General Information

Visa requirements

All visitors/delegates to Ethiopia - except nationals of Djibouti and Kenya – must have a valid visa to enter the country. Visitors from countries that have Ethiopian diplomatic missions are required by the Ethiopian immigration authorities to secure their visas from those missions. Delegates from such countries should therefore do so before departure. Delegates from countries without Ethiopian diplomatic missions, irrespective of the type of passport they travel on, will secure their visas on arrival. They are therefore requested to forward the information listed below in advance (at least three weeks before the meeting):

• Name of traveler (this should be in full and exactly in the order the names appear in the passport. Every initial should be fully expressed into the name it represents). Also, to avoid any possible confusion, delegates should please state their title - i.e. Mr., Mrs., Ms., Dr., Prof., Rev.,
• Number, nationality and type of passport (diplomatic/service/ordinary);
• Date of issue and expiry date:
• Place of issue; and
• Date of arrival and flight number.

With the above information, the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs will grant the relevant permit for issuance of visas by the Immigration Department upon arrival of the delegates.

The ECA Protocol Officers will be at the airport to assist delegates on arrival and departure. It is, therefore, imperative for delegates to provide flight information ahead of time.

Please note that an Ethiopian visa costs between Birr 150 and Birr 400 (about US$ 25 – US$ 60) per passenger depending on your nationality and payment must be made at the time of issue. Expenses incurred in connection with visa requirements are paid for in the local currency obtained from the Ethiopian Commercial Bank at the Airport. Bank receipts for money changed at the International Airport must be kept securely as they will be asked for on departure.

Foreign currency declaration

There is no limit to how much money you may bring into the country in foreign currency. However, all arriving passengers are required to declare to a Customs official all the foreign currencies they are bringing into the country. The stamped declaration form must be kept safely at all times, as the bank requires it at the time of currency transaction. Upon departure, delegates will also be required to surrender their declarations to Customs officials at the airport.

Please be warned that the old Ethiopian notes are no longer a legal tender. Delegates are advised to insist on obtaining new 1, 5, 10, 50 and 100 notes.

Exchange rate

Ethiopian currency is denominated in "birr" and "centimes". The official bank exchange rate for the Ethiopian birr to the US dollar is now 6.90 ET birr = US$ 1.00. The rate is a floating one, set by auction every two weeks.

Please note that exchange rates at hotels for travelers' cheques, etc. are lower than bank rates.

Convertible currency changed into birr at the bank can be reconverted into US$ at the bank at the airport upon departure, upon presentation of the blue currency declaration form and the exchange receipts. You may not reconvert more money than you changed at the bank.

Departure

The airport tax on departure is US$20.00 and is payable in a convertible currency, preferably in US$.

Customs

Customs may examine your luggage upon arrival and register any electronics equipment; they will then check when you depart, to ensure that you are leaving the country with the same equipment that has been registered in your passport.

Health and safety precautions

Addis Ababa is generally a safe city. However, the same precautions should be followed as in any other large city.

No malarial precautions are necessary in Addis Ababa because of its altitude.

Addis Ababa is 2,400 meters above sea level (higher than Mexico City).

The United Nations Health Centre, situated in the new conference centre, will provide emergency medical services to participants/delegates attending meetings during working hours.

Delegates must be in possession of a valid International Certificate of Vaccination for yellow fever and other vaccinations as appropriate.