Ethiopia Travel Forum

I plan on going to Ethiopia later this year and I have a question about the visa process. I don't want to have a planned trip and sort of just want to go with the flow. There's a few places I have in mind but I don't want to book hotels and have a rigid travel plan. I read that in order to obtain a visa you have to state how long you're going to be there and where you're staying. Is there anyway around this?? Thank you people!

Just came back yesterday...
Visa requirements might be different for different nations. For EU citizens a 3 month visa can be obtained at the airport in Addis. Give the adress of the first hotel you want to go to (or just select one of your guidebook), although there was no such info to be filled into the immigration form as far as I remember.

What passport do you hold? Please fill out a little of you profile to help us answer questions.

Once you pay the fee and get the stamp at the airport, you can go anywhere. Just list a real hotel on the exit form (you must complete at the airport on departure). They may ask a question, but they never ring hotels and ask. A mere formality for most passports.

I have an American passport.

The only problem is I plan on staying over a month, probably closer to two, and my return ticket will reflect this.

I'm putting together a ROUGH intinerary now that basically just includes three areas I want to visit. Maybe I'll just list hotel in a city from each area. I don't know why I'm paranoid about this, I just don't want any hangups because of customs.

forgot to add....on the visa form I got from the embassy there's a spot for where you'll be staying and for how long. I just won't sweat it. Hopefully they won't ask why I plan on staying at the same hotel for 4+ weeks.