COVID-19 Precautionary Measures in Ethiopia (4 December Update)

Can a resident enter the country?

• Yes

• Citizens and residents can enter Ethiopia.

Can a foreigner enter the country?

• Yes

• Foreigners are allowed to enter Ethiopia.

Is transit allowed through the country?

• Yes

• Travellers are allowed to transit through Addis Ababa Bole International Airport if their lay-over is no more than 72-hours and if they have a confirmed onward ticket for a connecting flight. Passengers transiting for 24 hours or less can remain in the departure lounge of the airport. For transits over 24 hours, travellers will be taken to a designated transit hotel for the duration of their stay.

• Passengers may be required to present a negative RT PCR COVID-19 test certificate prior to entry. Additional screening may include having their temperature checked, completing a health screening questionnaire, and answering questions from health officials.

Is a test required on arrival?

• No, with exceptions

• A test is not mandatory on arrival.

• Arrivals, departures, and transiting travellers are required to go through health screening. Anyone suspected of having COVID-19 will be brought to a government designated isolation centre and tested.

Is a test certificate allowed?

• Yes

• Test certificates issued by foreign countries are accepted. Only PCR tests will be accepted.

Test certificate required?

• Yes

• Arriving passengers should have a certificate for a negative RT-PCR test issued within the last five days (120 hours) prior to their arrival. However, the following categories are exempt from the requirement:

  • Anyone below 10 years of age;

  • Travellers with a diplomatic passport and their immediate family members;

  • Travellers with a service passport and their immediate family members;

  • Travellers having a Laissez-Passer issued by an African Union (AU) state as well as the United Nations and their immediate family members.

Is quarantine required on arrival?

• Yes

• All passengers will be subject to 7 days of mandatory self-isolation. On arrival, travellers must provide the address for the location of where they will self-isolate.

• Travellers arriving without an RT-PCR test certificate will be assigned to quarantine at a government-approved hotel for seven days at their own expense. Tests will be conducted during the quarantine. Any passenger with a positive test result will be quarantined in an isolation centre until recovery. Travellers with a negative COVID-19 test result will need to self-isolate for another seven days.

Entry form required?

• Yes

• Anyone planning to enter Ethiopia will need a visa. E-visas can be obtained here.

Airline restrictions

• Moderate

• Addis Ababa Bole International Airport and other international airports are operational, however, only a limited number of international flights are operating.

• Domestic and cargo flights are operating.

• Departing travellers must reach the airport at least two hours before their departure time. To enter the terminal, passengers must have a printed copy of their itinerary, boarding pass, or e-ticket.

• Ethiopian Airlines has resumed flight services to Moscow.

• An air bubble arrangement has been formed with India, in which special international flights will operate.

Border restrictions

• Minimal

• Most border checkpoints have been reopened where screening measures have been installed.

• Travellers crossing land borders will need a negative RT PCR COVID-19 test certificate dated within the previous 120 hours (5 days). They will be screened for symptoms and required to self-isolate at home for 7 days. Those who do not present a negative test certificate will be screened and required to self-isolate for 14 days.

Curfew restrictions

• Minimal

• The state of emergency has been lifted.

• Restrictions may be imposed by the local authorities.

Social distancing restrictions

• Moderate

• Gatherings are restricted.

• Deliberate physical contact is banned, including greetings by a handshake.

Internal travel restrictions

• Moderate

• Masks are required.

• Travel restrictions within the districts have been lifted.

• Public transportation (buses, taxies, cabs), the Ethio-Djibouti railway, Addis Ababa’s light rail, and private vehicles are operating with reduced seat occupancy.

• Anyone entering the Tigray region from other parts of the country will need to show a negative test certificate issued within the last 24-hours of their arrival. Travellers without the test certificate will be assigned to seven-days quarantine.

Non-essential shops open?

• Yes with exceptions

• Some businesses and trading activities have opened.

• Large markets remain closed until further notice.

Accommodations open?

• Yes

• Most accommodations are open.

Restaurants open?

• Yes

• Restaurants are restricted to three people per table.

Bars and cafes open?

• Yes

• Cafes are open and restricted to three people per table.

• Bars are restricted to three people per table.

• Occupancy limits are in place for nightclubs as well as no-contact rules.

Beaches and tourism sites open?

• Yes

• Foreigners are allowed to enter for any reason, including tourism. Tour operations are permitted to resume with proper sanitization procedures.

Museums and heritage sites open?

• Yes

• Non-essential businesses like museums and heritage sites are open. Social distancing measures may apply.

Personal care services open?

• Yes

• Barbershops are open.

Events allowed?

• Yes with exceptions

• Gatherings (including religious gatherings, weddings, and funerals) are limited to 50 people. Gatherings of over 50 people must be authorized by the relevant authority.

• Personal in-home gatherings such as birthday parties may only include family members.

Masks required in public?

• Yes

• The use of face masks is mandatory for all people while in public places, except for children under 6 years or those who have a condition that gives them an exception.

Other

• Coffee houses, and liquor wholesale businesses are open.

• Schools and educational institutes are closed.

• Sporting activities may resume with social distancing measures.

• Government offices are open.

• Visits to care homes for the elderly are prohibited. Visits to prisons must comply with coronavirus measures.

Consigli

The COVID-19 epidemic is changing constantly worldwide. This information is subject to change as the situation evolves. Travel and border restrictions may change with little or no notice. Some countries are beginning to remove some restrictions gradually. Check with your airline, booking agent, or country’s embassy for information on your specific travel plans.