Ethiopia customs regulations

It is important to know about customs regulations before traveling to Ethiopia to avoid legal issues and potential fines. As you know, customs regulations widely depend on the country. Before traveling to (or from) Ethiopia make sure to check the allowance and limits for the next things:

  • Alcohol and tobacco
  • Currency
  • Medicines (especially those containing drugs)
  • Animals
  • Cultural artifacts
  • Plants, fruits, vegetables and other agricultural products

Check the information below to be sure that you are complying with Ethiopia customs regulations.

Import rules Export rules

Import regulations in Ethiopia

Duty-free allowance

Tobacco limit

Restricted to travellers 18 years and over. One of the following:

  • 20 packs of cigarettes;
  • or 250 grams of tobacco.

Bringing alcohol

  • Restricted to travellers 18 years and over
  • 2 litres of alcohol for non-frequent travellers;
  • or 1 litre of alcohol for frequent travellers.

Cash limit

  • Visitors may enter with up to ETB200.
  • Any visitor importing more than US$3000 must declare it at the border.

Other Goods

  • 500mL perfume.
  • 100 grams of jewellery for non-frequent travellers, or 50 grams of jewellery for frequent travellers.
  • Spices and butter to a maximum of 5kg each.
  • Readymade clothes or garments such as shoes for personal use only.

Prohibited items

The following are goods which cannot be brought into the country.

  • Illegal drugs.
  • Explosives that may be used in armed conflicts.
  • Sexually explicit movies.

Restricted items

These goods are strictly regulated, and in most cases require a permit to be obtained prior to arrival.

  • Seeds, cereals, teff, beans, raw coffee, seedlings, and soil all require permits from the Ministry of Agriculture and National Resources.
  • Minerals and precious stones require permits from the Ministry of Mine, Petrol and Natural Gas.
  • National heritages and souvenirs such as sheepskin require a permit from the Authority of Research and Conservation of Cultural Heritage.
  • Hunting materials, wild animals, and their derivative products require a permit from the Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority.
  • Pharmaceuticals require a permit from the Food, Medicine and Health care Administration and Control Authority of Ethiopia.
  • Electronic goods including laptops and MP3 players must be declared upon entering and again on leaving the country.

Information has been updated: .