Ethiopia eVisa Requirements for South African Citizens

The Ethiopia Electronic Visa (eVisa) is a tourist visa that can be obtained online. It is regarded as the quickest and most convenient visa for international visitors. According to the Ethiopian visa policy, South African passport holders are eligible to apply.

The eVisa system was introduced by the Ethiopian government in 2017 to make it easier for international tourists to get a visa.

South African passport holders can choose between the following options:

• Ethiopia eVisa for 30 days – with a validity of 30 days for their entry
• Ethiopia eVisa for 90 days – with a validity of 90 days for their entry

Both eVisas grant South Africans a single entry into the country for tourism.

Ethiopia has a few basic visa requirements for South Africans. Applicants must meet these conditions to obtain the Ethiopian eVisa.

Items required for online Ethiopia visa applications for South Africans include providing the following:

• South African passport valid for at least 6 months on their arrival in Ethiopia
• Digital copy of their passport’s biographical page
• Recent passport-style photograph

• Frequently-used current email address
• Bank card to pay the eVisa fee

If your South African passport is set to expire in less than 6 months, you should renew it before applying for the eVisa for Ethiopia.

The eVisa is registered to the passport provided for the application. It cannot be transferred to another document.

If the South African passport used to apply is stolen, lost, damaged, or becomes invalid, the eVisa cannot be used to enter Ethiopia. It will be necessary to reapply using your new passport.

The application for the Ethiopian eVisa for South African nationals is a simple online questionnaire.

It takes a matter of minutes to enter the required information and submit the application. South Africans must provide the following details:

• Basic personal info (name, nationality, etc.)
• Passport details
• Travel plans (arrival and departure dates, etc.)

Applicants are advised to take care when entering the information and double-check their answers before submitting the form. Small errors and inconsistencies can lead to issues such as delays and even rejection of the application.

After submitting the Ethiopian eVisa application, South African travelers will receive an email confirming its receipt, along with a reference number. The evaluation process of their application usually takes between 24 and 48 hours.

If South African applicants meet the requirements and have completed their application form correctly, they should receive an email with the eVisa attached as a PDF. We recommend printing out a copy of the eVisa to show to border officials once you reach the country.

The eVisa grants entry into Ethiopia at Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa only. Upon landing, South African citizens are recommended to head straight to the fast-track counters compatible with the eVisa to save time at immigration desks.

South African visitors should bear in mind that the eVisa allows a single entry into the country. If you wish to temporarily leave Ethiopia and then return, they must simply reapply using the quick online application system to get a new eVisa.

South Africans with dual nationality will need to use the same passport for the Ethiopian eVisa application as the one they intend to enter the country. The Ethiopian eVisa is automatically linked to their passport and cannot be shared with a second travel document.