Travel from South Africa to Ethiopia is conditional — see requirements below
This is the generic answer for any South Africa citizen. Not legal or medical advice — verify with your airline and destination authorities before travel.
South Africa passport holders must obtain an eVisa before travelling to Ethiopia for stays of up to 90 days.
Generic country-level guidance for Ethiopia. Verify against the official source before you travel.
This page covers a direct flight to Ethiopia. If your route connects through a third country, that country may require its own transit visa — sometimes even for a short airside layover. Transit rules depend on your specific routing, so check the country you connect through separately, or analyse your full itinerary.
You're travelling to Ethiopia (ET). Your home cellular plan may or may not include data abroad — check your carrier's international options before you fly. An eSIM is a low-commitment alternative if your plan doesn't cover the destination or charges high roaming rates.
Declare ZAR 25,000 or equivalent when entering or leaving South Africa (ZA). Form: SARS declaration. Max ZAR 25,000 cash; foreign currency unlimited but must declare
The US State Department publishes these advisories for your route. Ethiopia: Level 3 — Reconsider Travel (as of 2026-04-01). The State Department recommends reconsidering travel here; read the country page and check whether your specific destination falls in a higher-risk zone. This is a US State Department safety perspective, not an entry or boarding rule — it doesn't affect whether you can board, only what to be aware of on the ground. Travellers from other countries should also check their own government's advisory.
This page covers the generic case for any South Africa citizen. Sign in (free) to factor in your specific passport expiry, vaccinations, previous visas held, and connecting flights — and get the same analysis for your exact itinerary.
Sign in (free) to personalize →Your itinerary touches South Africa (ZA) and Ethiopia (ET), where malaria transmission occurs. Transmission is often region-limited within a country (e.g. coastal vs highland zones) and varies by season. Discuss prophylaxis with a travel medicine clinician — the right antimalarial depends on the specific region, your medical history, and any medications you take.
Typical September conditions at ADD (Ethiopia (ET)): mild. Typical lows around 10°C, highs around 22°C, moderate rainfall (~124mm for the month).
Your South Africa (ZA) passport requires an e-Visa for Ethiopia. e-Visas need an online application, may require supporting documents (photos, itinerary, hotel bookings), and have processing windows from same-day to two weeks. Apply before booking the flight. Source: Wikipedia visa matrix, synced 2026-06-21T10:11:55.888854+00:00.