Temporary residence permit through marriage
A renewable temporary residence permit for foreign nationals married to Ethiopian citizens, issued by the Immigration and Citizenship Service. The applicant shows proof of marriage and financial means, with a letter from the Ethiopian spouse.
1 entry rule for Ethiopia based on recent travel
These apply to people who were recently in certain countries. Sign in and add your trips to see whether any apply to you.
Yellow fever certificate needed after a stay in countries with risk of yellow fever transmission (WHO list)
Travellers aged 9 months and over arriving from a yellow fever risk country (or after more than 12 hours' airport transit in one) need a valid yellow fever certificate.
WHO International Travel and Health, Annex 1: Countries with risk of yellow fever transmission and countries requiring proof of vaccination against yellow fever (18 Nov 2022, revised 3 Jan 2023) WHO ITH Country List: Vaccination requirements and WHO recommendations for international travellers, 2022 edition (18 Nov 2022, revised 3 Jan 2023) Checked October 19, 2026
Life in Ethiopia
Money
3
Currency
Ethiopian Birr
ETB
Ethiopian Birr
Cost of living
30
Price level · US = 100
World Bank price levels, 2024
Tax
15–35%
Income tax (national)
VAT 15%
Monthly employment income: 0% up to ETB 2,000; 35% above ETB 14,000 a month (Proclamation 1395/2025).
Living
1
Happiness
#133 of 145 countries
World Happiness Report 2025
Your edge here Members
What gives you an edge here: passports, visas and permits you hold, work, study, language and family ties
Who it’s for
Foreign spouses of Ethiopian citizens who want to live in Ethiopia.
Eligibility
Marriage to an Ethiopian citizen
Proof of marriage. A marriage abroad must be authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and certificates not in English or Amharic must be translated by a legally recognised body.
Financial means
Proof of means to support yourself, such as a bank statement showing 500,000 birr or more with a bank letter, a house title certificate, or a vehicle licence certificate.
Spouse's support
An application letter from the Ethiopian spouse and the spouse's kebele ID or Ethiopian passport.
A sneak peek at what's inside
- Next requirementPassport validity
- Document checklistPassport valid at least 6 months
- FeesApplication fee
The full requirements are for members
Create an account and subscribe to see every requirement, the full document checklist, fees, steps, processing times and conditions, and how your profile compares.
- 1 more requirement
- 9 documents
- 1 fee
- 4 steps
- Processing times and conditions
Places to visit in Ethiopia
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