Ethiopia Business eVisa Requirements in 2026: Documents, Invitation Letters & Work Permit Rules for UK Travellers

Published: 9 September 2026 | Last reviewed: 9 September 2026

Author: UK Travel Visa Editorial Team. This guide is for informational purposes only. We are not affiliated with the Ethiopian government. Always verify details on evisa.gov.et before applying.

The Ethiopia business eVisa requirements for UK citizens include a passport with 6 months validity, an invitation letter from an Ethiopian host company, and host registration documents like a TIN certificate. A separate work permit is required for employment, as the business eVisa only permits meetings and consultancy.

Applicants must submit their application exclusively through the Ethiopian e-Visa platform at evisa.gov.et. The Business and Related Studies Visa (BRV) is specifically designed for foreign nationals entering Ethiopia for market research, negotiations, conferences, and short-term business-related studies. It does not authorise gainful employment or contractual work.

To satisfy the Ethiopia business eVisa requirements, you must provide a clear colour scan of your passport bio page, a recent photograph, and proof of sufficient funds. The host company in Ethiopia must also provide a valid business licence renewed for the current fiscal year, ensuring full compliance with the Immigration and Citizenship Service standards.

Ethiopia Business eVisa: Passport, Photo, and Basic Criteria

The Business and Related Studies Visa (BRV) is Ethiopia’s mandatory eVisa category for UK citizens entering for meetings, conferences, and consultancy, not employment.

• Passport: Must be an ordinary machine-readable passport valid for at least 6 months from the date of intended entry, containing at least 2 consecutive blank visa pages facing each other.
• Photograph: Dimensions must be 35 mm x 45 mm, taken within the last 3 months. The background must be all white with no shadows, the expression neutral, and spectacles are prohibited.
• Digital uploads: The Ethiopia Business eVisa application requires a clear colour scan of the passport bio page and a passport-quality JPEG or PNG photograph.

UK citizens have no visa-free access and must apply online before departure. The Ethiopia Business eVisa is available to conference attendees, consultants, negotiators, and short-term business visitors. Headwear is prohibited except for religious purposes, and the photograph must show a full frontal view, centred.

Visa Types and Eligibility for UK Business Travellers

Ethiopia’s eVisa portal offers BRV (business), IV (investment), CV (conference), WV (work), and NV (NGO) categories, with a 30-day BRV costing USD 152 and a 90-day BRV USD 202.

The Ethiopia Business eVisa encompasses several sub-categories, each mapped to a specific business purpose. The Business and Related Studies Visa (BRV) covers meetings, negotiations, and short-term studies, with a 30-day single-entry option at USD 152 and a 90-day single-entry option at USD 202. Multiple-entry BRVs are issued at embassy discretion and cannot be guaranteed. UK applicants must select the correct visa code before applying via evisa.gov.et.

Decision guide: Meetings or consultancy -> BRV. Attending a conference -> CV. Establishing investment -> IV. The Ethiopia Business eVisa does not permit paid employment under any of these categories; a separate Work Permit is required for remunerated roles.

Invitation Letter and Host Company Registration Documents

The Ethiopian host company must provide a signed invitation letter, a current-fiscal-year TIN certificate, and a valid renewed business licence.

The host company submits a formal letter to the Main Department of Immigration and Nationality Affairs Office in Addis Ababa; processing takes at least 21 days. File uploads on the eVisa portal accept PDF, JPEG, and PNG formats; clear colour scans at minimum 300 dpi are recommended. Documents in Amharic or English are accepted; non-Amharic/non-English documents may require certified translation. According to the Ethiopian Immigration and Citizenship Service guide at evisa.gov.et, the TIN certificate must be renewed annually before July.

Business Introduction Letter from Your UK Employer

The Ethiopia Business eVisa application may also require a business introduction letter from the applicant’s UK employer, printed on company letterhead displaying a UK postal address and dated within 30 days of submission. Self-employed applicants may substitute a letter from Companies House or HMRC confirmation. A sample template is available at cibtvisas.co.uk.

Work Permit Rules and the Transition Pathway

A BRV does not authorise employment; transitioning to paid work requires an employer-initiated Work Permit from the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs.

The Ethiopia Business eVisa permits meetings, conferences, negotiations, and site visits, but prohibits paid employment and contractual work. To transition legally:

Can You Work in Ethiopia on a Business eVisa?

No. The Ethiopia Business eVisa allows meetings, negotiations, conferences, and site visits, but paid employment and contractual work are prohibited. Working remotely for a non-Ethiopian employer on a BRV is not explicitly permitted under current law.

How to Apply: Process, Fees, and Processing Times

Applications must be submitted exclusively via evisa.gov.et by creating an account, uploading required documents, and paying by credit or debit card.

The Ethiopia Business eVisa costs USD 152 for a 30-day single-entry visa and USD 202 for a 90-day single-entry visa. The fee is strictly non-refundable once submitted, even if the visa is rejected. Payment is accepted via major international credit or debit cards (Visa, Mastercard); international transaction surcharges from UK banks may apply.

Processing takes 5-10 business days; plan at least 2 weeks before travel. Track status online using the application reference number, or contact ICS at +251 (11) 1262635 / [email protected]. Print the eVisa approval and carry it in hand luggage.

Applying Safely: Avoiding Fraudulent e-Visa Websites

Only evisa.gov.et is the legitimate portal. The domain ethiopiavisas.net is explicitly flagged as fraudulent by the Ethiopian government. Applications from unauthorised sites are not accepted, and the government bears no responsibility for payments made to fraudulent operators. We have encountered cases where third-party sites charged double the official fee. Always verify the URL ends in .gov.et before entering any data. Bookmark evisa.gov.et directly.

After Approval: Duration, Overstay Rules, and Arrival

Standard BRV durations are 30 or 90 days; overstaying incurs ~USD 30 per day, enforced at departure, and travellers should carry printed documents for immigration at Bole International Airport.

• Extensions: Apply in person at the Immigration and Citizenship Service (ICS) Head Office in Addis Ababa before the current visa expires. A 30-day extension costs USD 152; a 90-day extension costs USD 252.
• Overstay penalties: Overstaying incurs approximately USD 30 per day. Departure from Ethiopia is blocked until the penalty is paid in full, and repeat violations may trigger a future entry ban.
• Arrival port: The Ethiopia Business eVisa is valid for entry through Addis Ababa Bole International Airport only. Carry printed copies of the eVisa approval, passport, invitation letter, host company TIN certificate, business licence, and return flight booking in hand luggage.
• Health screening: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is mandatory if arriving from or transiting through a risk country for more than 12 hours. An Mpox screening survey issued by the Ethiopian Ministry of Health may apply to travellers arriving from some countries, including transit stops involving movement outside the airport; symptoms may require testing or treatment.

Ethiopia Business eVisa Requirements FAQ