Ethiopia e-Visa for Indians in 2026: Apply Online (USD 62, 30 Days)
By Saanvi Iyer (Saanvi Iyer is a FlightGPT travel-policy writer who tracks entry rules, e-visa portals and immigration paperwork for Indian passport holders across Africa and the Indian Ocean. She specialises in turning fast-changing eTA and e-visa systems into plain-English, India-first checklists.) · Published · Last updated · 11 min read
Ethiopia is fully e-Visa for Indians — apply online at the official evisa.gov.et, get approved in about three days, and carry the PDF. Here's the current 30-day tourist fee, the truth about the 90-day option, and the Addis Ababa connection angle.
Quick answer
Indian passport holders need an e-Visa for Ethiopia, and it is applied for entirely online at the official portal evisa.gov.et — there is no Ethiopian embassy visit and no visa-on-arrival route you should rely on. As of June 2026 the single-entry tourist e-Visa for a 30-day stay costs around USD 62 (about ₹5,400), with processing typically about 3 business days. Ethiopia reduced this fee from USD 82 and, as of 2026, the longer 90-day tourist e-Visa option has been discontinued for most travellers — confirm the available durations on the official portal. Fees and durations change; verify before paying. See our Ethiopia visa page.
Ethiopia is e-Visa only — what that means
Ethiopia runs a fully electronic visa system for tourism, and Indian passport holders are eligible. The only official channel is the government portal evisa.gov.et. You complete the form, upload a passport scan and photo, pay by card, and receive an approved e-Visa PDF by email. You then print it and carry it for the airline and for Ethiopian immigration at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD). Unlike a Schengen or US visa, there is no in-person interview, no biometrics at the application stage and no VFS appointment in India for the standard tourist e-Visa.
The tourist e-Visa is single-entry. If you leave Ethiopia and want to return, you need a fresh e-Visa. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from your intended date of entry, and a recent passport-style photo is required for the application. The visa is electronically linked to your passport, but Ethiopian immigration still expects a printed copy on arrival, so do not rely on the PDF sitting in your inbox.
Be wary of the many lookalike "Ethiopia visa" websites that mirror the official portal almost pixel-for-pixel and add a steep service fee of USD 20–60 on top of the genuine government charge. Some appear high in search results and look official. The genuine site is evisa.gov.et — bookmark it and apply there directly. If a site asks you to pay through an unusual gateway, or quotes a fee far above the official figure, close it.
Fee and durations — what's true in 2026
This is the section to read carefully, because Ethiopia changed its tourist-visa pricing and durations. Figures below are as of June 2026 — treat them as a date-stamped guide and confirm the live options on the official portal before paying.
| Item | Detail (June 2026) |
|---|---|
| Tourist e-Visa, 30 days (single entry) | Around USD 62 (~₹5,400) — reduced from the earlier USD 82 |
| Tourist e-Visa, 90 days | Reportedly discontinued for most travellers in 2026 — verify on the portal |
| Processing time | About 3 business days; apply at least 3 days before travel |
| Entry type | Single entry |
| Official portal | evisa.gov.et |
On the 90-day question: Ethiopia historically offered both 30-day and 90-day tourist e-Visas, but reporting in 2024–2026 indicates the long-stay 90-day tourist e-Visa was withdrawn, leaving the 30-day option as the standard tourist visa. Because this is exactly the kind of detail that shifts, we will not assert a fixed 90-day fee — check what durations the official portal currently shows you at the point of application. For most Indian tourists doing the historic-north circuit (Lalibela, Gondar, Axum) or a Danakil/Omo Valley trip, 30 days is ample; if you genuinely need longer, look at whether a longer visa is offered on the portal at the time, or plan around the 30-day window.
A word on why the fee history matters: Ethiopia cut the 30-day tourist e-Visa from around USD 82 to around USD 62, so older guides and even some agent sites still quote the higher figure. If a third-party site charges you USD 82 or more for a 30-day tourist e-Visa, you are likely paying the old price plus a markup. The official portal reflects the current, lower fee.
Paying in USD means your Indian Visa/Mastercard adds the usual ~3.5% forex markup; a zero-forex card such as Niyo Global or Fi avoids it, and a forex card pre-loaded with USD works too. The 20% TCS under the LRS does not apply at this small amount — that threshold only bites on much larger forex remittances, not a single visa fee. Keep the card statement showing the charge in case you need proof of payment at any stage.
Documents you need
The e-Visa form is short. Have these ready as clear files before you begin:
- Passport bio-page scan — colour, valid at least 6 months beyond entry, with a blank page
- Recent passport-style photo — plain background
- Return or onward flight ticket
- Accommodation details — hotel booking or host address
- A valid email address for the approved e-Visa PDF
- A Visa/Mastercard for payment
- Yellow fever vaccination certificate — required if arriving from or transiting a yellow-fever-risk country; carry it regardless
Enter every detail exactly as printed in your passport — mismatches are the most common cause of e-Visa delays or rejections.
Step-by-step: applying on evisa.gov.et
The application takes about 20 minutes on a desktop browser at the official portal evisa.gov.et.
- Open evisa.gov.et and select "Tourist visa". Verify the URL — avoid the lookalike sites.
- Choose arrival airport (Addis Ababa Bole, ADD) and your intended duration from the options shown.
- Fill the form — personal and passport details, trip dates, and accommodation.
- Upload your passport bio-page and photo.
- Pay the fee by card and submit; note the application reference.
- Wait about 3 business days for the approval email with the e-Visa PDF.
- Print two colour copies — one for the airline at your Indian departure airport, one for Ethiopian immigration.
Many Indians actually encounter Ethiopia as a connection point, since Ethiopian Airlines runs an extensive network via Addis Ababa to the rest of Africa. If you only transit airside and do not clear immigration, you do not need the tourist e-Visa; if you exit the airport (for a city stopover) you do. Compare live fares and stopover options in the FlightGPT chat, and for the wider region see our East Africa safari guide.
Common mistakes Indian travellers make
- Paying a lookalike site. Several copycat "Ethiopia visa" portals rank high in search and add a USD 20–60 markup. Only evisa.gov.et is official — verify the URL before you pay.
- Assuming the 90-day visa still exists. The long-stay 90-day tourist e-Visa appears to have been withdrawn; do not plan a 60–90 day trip around it without confirming the current options on the portal.
- Not printing the e-Visa. The visa is linked to your passport electronically, but immigration at Addis expects a printed PDF — carry two copies.
- Letting passport validity slip. You need at least 6 months' validity from your entry date.
- Cutting processing fine. Three business days is the norm, but apply about a week ahead to absorb any delay.
- Confusing transit with a stopover. Airside transit via Addis needs no tourist visa; leaving the airport for the city does.
- Skipping the yellow fever certificate when your routing requires it — carry it for East Africa regardless.
Arrival, stay and a coffee-country aside
At Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD), present your passport, printed e-Visa, return ticket and accommodation proof; show your yellow fever certificate if applicable. Confirm the stay stamped in your passport. The tourist e-Visa is single-entry, so plan your trip within the granted days and note your exit date to avoid overstay penalties.
A nice aside for Indian travellers: Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee, and a visit to the Ethiopian highlands pairs beautifully with the country's historic-north route. If that is your interest, see our coffee-travel guide covering Ethiopia, Vietnam and Colombia. Addis sits at high altitude (around 2,355 m), so take the first day easy and hydrate. The best general travel window is the dry season from October to March; the main rains fall June–September, which can affect road access to remote sites like the Danakil Depression.
Practical India-first notes for the ground: the local currency is the Ethiopian birr (ETB), and US dollars in cash are useful for tips and some lodges. Carry a printed itinerary if you are on an organised tour, as it doubles as your accommodation and onward proof. Ethiopia uses its own calendar and a 12-hour clock that starts at dawn, so confirm tour and flight times carefully. A local Ethio Telecom SIM at the airport keeps you connected, though data can be patchy outside Addis. As always, lock your flights early — fares via Addis fluctuate with the season — and compare live prices and routings in the FlightGPT chat at flightgpt.in.
Honesty notes and where to verify
Two honesty points specific to Ethiopia. First, the tourist-visa fee and durations have changed recently — the ~USD 62 30-day fee is current as of June 2026 (down from USD 82), and the 90-day tourist e-Visa appears to have been discontinued; both are exactly the kind of facts that move, so confirm the live options and price on the official portal evisa.gov.et before you pay. Second, an approved e-Visa permits travel but the immigration officer makes the final entry decision.
For neighbouring East-Africa options and combined itineraries, see our Kenya eTA page and Tanzania e-Visa page, plus the broader FlightGPT visa hub. When you are ready to book, check live fares and routings in the FlightGPT chat at flightgpt.in.
Frequently asked questions
Do Indians need a visa for Ethiopia in 2026?
Yes. Indian passport holders need an e-Visa, applied for online at the official portal evisa.gov.et before travel. The single-entry 30-day tourist e-Visa costs around USD 62 as of June 2026, with processing of about 3 business days.
How much is the Ethiopia tourist e-Visa for Indians?
Around USD 62 (about ₹5,400 in June 2026) for the single-entry 30-day tourist e-Visa — reduced from the earlier USD 82. Pay by card on evisa.gov.et and verify the current fee there, as Ethiopia has changed its pricing recently.
Is there a 90-day Ethiopia tourist e-Visa?
Ethiopia historically offered a 90-day tourist e-Visa, but reporting in 2024–2026 indicates it was discontinued for most travellers, leaving the 30-day option as the standard tourist visa. Check the durations the official portal shows you at the point of application.
How long does the Ethiopia e-Visa take?
About 3 business days under normal circumstances. Apply at least 3 days before your intended arrival; allowing a week is safer. The approved e-Visa arrives as a PDF by email — print two copies.
Do I need an Ethiopia visa for a layover in Addis Ababa?
If you only transit airside via Addis Ababa (ADD) without clearing immigration, you do not need the tourist e-Visa. If you leave the airport for a city stopover, you do. A separate transit visa exists for longer layovers — check the official portal.
Can I get an Ethiopia visa on arrival as an Indian?
Ethiopia operates a visa-on-arrival facility at Addis Ababa for some travellers, but applying online for the e-Visa in advance is strongly recommended to avoid airport delays and uncertainty. Confirm current rules on evisa.gov.et before relying on visa-on-arrival.
Which website is the official Ethiopia e-Visa portal?
The only official portal is evisa.gov.et. Many lookalike sites mirror it and add a large service fee — apply directly on the government site to pay only the genuine visa fee.