Ethiopia
Corporate Guide

Are there different classes of work permits in Ethiopia?

There is no express provision that provides classes of work permits. However, depending on the position of the expat in the organisation, the requirement and validity of the work permit may differ. For example, a work permit for top management (including the CEO, COO, CFO and board chairman) can be issued without the fulfilment of some of the required documents set for other foreign employees such as an educational certificate and support letter. Such work permits may be valid for up to two years where a third of the organisation’s management includes Ethiopians during its implementation phase. There are also other categories of work permits issued for non-management positions, such as expats hired during a construction phase, for machinery installation, auditing and accounting works, supervision, and other technical roles. These work permits are granted to a limited number of employees in an organisation. The validity of these permits ranges from three months to one year.