Question 1

What you'll need

Original Passport with entry visa
    Work permit (original hard copy for sea shipments)
    Residence ID (original hard copy for sea shipments)
    Detailed packing list (stamped for sea shipments)
    Power of Attorney (POA) – secured at the Document Authentication and Registration Office; your personal presence is required.
    Master Air Waybill (AWB) for air shipments
    Original Master Ocean Bill of Lading (OBL) (2 copies for sea shipments)
    For sea shipments:
        
            Stamped and detailed valued inventory list in USD or EURO (for customs)
            Letter from your employer company explaining your employment history and requesting customs permission for import, addressed to The Customs Commission Addis Ababa Kality Customs Branch Office.
            Signed and stamped agency agreement
            Employer company’s valid Business License / Registration and Tin Certificate
            Container deposit bank slip (provided by employer company to Customs Commission)

Good to know

Do not dispatch cargo until you have your POA, Work Permit, and Residence ID. Always wait for your destination agent's approval.
    Air cargo takes 24 hours to offload after arrival before clearance can begin.
    Customs may impose a penalty if air cargo remains in the airline’s warehouse for over 10 days without justification.
    All shipments are subject to customs inspection, and you may be requested to meet with customs for clarifications.
    It's not recommended to import more than one unit of the same electrical appliance (e.g., 1 TV, 1 CD player).
    For sea shipments, the container will be inspected. Customs will use your valued inventory list to calculate initial duties and taxes. Discrepancies between your declared value and customs' assessment may result in additional duties.
    Additional penalty fees apply if undeclared items are found in sea shipments.
    The total value of a sea shipment inventory list must meet or exceed USD 20,000 due to Djibouti port regulations.
    If your employer company’s investment in Ethiopia exceeds 5 million ETB, you may be able to import personal belongings worth up to USD 10,000 duty and tax-free (this excludes vehicles).
    Your physical presence is mandatory on the inspection date for sea shipments. Be aware that inspection areas can be dusty or muddy, and the process can be lengthy.
    The employer company must provide a container deposit bank slip, which is refunded after the empty container is returned. This refund process can take over two months.
    Inland transport from Djibouti to Addis Ababa typically takes 3-5 days.
    Avoid mentioning two seal numbers or HS codes on the Bill of Lading; only the shipping line's seal should be mentioned.
    The Bill of Lading should state "Goods in transit to Ethiopia" and the company name on the BL must match their license.
    Your destination agent needs a full set of sea shipment documents at least 15 days before the container arrives in Djibouti.
    Consult your local agent for a list of items requiring special permits and for detailed information on taxes and duties.

Returning residents (Ethiopian citizens)
Ethiopian citizens returning to their home country can import personal effects with some duty-free privileges, but inspections are still standard. Proper documentation and adherence to guidelines are essential.
What you'll need

Letter from the Ethiopian Embassy or consulate where you worked, authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs upon arrival. This letter can be used for both air and sea shipments.
    Original Passport with entry visa
    Detailed packing list (signed for sea shipments)
    Power of Attorney (POA) – secured at the Document Authentication and Registration Office; your personal presence is required.
    Master Air Waybill (AWB) for air shipments
    Signed Original Bill of Lading (2 copies for sea shipments)
    For sea shipments:
        
            Detailed signed valued inventory list in USD or EURO (for customs)
            Signed agency agreement
            Container deposit bank slip (submitted to Customs Commission)

Good to know

Do not dispatch cargo until you have secured your POA and the authenticated supporting letter. Wait for your destination agent's approval.
    Air cargo takes 24 hours to offload after arrival before clearance can begin.
    Customs may impose a penalty if air cargo remains in the airline’s warehouse for over 10 days without justification.
    You may be required to pay duties on certain personal belongings, but with some duty-free privileges.
    It's not recommended to import more than one unit of the same electrical appliance (e.g., 1 TV, 1 CD player).
    For sea shipments, the container will be inspected. Customs will use your valued inventory list to calculate initial duties and taxes. Discrepancies between your declared value and customs' assessment may result in additional duties.
    Additional penalty fees apply if undeclared items are found in sea shipments.
    The total value of a sea shipment inventory list must meet or exceed USD 20,000 due to Djibouti port regulations. It's recommended to set higher prices for duty-exempt items like clothes and shoes to meet this threshold.
    Your physical presence is mandatory at the customs office to sign final papers for sea shipments.
    The container deposit bank slip is refunded after the empty container is returned; this process can take over two months.
    Some shipping lines may require a cash deposit at their Addis Ababa office.
    Inland transport from Djibouti to Addis Ababa typically takes 3-4 days.
    Avoid mentioning two seal numbers or HS codes on the Bill of Lading; only the shipping line's seal should be mentioned.
    The Bill of Lading should state "Goods in transit to Ethiopia."
    Your destination agent needs a full set of sea shipment documents at least 15 days before the container arrives in Djibouti.
    Consult your local agent for a list of items requiring special permits and for detailed information on taxes and duties.

Diplomatic moves
Diplomatic shipments benefit from significant duty-free privileges and are generally not subject to physical inspection, making the process smoother.
What you'll need

General import duty-free privilege document from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA).
    Diplomatic ID copy.
    Passport copy.
    Reference number of the duty-free letter issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
    Master Air Waybill (AWB).
    Stamped valued inventory and packing list for customs purposes only (in USD or Euro).
    Delegation letter to Customs Commission Addis Ababa Airport Customs Branch Office and to Ethiopian Airlines Enterprise/ICAS.
    Stamped and signed agency agreement.

Good to know

Do not dispatch cargo until your organization has secured the MoFA letter. Wait for your destination agent's approval.
    It can take up to two months after a diplomat's arrival to receive diplomatic credentials, and MoFA processing for the duty-free letter takes approximately two weeks once the shipment is booked.
    Air cargo takes 24 hours to offload after arrival before clearance can begin.
    Your cargo is NOT subject to inspection.
    You can bring items with duty exception.
    If air cargo remains at the airport for more than 10 days, your organization must prepare additional documentation.
    Consult your local agent for a list of items requiring special permits.

Bringing special items

Vehicles
Non-diplomats and returning Ethiopian citizens are generally not permitted to import vehicles into Ethiopia.

Restricted & prohibited items

Always avoid including prohibited items in your cargo, as this will significantly prolong the clearance process and may result in penalties.
    Consult your local agent for a comprehensive list of items requiring special permits from various governmental offices.

Frequently asked questions
When should I send my shipment?

Accepted Answer

It is strongly recommended not to dispatch cargo until the consignee has secured all necessary documents (e.g., Power of Attorney, Work Permit, Residence ID, or authenticated letters for returning citizens/MoFA letter for diplomats) and has received approval from their destination agent.

Question 2

Will my belongings be inspected?

Accepted Answer

Most non-diplomatic air and sea shipments are subject to physical customs inspection. Diplomatic shipments are generally not inspected.

Question 3

Are there limits on electrical appliances?

Accepted Answer

Yes, it is not recommended to import more than one unit of the same electrical appliance (e.g., one TV, one CD player, one DVD player).

Question 4

What happens if my air cargo is delayed at the airport?

Accepted Answer

Customs will impose a penalty fee if air cargo remains in the airline’s warehouse for more than 10 days without justification.

Question 5

Do I need to be present for customs clearance?

Accepted Answer

For non-diplomatic sea shipments, your physical presence is mandatory on the inspection date. For returning Ethiopians with sea shipments, your physical presence is required at the customs office to sign final papers. For non-diplomatic air shipments, customs may request a meeting with you for clarifications.

Question 6

What is the minimum value for sea shipments?

Accepted Answer

For both new residents and returning Ethiopians, the total value of the inventory list for sea shipments must meet or exceed USD 20,000 due to a regulation in Djibouti that prohibits importing items valued below this amount.

Pārcelšanās uz Etiopiju

Vai nepieciešama palīdzība ar pārcelšanos?

Pārcelšanās ceļvedis

Vīza un uzturēšanās

Mājoklis un īre

Kas ietekmē jūsu pārcelšanās izmaksas

Laika grafiks un iepakošanas padomi

4–8 nedēļas pirms pārcelšanās:

2–4 nedēļas pirms pārcelšanās:

1 nedēļa pirms pārcelšanās:

Pārcelšanās diena:

Vīzas, imigrācija un dokumenti

Muitas un importa noteikumi

Pārcelšanās uz Etiopiju: Jūsu būtiskā muitas un importa rokasgrāmata

Galvenais, kas jāzina

Ja jūs pārceļaties kā jauns iedzīvotājs (nediplomāts)

Atgriežamie iedzīvotāji (Etiopijas pilsoņi)

Diplomātiskās pārcelšanās

Speciālo priekšmetu ievešana

Transportlīdzekļi

Ierobežoti un aizliegti priekšmeti

Bieži uzdotie jautājumi

Novērtējiet pārcelšanās izmaksas