PassportSouth Africa

Ethiopia: do South Africans need a visa?

Travel with cautionOther governments advise against travel to parts of the country, or to reconsider travel. Why

South Africans need to apply online for an e-visa before travel to Ethiopia. You can stay up to 90 days per visit, and you can apply to extend.

Visa required. The government's own route is the tourist e-Visa from evisa.gov.et; all nationalities are eligible. Visa on arrival at Addis Ababa Bole is DISPUTED: Ethiopia suspended VOA for non-resident foreigners in October 2022 (Fragomen), while a South African agency (GSA, Oct 2025) and Sherpa say SA holders can get VOA. Treat the e-Visa as the safe route.135678

Travel advice

Travel with caution

The UK advises against all travel to Tigray, Amhara, Gambela and several border zones.

We show UK and US government advice because they publish detailed, regularly updated assessments. Checked 5 October 2026.

Read the full advice: UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Before you travel

Purpose of visit

Tourist e-Visa for tourism. A business e-Visa and other categories exist on the Immigration and Citizenship Service platform. Work needs a work permit.237

Confirmed by other governments' official advice

Passport validity

At least 6 months from intended date of entry; machine-readable.37

Confirmed by other governments' official advice

How to apply

Apply online ONLY at https://www.evisa.gov.et (Ethiopian Immigration and Citizenship Service). Upload a passport scan and photo, pay by card. Government fees reported: USD 62 (30-day) and USD 152 (90-day) single-entry tourist e-Visa. Processing about 3 working days; apply at least 3 days ahead (2–3 weeks advised). Fees are non-refundable; applications can't be edited. Tourist e-Visa entry is via Addis Ababa Bole International Airport. Print the approval.135679

Confirmed by other governments' official advice

Where South Africans apply

Online at evisa.gov.et. Consular alternative: Embassy of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, 763 Justice Mohammed St, Bailey's Muckleneuk, Brooklyn, Pretoria (tel +27 12 346 3542, pretoria.embassy@mfa.gov.et).17

Confirmed by other governments' official advice

Travel insurance

Not published by official sources

Return or onward ticket

Not published by official sources

Proof of funds

Currency limits rather than a funds test: non-residents may bring in up to USD 3,000 (or equivalent) and at most ETB 1,000; excess may be confiscated. Exit: ETB 1,000 (4,000 if going to Djibouti).5

Not yet confirmed by an official source

Accommodation or invitation

Not published by official sources

Vaccinations, including yellow fever on return to South Africa

ETHIOPIA: yellow fever certificate required if arriving from a risk country; vaccination recommended for most of Ethiopia (except Afar and Somali regions). The GSA lists it as compulsory for SA travellers. RETURN TO SOUTH AFRICA: Ethiopia is on South Africa's yellow fever risk-country list. South African Department of Health / DIRCO rules require every traveller over 1 year old (South Africans included) arriving from a risk country, or transiting a risk-country airport for more than 12 hours, to show a valid yellow fever certificate (vaccine at least 10 days before departure; certificates are valid for life). Without one you may be refused entry or quarantined for up to 6 days. ADDIS TRANSIT: South African travellers connecting at Addis Ababa Bole for more than 12 hours also need a yellow fever certificate to re-enter South Africa.3511127

Confirmed by other governments' official advice

Arrival forms

Health declaration forms may be required for travellers from some countries (including for transit with movement outside the airport); Mpox screening surveys reported by FCDO.3

Confirmed by other governments' official advice

Extending your stay and overstaying

Not published by official sources

Transit

Airside transit at Addis Ababa Bole: no visa needed if you arrive and depart by air within 12 hours and remain in the transit area. Leaving the airport needs a visa (e-Visa, or Ethiopian Airlines' transit-visa arrangements, which were not verifiable because the airline's page was unreachable). Mind the South African 12-hour yellow fever transit rule (see vaccinations).69

Confirmed by other governments' official advice

Travelling with children

Not published by official sources

What changed

22 September 2026FCDO: all civilian flights to and from Tigray were suspended. FCDO advises against all travel to Tigray, Amhara, Gambela and several border zones.
13 October 2022Ethiopia suspended visa on arrival for non-resident foreign nationals until further notice; e-Visa or consular visa instead. No official notice of resumption was found, though some 2025–2026 secondary sources say VOA is available.

Sources

Official

The destination's own government

  1. 1Ethiopian Immigration and Citizenship Service (official e-Visa portal) evisa.gov.et
  2. 2Immigration and Citizenship Service, Ethiopia ics.gov.et

Other government

Official advice from other governments

  1. 3UK FCDO gov.uk
  2. 5US Department of State travel.state.gov
  3. 11National Department of Health, South Africa health.gov.za
  4. 12DIRCO (South African High Commission, Canberra) dirco.gov.za

Reference

Used to find official sources, never the final word

  1. 6Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org

Commercial

Visa agencies, law firms and travel companies

  1. 7The GSA (South African visa agency) thegsa.co.za

News and guides

Leads we check, never the answer

  1. 8Fragomen fragomen.com
  2. 9Drive Ethiopia driveethiopia.com

Last researched 5 October 2026. Rules change; confirm with the embassy before you book. Spotted something out of date? Report a change.