Ethiopia

Travel Tips

Locals may expect a small payment for being photographed. Photography of tourist attractions may carry a small charge too
English and Arabic are widely spoken
All water should be regarded as being potentially contaminated, milk is unpasteurised
Ethiopia follows the Julian calendar, which consists of 12 months of 30 days each and a 13th month of five days (six days on leap year). The calendar is seven years and eight months behind the Western (Gregorian) calendar
Credit cards have limited use

Last updated 29 September 2026

Foreign Representation in South Africa

47 Justice Mohammed Street, Bailey’s Muckleneuk, Brooklyn, Pretoria
Telephone: +27 (0)12 346 3542
Email: pretoria.embassy@mfa.gov.et

Public Holidays

January: 7, 19
March: 2, 20
April: 10, 12
May: 1, 5, 27 - 28
August: 26
September: 11, 27

Visa Requirements

South Africans may get a visa-on-arrival. Payment should be done in cash at the airport

Visa applications for tourist and business visas may be done online at: www.evisa.gov.et

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.
For other visa types, please refer Ethiopian E-visa website.

Visa Processing Time

Tourist Visa: 3 Working days

Visa Validity

30 or 90 days, counted from intended arrival date

Visa Cost

Tourist (30 days): USD 62
Tourist (90 days): USD 152

Health / Vaccinations

Yellow Fever

South African Representative Abroad

Nafisilk Lafto, Subcity, Kebele 03, South Africa Avenue, Addis Ababa
Telephone: +251 11 371 1002/1017/0272/3034
E-mail: consular.addis@dirco.gov.za
Website: dirco.gov.za/ethiopia/