Vasco da Gama to Addis Ababa (GOI–ADD) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections

Indian passport holders can obtain an eVisa before travel through evisa.immigration.gov.et. A 30-day single-entry tourist eVisa costs $82, and a 90-day single-entry costs $102. Processing takes 1 to 3 working days. Visa on arrival is available at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD) at the same rates, paid in USD cash or by card, though queues can be long. The eVisa is faster and avoids the arrival line.

Passport must be valid for at least 6 months with at least one blank page. The eVisa application requires a passport scan, digital photo, travel itinerary, and hotel booking or invitation letter. The approved eVisa is emailed as a PDF. Print it. For business visits, apply for a business visa through the eVisa portal with a supporting letter from the Ethiopian host company. Extensions are possible at the Main Immigration Office in Addis Ababa for $20 to $40 depending on duration.

Direct flights from Delhi and Mumbai to Addis Ababa run about 6 to 7 hours on Ethiopian Airlines (Star Alliance), which uses Addis Ababa as its global hub. Ethiopian Airlines also connects from Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai. Ethiopia uses the Ethiopian birr (ETB), trading at roughly 127 ETB per $1. Foreign currency must be exchanged at banks or authorized dealers, not on the street (it is illegal). Yellow fever vaccination is required if arriving from an endemic country, so carry the yellow card. Addis Ababa sits at 2,355 meters elevation, so expect cooler temperatures (10 to 25 degrees Celsius year-round) than most of India.