Ethiopia
Corporate Guide

If there is no requirement to have a local director or shareholder in Ethiopia, what is the process of obtaining a work permit for foreign employees?

Under Ethiopian law, employers can employ expatriates only for positions that could not be filled by Ethiopian nationals. Foreign employers may, however, employ expatriates for top management positions without any restrictions. Therefore, for non-top managerial expatriates, the employer is required to a furnish support letter from the relevant government organ showing that the required skill and / or expertise is not available in the local market. In addition, the law requires that foreign investors should replace, within a limited period (the visa period), expatriate personnel with Ethiopians, by way of skill transfers to Ethiopians.