Summary
Ethiopia is launching a Golden Visa for foreign investors, with an opportunity to obtain long-term residence in the country for 10 years.
Elena Ruda, Chief Development Officer at Immigrant Invest, explained what is known so far about the conditions for obtaining the Golden Visa.
Official announcement of the launch of the Ethiopia Golden Visa
The Ethiopian News Agency published an official statement by Gosa Demissie, Deputy Director-General in the Immigration and Citizenship Service. According to him, the new Golden Visa programme is designed for investors who make a significant contribution to the country’s economy.
The aim of the programme is to make Ethiopia more competitive in attracting foreign capital.
Elena Ruda,
Chief Development Officer at Immigrant Invest
At the moment, Ethiopia does not have an official website with the programme conditions and details of the process. It is known that the visa will be issued as an electronic document.
What is the validity period of the Ethiopia Golden Visa?
The official statement mentions two validity periods depending on the investment option:
- 5 years — for real estate purchase;
- 10 years — for making a significant contribution to the country’s economy.
What is the minimum investment threshold?
Investors who have made a significant contribution to Ethiopia’s economy will be eligible for the Golden Visa. The official announcement does not yet specify the minimum investment amount, the list of documents, requirements for the source of funds, application processing times, or renewal criteria.
Earlier media reports mentioned $10,000 as the minimum investment amount, but this figure cannot be considered reliable. It most likely relates to procedural expenses.
What real estate can one buy in Ethiopia in exchange for a residence permit?
There is no exact information yet. Ethiopia currently has restrictions on real estate purchases by foreigners, including:
- ban on buying property in condominiums;
- ban on using the property for commercial purposes.
The appearance of a real estate purchase option under the Golden Visa programme may indicate a possible revision of the legislation to allow foreigners to buy real estate in Ethiopia as private property.
Will close family members of the investor be able to obtain the Golden Visa?
Under the real estate purchase option, the investor may include their spouse and children in the application. The age limit for children and the dependency criteria have not yet been disclosed.
Where can foreigners obtain long-term residence by purchasing real estate now?
Investors can obtain long-term status through real estate purchase in European Union countries and the UAE. The properties may be used for personal residence or rented out.
Suitable real estate can be selected in the Immigrant Invest catalogue, which includes properties from verified developers.
Countries where foreigners can obtain residence permits by investment
Country
Ethiopia
Status validity
10 years
Investment in real estate purchase
Not set
Timeframe
Not set
Country
Status validity
5 years, renewable
Investment in real estate purchase
€250,000+
Timeframe
3+ months
Country
Status validity
5 years, renewable
Investment in real estate purchase
€250,000+
Timeframe
4+ months
Country
Status validity
10 years, renewable
Investment in real estate purchase
$545,000+
Timeframe
2+ months
The Immigrant Invest team will help select the best programme and property, prepare the documents, and obtain residence abroad in line with the goals of the family and business. The company’s own Compliance Department reduces the risk of refusal to 1%.
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