Heard Island and McDonald Islands: Ethiopia eVisa Protocols
Citizens of the Heard Island and McDonald Islands (HIMI), as part of the Australian external territories, are eligible for the Ethiopia electronic visa (eVisa) in 2026. While HIMI has no permanent human habitation, researchers, scientists, and Australian citizens associated with the territory often travel globally. For those planning a journey from the Southern Ocean to the vibrant highlands of Ethiopia, the eVisa system provides a modern, paperless solution. This digital authorisation is linked directly to your Australian passport, ensuring that your entry into Addis Ababa is pre-approved by the Ethiopian Main Department for Immigration and Nationality Affairs.
The 2026 Digital Visa Framework
The Ethiopia eVisa for HIMI citizens is a single-entry tourist permit. It is designed for short-term stays, including tourism, family visits, or attending cultural festivals like Timkat or Meskel. A critical operational rule to observe is that this visa is exclusively valid for entry via Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD). It cannot be used for crossing land borders from neighbouring nations like Kenya or Djibouti. For a detailed breakdown of the available visa durations, please consult our Ethiopia visa types and entry requirements.
Important for 2026: Your Australian passport must be an "Ordinary" passport. Official, Diplomatic, or Emergency travel documents are generally not eligible for the eVisa system and require a traditional embassy application.
Application Pre-requisites and Document Integrity
Because the eVisa is processed digitally, the quality of your uploaded documents determines the speed of approval. Applicants from Heard Island and McDonald Islands must provide:
Valid Passport
An Australian passport valid for at least six months from the date of arrival in Ethiopia.
Digital Photograph
A recent, colour passport-sized photo taken against a plain white background.
Accommodation Details
A hotel booking or an invitation letter from a host residing in Ethiopia.
For technical guidance on image resolution and file formats (JPEG/PNG), please see the documents needed for Ethiopia eVisa page.
| Visa Duration | Entry Type | Fee (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| 30 Days | Single Entry | $62 |
| 90 Days | Single Entry | $152 |
Is a Yellow Fever certificate required?
Yes. While Australia is not a high-risk zone, if your travel itinerary to Ethiopia includes a transit of more than 12 hours through a country with a risk of Yellow Fever transmission, you must present a valid vaccination certificate upon arrival at Bole Airport.
Processing and Stay Extensions
Under normal conditions, the eVisa for HIMI citizens is processed within 3 to 5 business days. We recommend applying at least 10 days before your departure from Australia to account for any public holidays in Ethiopia. Note that the validity of your stay starts from the intended arrival date you provide on the form, not the date of visa issuance. If you wish to extend your stay while in the country, you must visit the Immigration headquarters in Addis Ababa. For more on the costs and processing delays for extensions, visit the Ethiopia eVisa fees and processing time section.
What happens if I overstay my visa?
Overstaying is a serious legal violation in Ethiopia. It results in a daily fine of approximately $30 USD and potential detention or deportation. Always ensure you apply for an extension before your original 30 or 90 days expire.
Final Arrival Procedures
Upon landing in Addis Ababa, proceed to the dedicated "e-Visa" counters. You must present your Australian passport and a physical printout of your eVisa approval letter. Although a digital copy on your smartphone is useful, the physical document is often required for the official entry stamp. To monitor the progress of your application after submission, you can easily Check Ethiopia eVisa application status on our portal using your reference number.
