Ethiopia has introduced a new 10-year Golden Visa priced at $10,000 and sharply increased immigration service fees across the board, as the government moves to boost foreign currency revenue amid ongoing FX shortages.
The sweeping fee revision, approved by the Council of Ministers, includes premium passport services costing 40,000-50,000 birr ($312-390 at current rates) and raises permanent residence permit fees to $3,000 — triple the previous amount, according to Addis Insight.
The new Golden Visa offers wealthy investors and diaspora members a 10-year residency permit for $10,000, with expedited renewal available for $12,500. The program positions Ethiopia alongside Caribbean nations and some European countries offering residency-for-investment schemes.
Other significant fee increases include investor visas ranging from $60 for one month to $4,000 for five years, and overseas passport services jumping to $200-350 depending on processing speed. Ethiopian citizens abroad will pay $300 for urgent passport applications, up from previous rates.
The regulation introduces premium domestic passport services, with six-hour processing costing 40,000 birr and door-to-door delivery within two days priced at 50,000 birr. Standard passport fees of 5,000-25,000 birr remain unchanged.
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Foreign nationals purchasing property in Ethiopia will be eligible for visas valid up to five years under the new structure, supporting recent legal changes allowing foreign ownership of immovable property.
The fee increases come as Ethiopia faces persistent foreign currency shortages despite ongoing macroeconomic reforms. The Ethiopian Immigration and Citizenship Service collected 10.5 billion birr in visa revenue during the first quarter of the current fiscal year, with visa services representing its largest income source.
The Golden Visa fee of $10,000 represents roughly 26 years of average Ethiopian annual income, positioning it as a program clearly targeting wealthy diaspora members and international investors rather than ordinary citizens. Similar programs in Portugal start at €280,000 in investment, while Caribbean nations like Dominica offer citizenship for $100,000.
The regulation will take effect once published in the Negarit Gazette, with officials stating the revised structure addresses gaps in existing immigration law and supports property ownership reforms.
