Business Visa

By Post or Courier

The Embassy also accepts visa applications by post or courier service. We recommend that you allow extra time, at least two weeks, for postal applications.

1. Length of stay under business visas.

The following options are available under business visas:

  • Single entry visa valid for up to 30 days
  • Multiple entry visa valid for 3 months

When choosing the length of visa, please be aware that the visas are valid from the date of issue and not the date of entry into Ethiopia. It is no longer possible to post-date visas, so please give careful consideration which length of visa will be suitable for your stay.

As your visa is valid from the date it is processed at the Embassy, you must take the following into account:

  • The time it takes to process your visa application
  • Allow enough time for postage, if applying by post or courier.
  • The number of days in advance of your travel that you have applied.

For example, if you are visiting Ethiopia for 20 days, and you are applying for a single entry business visa more than a week in advance of your departure, you must take into account the length of time it takes for post to reach the Embassy, the time it takes to process the visa, the length of time it takes for post to reach you from the Embassy and consider exactly how many days in advance of your journey you have applied. If the total exceeds the 30-day limit, you must apply for a multiple entry 3-month visa.

If you wish to stay in Ethiopia for a longer period than that which has been indicated in your visa, you are required to apply for an extension at the Main Department for Immigration Office in Addis Ababa.

If you will be staying in Ethiopia for a period more than 3 months, you will be issued with a single entry visa to enter Ethiopia, following which you are required to apply for a residency or work permit at the Main Department for Immigration Office in Addis Ababa.

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Application Form

2. Download and complete the visa application form.

Download Form

Completing the Visa Application Form

Complete the visa application form for each person travelling to Ethiopia.

The form must be completed in BLOCK CAPITAL letters in either blue or black ink.

You must:

  • Complete the form to the best of your ability, answering all the required questions clearly. Your application may not be processed if you fail to provide all necessary information
  • Sign and date the form, where asked
  • Include your daytime telephone number and/or email address in case we need to contact you regarding your application.

If you have any questions concerning your application, please contact the consular section via the contact form.

 

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Visa Lengths
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Required Documents

3. Gather the required documents

  • A completed visa application form.
  • Your passport or travel document.

    Your passport or travel document must be valid for a minimum of 6 months and must have at least two blank pages.

    Please note that we cannot issue a visa unless you submit your passport.

  • A formal application letter.

    A formal application letter on headed paper and signed from the sponsoring organisation or company, detailing the nature of your visit, the work that you will be undertaking in Ethiopia and the length of stay.

    If you are self-employed, this letter can be from a solicitor, accountant or company house.

  • A copy of the approval form.

    A copy of the approval form from the Main Department of Immigration and Nationality Affairs office in Addis Ababa.

  • A photocopy of your passport.
  • One recent, passport-sized colour photograph.

    The photograph should be full face without sunglasses, hat or other head covering unless for ethnic or religious reasons.

    The photo should be attached to the visa application form by paper clip or another non-permanent means. DO NOT staple the photograph to the application form.

    Please write your name on the back of the photograph in BLOCK CAPITAL letters. Please note that we may not accept photographs that do not meet these specifications.

  • The visa application fee.

    The visa payment will be taken over the phone after the consular section is in receipt of your application.

    A list of the fees can be found here.

  • A copy of your return ticket.

    A copy of your return ticket or a confirmed flight ticket.

    Please do not include the original ticket. The Embassy cannot take responsibility for any items lost in the post.

    NOTE: We recommend that you do not make final travel plans until you have received confirmation from the Main Department of Immigration and National Affairs that your visa has been approved.

  • Evidence of your status in the United Kingdom.

    Evidence of your status in the United Kingdom, if you are not a U.K. passport holder. 

    As E.U. nationals have the right to stay in the U.K., E.U. passport holders are required to submit proof of residency such as a utility bill, council tax or letter from your employer or school.

    Bank statements and Drivers Licenses cannot be accepted as proof of residency.

  • If you are a student...

    If you are a student, your application should be accompanied by a letter from your school, college or university or your letter of invitation from an Ethiopian referee if applicable.

  • Pre-paid, self-addressed special delivery envelope

    You must include a pre-paid, self-addressed special delivery envelope to allow us to securely return your passport to you.

    The Embassy cannot accept responsibility for any items lost in the post.

  • Contact details

    Please provide your contact details to allow us to contact you for payment.

If you are a UK Home Office Travel Document holder, you MUST submit your application to the Embassy in person at least 15 days prior to travelling to Ethiopia.
Applicants who are not normally resident in the United Kingdom must apply to the Ethiopian Embassy accredited to their country or that which is closest to their place of legal residence.
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Application Form
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Visa Fees

4. Visa Fees and Payment

The correct fee must be submitted with your visa application.

The Consular Section only accepts credit and debit card payments for all Consular Services. Payments by cash, postal orders or banker’s draft are no longer accepted.

Payment by cheque or any means other than those stated above, cannot be accepted.
We accept all major credit and debit cards apart from American Express.
Type of Visa Annotation Fee & Validity
Single Entry Visa for up to 1 month Single Entry Visa for up to 3 months Multiple Entry Visa for up to 3 months Multiple Entry Visa for up to 6 months
Investment (Business) I.V. £24.00 £32.00 £48.00
Various Government Business G.I.V. £16.00 £64.00 £96.00
Employee of Foreign Company W.V. £32.00 £48.00 £64.00
Government Organisation G.V. £24.00 £32.00 £48.00
Regional & International Organisations R.I. £40.00 £56.00 £72.00
Private Enterprise P.E. £24.00 £40.00 £64.00
NGOs N.V. £48.00
Meetings, Workshops, Conferences C.V. £24.00
Journalists J.V. £32.00
Type of Visa
Investment (Business)
Annotation I.V.
Fee & Validity £24.00
Fee & Validity
Fee & Validity £32.00
Fee & Validity £48.00
Type of Visa
Various Government Business
Annotation G.I.V.
Fee & Validity £16.00
Fee & Validity
Fee & Validity £64.00
Fee & Validity £96.00
Type of Visa
Employee of Foreign Company
Annotation W.V.
Fee & Validity £32.00
Fee & Validity £48.00
Fee & Validity £64.00
Fee & Validity
Type of Visa
Government Organisation
Annotation G.V.
Fee & Validity £24.00
Fee & Validity £32.00
Fee & Validity £48.00
Fee & Validity
Type of Visa
Regional & International Organisations
Annotation R.I.
Fee & Validity £40.00
Fee & Validity £56.00
Fee & Validity £72.00
Fee & Validity
Type of Visa
Private Enterprise
Annotation P.E.
Fee & Validity £24.00
Fee & Validity £40.00
Fee & Validity £64.00
Fee & Validity
Type of Visa
NGOs
Annotation N.V.
Fee & Validity £48.00
Fee & Validity
Fee & Validity
Fee & Validity
Type of Visa
Meetings, Workshops, Conferences
Annotation C.V.
Fee & Validity £24.00
Fee & Validity
Fee & Validity
Fee & Validity
Type of Visa
Journalists
Annotation J.V.
Fee & Validity £32.00
Fee & Validity
Fee & Validity
Fee & Validity

The above prices do not apply to American citizens. By special arrangement with the US government, American citizens receive a two-year multiple entry visa, for which the fee is £56.00.

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Required Documents
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Submission

5. Submitting your application to the Embassy

You may submit your application to the Embassy either via Royal Mail or through your chosen courier service.

If submitting by Royal Mail, we recommend that you send your application to us using recorded delivery, to allow you to track the delivery of your passport.

Please allow extra time for postal applications.

The Embassy cannot take responsibility for any items lost in the post.

 

Remember…visa applications MUST be accompanied by all the required documents.

Incomplete applications will not be accepted.

All UK Home Office Travel Document holders are required to submit their applications in person at the Embassy at least 15 days prior to travelling.

Applicants who are not normally resident in the United Kingdom must apply to the Ethiopian Embassy accredited to their country or that which is closest to their place of legal residence. However, business visa applicants who choose to apply at the Ethiopian Embassy in London, must provide a letter stating why they are applying in the U.K. and should be aware that their application and documentation may be passed on, for verification purposes, to the Ethiopian Embassy accredited to their country origin or whichever Embassy is closest to their country of origin.

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Visa Fees
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Processing Times

6. Processing times and return of passport

Postal applications take slightly longer to process as compared to applications made in person.

We recommend that you allow enough time for your application, taking into account the length of time it takes for the post to reach the Embassy, the time it takes to process the visa and the length of time it takes for post to reach you from the Embassy. You should also be aware that some applications take longer to process.

Please make a note of any tracking numbers as we are not able to provide these to you once your documents have been sent.

We cannot guarantee visa issuance by a set date, neither can we post-date visas.

The Embassy cannot take responsibility for any items lost in the post.

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Submission