Ethiopia’s visa fees jump with new e-Visa price hike
Travelers to Ethiopia now face sharply increased e-Visa costs—tourism e-visas valid for 30 days doubled, while 90-day visas rose nearly threefold in 2023.
Since 28 October, Ethiopia has lifted its COVID-19 travel health restrictions, allowing French and other European tourists to enter the country. However, entry now requires a visa obtained before departure—no visas on arrival are available. Travelers may apply through an Ethiopian embassy or consulate or use the online e-Visa system. With the embassy in France no longer issuing sticker-style visas, French visitors must obtain an e-Visa in advance.
Several e-Visa types are offered on the official government portal, evisa.gov.et, with prices set at launch in 2018 and unchanged until this year. Previously, a single-entry 30-day tourism e-Visa cost US$52 (~€49) and a 90-day version US$72 (~€67).
On 9 February 2023, Ethiopian immigration authorities announced new e-Visa tariffs. The 30-day tourism e-Visa now costs an extra US$30, bringing the total to US$82 (~€76). The 90-day tourism e-Visa has leapt by US$130 from US$72 to US$202 (~€187).
Ethiopia is celebrated as the cradle of humanity, home to important archaeological and historical sites. The Lower Omo Valley yielded fossil remains of early hominids, while ancient Ethiopian civilization left enduring stone ruins and standing monuments.
The country also boasts a rich religious heritage, harbouring sacred sites for Ethiopian Orthodox Christians such as the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela and the ancient monasteries of Debre Damo and Yemrehana Krestos.
Traditional festivals like Timkat, a vibrant celebration of Epiphany, draw visitors with colourful processions, chanting and all-night vigils—a cultural highlight many travellers plan their trips around.
Security conditions in Ethiopia are highly unstable. Travel at night outside major cities is strongly discouraged, and heightened vigilance is advised even within Addis Ababa. Inter-communal violence persists in parts of Gambella, western Oromia and around Awash, while the northern regions—Tigray, Amhara and Afar near the Tigray border—remain under conflict since November 2020. Although Addis Ababa remains relatively calm, petty crime has surged recently.
A specialist in regulatory monitoring and a content destination expert, she analyzes daily changes in entry formalities to turn complex administrative processes into practical guides. Her role blends ground-level expertise with technical precision to ensure the reliability of the information provided to travelers.
