Immigration and Visa
Welcome to Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia and to the upcoming 8th Conference of the African Association of Remote Sensing for the Environment (AARSE 2010) scheduled to take place from 25 to 29 October 2010 at the United Nations Conference Centre (UNCC) at the Headquarters of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).
It is important to take note of the following information, which will further assist you in the planning, and logistics of your travel to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Immigration Requirements
Visas are required for all visitors/delegates traveling to Ethiopia, except for nationals of Djibouti and Kenya. Visitors from countries that have Ethiopian diplomatic missions are required by the Ethiopian immigration authorities to secure their visas from those missions before departure. These include holders of diplomatic and service passports as well as United Nations Laissez-Passer.
If your country does not have an Ethiopian diplomatic mission, UNECA will assist you in obtaining a visa upon arrival, provided the following particulars are received three weeks in advance.
- Full name
- Nationality
- Passport details - (number, date of issue and expiry)
- Flight details (arrival and departure)
Please note that business visas can be obtained on arrival for all participants attending meetings/seminars/workshops at the UNECA, Addis Ababa. The Ethiopian Immigration Authority requires that you present an official letter of invitation for securing your business visa on arrival. It is imperative to bring with you the letter of invitation and present it to the Immigration Authority at the airport for securing your visa.
Please note that an Ethiopian visa costs between (US$20 - 60) per person depending on your nationality, and payment must be made in (US Dollars)* at the time of issue. Holders of diplomatic and service passports as well as United Nations Laissez-Passer will receive visas gratis.
* 1 US $ = 12.67 Ethiopian Birr (February 2010)
Bank receipts for money changed at the airport must be kept securely as they may be asked for on departure.
Health Requirements
Visitors to Ethiopia should be in possession of a valid yellow fever health certificate. Vaccination against cholera is also required for any person who has visited or transited a cholera-infected area within six days prior to arrival in the country.
Addis Ababa, lying between 2200-2500 meters above sea level, is the third highest capital in the world and new visitors may experience discomfort until they adjust to the altitude - symptoms can include headaches, shortness of breath, fatigue and insomnia. Medical services are provided at the United Nations Health Centre (UNHC) situated on the ground floor of the United Nations Conference Centre (UNCC) on a cash basis. It is important that delegates provide on the registration form, details of any serious ailments or allergies they may be suffering from to facilitate emergency attention if need be.
In case of a medical emergency, please contact:
United Nations Health Care Centre
Telephone: + 251 - 115 - 51 58 28 or 51 72 00 ext. 88888 or 448888
UNECA Ambulance Telephone: + 251 - 115 - 51 42 02 or 51 58 28.
Customs Requirements
Temporary Import of Laptops and other Conference Equipment
To comply with the import customs regulations of the Government of Ethiopia Conference participants should declare laptops and Conference equipment they have in their possession when entering the country. In order to be able to assist with the temporary import of the above-mentioned items, it is advisable to send the detailed specifications of the items to be brought into the country, together with the arrival/departure details of the participant to UNECA before the 15 September 2010. Such items will be registered for temporary import by the customs office and they are expected to be taken out of the country soon after the Conference.
Reception on Arrival
Participants will be met on arrival at Bole International Airport and will be assisted with the formalities regarding immigration and customs etc by officials from UNECA.
The date and time of arrival in Addis Ababa with flight details should be sent to: ANonguierma@uneca.org, ECAGeoinfo@uneca.org, Fax: +251-11 551 0512. Subsequent changes should also be communicated.
Airline Reservations
A number of International Airlines operate to and from Addis Ababa. It is required that participants secure their return/onward air passage prior to their arrival in Addis Ababa. There is a travel agency - Gashem Travel - on-site at UNECA to assist with the re-confirmation of tickets and to provide participants with travel and tour related information. The agency at UNECA is reachable at the following telephone numbers: Gashem Travel Tel: +251 115 44 30 51/44 30 52/46 84 85 or 251 0911 25 04 68 (mobile)
Apart from the travel agency, Ethiopian Airlines and Kenya Airways also have offices in the UNECA compound and they will have travel desks at the United Nations Conference Centre in Addis Ababa during the Conference.
General Information About Ethiopia
Ethiopia is as large as France and Spain combined and has an area of 1,112,000 square metres. Addis Ababa is situated at an altitude of 2,400 metres. Agriculture is the backbone of the national economy and the principal exports from this sector include coffee, oil seeds, flowers, vegetables, sugar and animal feed. About 90% of the population earns its living from the land. There is also a thriving livestock sector and exports from this sector include cattle, hides and skins.
The population of Ethiopia is estimated at 77 million with over 50% of the population under 20 years of age. The average number of inhabitants per square kilometre is 69. Ethiopia is a multi-ethnic state with a variety of spoken languages. There are eighty-three languages with 200 dialects and the three main languages are Amharic, Tigrigna and Oromigna. English, French, Italian and Arabic are also spoken, mainly in Addis Ababa. Additional information on Ethiopia and UNECA can be found on the following websites: http://www.uneca.org, http://www.ethionet.et, and http://www.ethio.com
Climate
Ethiopia has two main seasons, the dry season and the rainy season. The dry season lasts from October through May, and the rainy season starts in late June and ends in September. Temperatures depend on season and altitude.
Currently the weather is warm during the daytime and very chilly in the night, so kindly carry a warm jacket/sweater for the evenings.
Electric Supply
Electric supply in Ethiopia is 220-240 volts, 50 cycles AC accessible via 13-amp, two-pin (Italian) socket.
Currency: Birr
Ethiopian currency is denominated in "Birr" and "centimes". The exchange rate fluctuates.
The UN official exchange rate as of February 2010 was $ US1.00 = Birr 12.67
There is a branch of the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia in the UNECA compound - located in the Rotunda. This Bank is open Monday - Friday, from 8:00 am to 12:45 pm and from 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm. There is also an authorized exchange centre (Forex) at the Sheraton Hotel and ATM machines for Visa/Mastercard users at both the Sheraton and Hilton Hotels, which will tender money in Birr.
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