Ethiopia’s Immigration and Citizenship Service (ICS) will begin issuing a brand new 10-year Ethiopia Golden Visa during the current 2026/2027 fiscal year.
To qualify for the new card-based residence permit, foreign investors must meet one of two financial options:
- $10 Million Option: Direct an investment of at least US$10 million into the local economy.
- $5 Million Option: Direct an investment of US$5 million alongside substantial local job creation.
The official application processing fee is $10,000, which rises to $12,500 for express handling. The government also plans to offer a premium “home service” delivery option for investor residence cards.
Finalizing Operational Rules and Job Quotas
Both the Council of Ministers and the House of Peoples’ Representatives have approved the main laws for the program. The ICS is currently working with the Ministry of Justice to finalize a detailed operational directive before launching the program before July 2027.
This pending directive will settle remaining rules, including:
- Exact local job creation quotas required for the $5 million route.
- Specific economic sectors where investments must be placed.
- Official security grounds for revoking a visa.
Government officials stated they modeled the program on frameworks like the UAE Golden Visa, though Ethiopia’s $10 million threshold is significantly higher than the UAE property route (which starts at about $545,000).
Alternative Real Estate Property Visa
For investors looking for a lower entry point, Ethiopia also offers a separate real estate residency route.
Under a law active since late 2025, foreigners can own residential property in Ethiopia for the first time by paying at least $150,000 per house in foreign currency through Ethiopian banks. Because land in Ethiopia is state-owned, foreign buyers hold the land on a leasehold while owning the building structure. This property purchase qualifies the buyer for a 5-year multiple-entry residence visa.
Currently, the government has not linked a direct citizenship pathway to either the Golden Visa or the property visa. Furthermore, Ethiopia does not recognize dual citizenship, meaning naturalization requires renouncing one’s original passport.
How Ethiopia Compares Globally
At $10 million, Ethiopia’s threshold is currently one of the highest headline requirements for residency by investment in the world.
For comparison:
- In Africa: Mauritius offers a 10-year visa from $50,000, Namibia’s property route starts at $316,000, and Seychelles requires $1 million in local business.
- Globally: Singapore’s Global Investor Programme requires about $7.7 million, while New Zealand’s Active Investor Plus visa requires about $5.8 million.
While high-tier programs in Singapore and New Zealand lead directly to permanent residency or naturalization, Ethiopia’s program currently offers a renewable 10-year temporary residence card.
The full program will launch officially once the ICS finishes building its digital card personalization infrastructure later this fiscal year.
