitors planning to transit in Ethiopia need to either get a visa from an Ethiopia embassy or consulate or obtain an online tourist visa to do so.
Only African Union citizens traveling through Ethiopia can get a transit visa on arrival. This can be applied for at the immigration desk at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport.
Transit visas on arrival are available for African Union nationals for 12, 24, 48 or 72-hour stays. The fee depends on the length of validity.
Ethiopia transit visa on arrival fees
| Fee | Time |
|---|---|
| £21.00 | 12 hours |
| £33.00 | 24 hours |
| £42.00 | 48 hours |
| £50.00 | 72 hours |
| £42.00 | Double entry (no more than 24 hours) |
Ethiopian Airlines Transit Service
If both your flights are with Ethiopian Airlines and the stopover is longer than 8 hours and up to 24 hours, the airline provides a free hotel package which includes a hotel room, transfers, and meals.
If you get this free hotel package and you’re eligible for a transit visa on arrival, the airline will facilitate the processing for you. However, if you don’t have an African Union passport, you need to apply for a transit visa by yourself.
How to Get an Ethiopian Transit Visa Online
Before applying, you should ensure that you meet all the Ethiopia visa requirements and have the necessary documents at hand.
You can then get an Ethiopian transit visa online in just a few simple steps:
- Fill out the form with personal and travel information, including your passport details, travel itinerary, and email address
- Pay the eVisa processing fee
- Double-check the information is correct to avoid a denial or rejection
- Submit the application form
The online visa application only takes a matter of minutes to complete. The eVisa is usually processed in 3 business days.
Transiting through Ethiopia with an eVisa
You receive the approved eVisa in your email inbox. You can then print a copy of the visa to present alongside the same passport you used to complete the application.
The eVisa will allow you to quickly pass through immigration and avoid having to queue to pay visa on arrival fees.
Note that the eVisa can only be used to transit through Ethiopia at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport. However, the airport is the largest in the country and serves more than 20 airlines and 140 destinations worldwide.
It also has excellent facilities for transit passengers, including a Business Class Lounge for premium travelers that includes a spa and traditional Ethiopian coffee corner.
If you plan to leave the airport with your transit eVisa and explore Ethiopia, you can find several city taxi and car rental options in the Arrivals Hall.