Ethiopia
Last update 16 May 2025Diplomatic missions
Risk index
Level 4: Avoid all travels (except in case of extreme necessity)
4
Select passport type
Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
With regard to the political crisis in Ethiopia the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria forewarns the Bulgarian citizens, travelling or residing in in the country, to the possibility of further escalation of the unrests. Roadblocks and clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement forces continue in various parts of the country. Only in Addis Ababa the situation is normal with an increased police presence. It is mandatory to organize all visits to tourist sites with licensed tour-operators, who provide armed security.
Considering further deteriorated security situation In the country the Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises the Bulgarian citizens in Ethiopia to avoid travels to the regions of Ahmara and Tigray, including the city of Axum. In addition, in May 2025, the Ethiopian authorities issued a travel ban for foreign nationals to the Tigray and Afar regions. There is currently no information on the duration of the above restrictions.
Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
Address: Bole KK, Kebele 04/06/07, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; P.O.Box 987
Telephone/fax: +25116610032
Out-of-hours hotline: +251911252514; +251913069999
Working hours: 09:00 – 17:30
Opening hours: 09:00 – 13:00 and 14:00 – 17:30
Е-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.mfa.bg/embassies/ethiopia
Permanent mission of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (accredited to Bulgaria)
Address: 1211 Genevieve 19, Case postale 338, Rue de Moillebeau 56:
Telephone: +41 22 919 70 10
Fax: +41 22 919 70 29
Working hours: 09:00 – 12:30; 14:30 – 17:30
E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]
Website: www.ethiopianmission.ch
General information
Security level:
Level of crime — high. Civil unrest and violence are possible. Roadblocks, arson attacks on small businesses and clashes between protesters and law enforcement forces are present in different areas of the country. Only in the capital Addis Ababa is the situation normal with an increased police presence. Visits to tourist sites are compulsory with licensed tour operators who provide, inter alia, armed security.
Healthcare:
On a temporary basis, the authorities in Ethiopia are making it mandatory for all arriving passengers at Addis Ababa airport to complete a special ‘EBOLA’ questionnaire. You can see a sample of the card HERE.
Level of healthcare — low.
Specifics of the local legislation:
New legislation is being introduced to ban the use of VOIP. Offenders are subject to penalties of up to 15 years in prison.
Currency exchange on the black market is punishable by 15 years in prison. It is best to use the banks and desks in the major hotels where the rates are identical.
Legislation is strict in attempts to illegally drain ATMs. The penalties are severe and are the sum of all penalties for proven offences, including the same misdemeanour. The provisions of the law imperatively impose the usual measure multiplied by the number of robberies committed.
Customs requirements:
The foreign currency being imported shall be declared. There is a 2 litre alcohol carry limit.
Customs requirements for Ethiopia can be downloaded from HERE.
Practical advice:
Bulgarian citizens are advised to inform the Embassy upon arrival in order to receive assistance in case of need.
Do not undertake independent trips, but necessarily use the services of local licensed tour companies and guides who take care of your safety, including armed guards. /In Addis Ababa it is relatively calm, but in the interior of the country and especially in the border regions there are tensions, expressed in demonstrations, attacks on roads, their blocking, burning of factories, etc. There are also periodic reports of casualties following intervention by the security forces.
Local currency:
Ethiopian birr (ETB)
As of 16 May 2025, 1 EUR = 151,58 ETB
Travel papers and visas
A valid international passport is required to travel to the country.
Immunization for yellow fever is required.
Bulgarian citizens traveling to Ethiopia need an entry visa. It is advisable to obtain it at the Ethiopian embassies in Geneva, Berlin, Rome, Ankara and Paris.
Visas are not issued to holders of valid Bulgarian passports on arrival at the airport. Those wishing to visit Ethiopia should have a visa in their passport. It is possible to obtain a visa pre-authorisation electronically, and the application can be made on arrival at the airport.
Ethiopian authorities sanction foreign nationals practicing business in Ethiopia but residing on a tourist visa. A business visa is required in advance.
Visa applicants fill in the necessary forms, attach photographs, state the reasons for the trip and local partners, if any.
Attention!
Your passport must have at least one completely blank page so that the entry visa can be affixed to it. There should be no other visa stamps on the back of this page other than the border control stamps.
It is advisable to check the fees with the relevant consular offices, as changes often occur.
Consular service
Ethiopia has not ratified the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, as a result of which it does not always allow consular officials to visit fellow nationals in detention and/or serving sentences.
Nevertheless, the consular officers at the Embassy are ready to assist in any case that may arise — accident, illness, practical advice, general information and any other.
Certifications and legalizations
The Embassy shall authenticate documents duly issued by the relevant authorities of both countries.
In order to be valid in Bulgaria and to be able to serve before the Bulgarian institutions, all documents issued by the authorities in Ethiopia to Bulgarian citizens must bear the stamp of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia. Then, they need to be certified by Consular Office at the Embassy of Bulgaria in the capital of Ethiopia.
Thereafter, the documents must be translated into Bulgarian by an authorized Translation Agency in Bulgaria, and the translation certified by the Department of Certification and Legalization of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria.
Issuance of identity documents
The Embassy in Addis Ababa has no connection to the National Visa Information System, no biometric capture equipment and can only accept documents for temporary passports. The nearest embassies, where visa services and application for new Bulgarian identity documents can be carried out, are in. Cairo, Egypt and in the city of Abuja, Nigeria.
Civil status
The Embassy can register births, marriages or deaths.