Can I Choose an Ethiopia E-Visa if Eligible for Visa-on-Arrival?

Yes, if your nationality is eligible for both an Ethiopia visa-on-arrival and an e-visa, you can choose either option based on your preference. The Ethiopian government offers both to facilitate travel, with no restriction preventing you from opting for an e-visa even if you qualify for a visa-on-arrival. Ethiopian authorities often encourage travelers to apply for an e-visa in advance to streamline entry and avoid potential delays at the border.

Why Prefer an E-Visa Over a Visa-on-Arrival?

If you are eligible for a visa-on-arrival (VOA) in Ethiopia but prefer to obtain an e-visa, here are some points to consider:

Convenience

The online application for Ethiopia e-visas allows quick completion before your arrival, which eliminates the need for extra work at the border. Application processing typically takes 1-3 days. Upon completion of the application, the e-visa will arrive through email, so you can bypass airport queues when entering the country.

Pre-Approval

The pre-approved e-visa status allows you to bypass border entry complications that might occur from immigration officers' discretionary powers.

Flexibility

The single-entry feature of E-visas allows travelers to stay in the country for 30 days, depending on their planned itinerary.

Time Savings

Visa-on-arrival at Bole International Airport features queues at visa counters that become longer during busy times and can extend from 30 minutes up to one hour or more. This waiting process becomes exhausting after a lengthy flight. E-visa holders avoid visa application lines by moving straight to immigration check-in, but they should expect varying wait times at this stage.

Visa-on-arrival and e-visa holders need to access Ethiopia through Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, since land borders have no capability to process e-visa applications. All visitors must present proof of yellow fever vaccination through a certificate when arriving from any risk country, regardless of their entry method.

Conclusion

The eligibility for a visa-on-arrival in Ethiopia does not prevent you from applying for an e-visa instead. The e-visa system delivers a more efficient entry procedure that reduces the amount of time passengers need to wait, along with decreasing their uncertainty during airport procedures. An e-visa serves as a suitable entry option for Ethiopia when you arrive at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport. More details and the official application portal are available at evisa.gov.et.