Research visa in Ethiopia

Hi everyone,

I am planning on going to Ethiopia to conduct research and wanted to apply for a 6 month visa. Last year this would have been easy, but I've been told it is no longer possible. Has anyone had any luck getting a longer visa for Ethiopia? Or could anyone provide a tip? I've already been a few times and have never had a problem in the past, but it looks like that is about to change...

Thanks a lot!

Where are you based and what passport do you have?

Have you seen the new info on visa on London Embassy website?

I'm based in Germany and have an Australian passport. The Ethiopian Embassy in Germany was pretty firm about it, and I did read the new info on the London Embassy website with a heavy heart. I'm just looking for a way around the new restictions.

At this point your best bet is to apply for a Multi Entry Tourist Visa 6 months in Brussels Belgium. Take note that Ethiopian Consulates/Embassies no longer post date visas so you'll have a little less then 6 months by the time you arrive in Ethiopia. There is nothing that stipulates they will refuse applications of other nationalities or get a three month Tourist Visa upon arrival at Bole International Airport. The problem there is you'll have to leave to a neighboring country for example Djibouti to obtain an Ethiopian Visa to re-enter the country whether from the Ethiopian Embassy in another country or upon arrival in Bole Intl. for another 3 month visa, there is nothing that mentions that non-residents can't obtain Ethiopian OR Djibouti Visas in those following countries. obtaining a Djibouti Visa in Addis Ababa looks straight forward. Most of the embassies are along Bole Avenue not far from the Airport in Addis.. It is all bureaucracy of red tape yet it can be cut with a good pair of scissors. Double check yet worse comes to worse you can fly to Nairobi (Nairobbery) obtain Kenyan Visa on arrival then fly back to Addis. It may be a real pain in the behind it may be one of the very few options especially if you wish to stay 6 months.

The advice in the last post is as good as you will get, tho I am not sure Belgian Embassy will help IF you have residency in Germany.... They (IMMIGRATION dept in Addis) are in a very obstinate mood towards foreigners over such issues at present AND often move the goalposts. Embassies are being told firmly by Addis to be awkward. One other tactic would be to plan to go to Somaliland say 10 weeks into you trip...even book a ticket on Ethiopian, and thus get IF POSS a 3 month multi entry BUT there is NO current advice that we can be sure will work...

roarkster1467 and aratkilo, thank you so much. I will try my luck with the Ethiopian Embassy in Brussels, perhaps I can convince them to grant me a student visa. I can get an university in Ethiopia to write me a letter, so this may work. And if not, then I will get the on-going ticket to go to Somaliland. This really does seem like the only way to get around it.

Thanks again, I really appreciate such wonderful advice and insight!

Should you decide to enter Somaliland, make sure it is a Somaliland Visa not Somalia. Addis Ababa is the only place that has an Embassy of Somaliland. It's just to make sure you go to the right place more then the embassy staff not catching the fact your heading to Hargeisa rather then Mogadishu .I don't understand why anyone who resides in a Schengen has proof of residence in a Schengen Country can't apply in an embassy within that country or any other Schengen Country for that matter unless they are a citizen of a Schengen Country in Europe. It would be like saying you must send your passport back to Canberra to the Ethiopian Embassy for a visa. Djibouti visas are straightforward yet tell you the truth Djibouti is a ''Hellish Dirty Seaport City'' that one really wouldn't want to spend much time there.

Yes, I have been reading about visas for Somaliland and it seems quite straight forward too.

I don't understand it either, it doesn't make much sense. If I was just traveling through the area, then how would I get my passport back to Canberra then here again. no one likes to send their passport away while on the road.

Again, thanks heaps!

Dear squives,
It's election time. The official results will be publicly announced on June, 22nd. Visa regulations (tourist and business) have changed (rather erratically) a couple of months ago. Tourist visas have been cut down from 3 months to 1 month and also business visas are harder to get at the moment (and usually for max. 3 months). Things might change again at the end of the months. Who knows?
Good luck and kind regards,
7stern

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