Ethiopia

Government advisories

• ☐ United States: level 3/4 — Level 3: Reconsider Travel
• ☐ United Kingdom: level 2/4
• ☐ Canada: level 3/4 — Avoid non-essential travel (with regional advisories)

Health notices

• ☐ Global Polio (level 2)
• ☐ Global Measles (level 1)

Entry requirements

☐ Visitors to Ethiopia must obtain a visa from one of the Ethiopian diplomatic missions, unless they come from one of the visa exempt countries or countries whose citizens are eligible to apply for an electronic visa or visa on arrival.

Practical

• ☐ Plug type C/E/F/L, 220V — bring an adapter if yours differs
• ☐ Drives on the right
• ☐ Emergency (police): 911
• ☐ Emergency (ambulance): 911
• ☐ Emergency (fire): 911
• ☐ SIM: Unlike most countries, even within Africa, roaming in Ethiopia with your home country's carrier is very expensive and is often not covered by discounted roaming packages, and many traveler eSIMs don't even support the country at all. As such it is highly recommended to get a local SIM card while in Ethiopia.
• ☐ Money: Local currency is the Ethiopian birr, denoted by the symbol "Br" or "ብር " (ISO currency code: ETB). Wikivoyage articles use birr to denote the currency.
• ☐ Tipping: In Ethiopia tipping is common in hotels, restaurants and bars. One is also expected to tip car park attendants whether hired by institutions or self-assigned. In some restaurants it is customary to tip any dancers, and this is usually done by sticking the paper money on the forehead of the dancer.

Laws that could get a tourist arrested

• ☐ Mandatory document carry — Due to a heightened security presence, you must carry your identity and travel documents at all times. Comply with instructions at checkpoints and road blocks.

Before you go

General trip-prep, not specific to Ethiopia — the same short list applies anywhere.

• ☐ Register with your embassy's traveler program if one exists
• ☐ Check your passport's validity and blank-page requirements on your destination's official entry-rules page
• ☐ Photograph/screenshot your passport, visa, and travel insurance documents
• ☐ Download offline maps for your destination
• ☐ Confirm your bank/card issuer knows you're traveling
• ☐ Check whether your phone plan needs a travel add-on or a local SIM