Ethiopia
Corporate Guide

What are the requirements for obtaining a work permit in Ethiopia?

An employer must submit its application for a work permit along with the following required documents:

• Application form
• Personal file of the expat
• Authenticated academic credentials, professional licence or certificates
• Passport valid for not less than three months
• Valid work or business visa
• Employment contract
• Support letter from the applicable government organisation
• Business licence or investment permit
• Passport-size photos of the expat

As stated above, however, work permits for top management may be issued without the fulfilment of the pre-conditions set for other foreign employees, such as a certified educational certificate, employment agreement, or support letter. A resolution showing that the employee was appointed in that position and a letter outlining their experience may be sufficient for that category of employee. 

The Ministry of Labour and Skills issues work permits, but the EIC is delegated to provide the same service in its one-stop-shop arrangement for foreign investors.