Info for Journalists Coming to Ethiopia

1. Letter from the organization/company should be written to the Press Licensing and Permit Office of the Ministry of Information stating the journalist (s) works for the organization, and the purpose and duration of the visit. If travel outside the capital city Addis Ababa is required, the exact locations should be specified.

2. The letter should also include the name, nationality, passport number, date and place of issue of the passport.

3. Any equipment carried by the journalist (s) should be listed including the serial number.

4. After arrival in Addis Ababa, the journalist or the head of the crew should go to the Press Licensing Office of the Ministry of Information with one passport size photo and fill out a form and get a permit.

5. The letter should be addressed to:

Mr. Fantahun Asres
Head of Press Licensing and Permit Office
Addis Ababa
Telephone 251-1-53-73-55, 251-1-52-79-67,
cell phone 251-9-24-00-66
Fax: 251-1-52-79-55 

If a TV crew is coming: whoever is the coordinator for the crew in Addis Ababa should make sure that the list of equipment and the permit from the Ministry of Information are sent to the Customs Office at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport. Otherwise, the crew will not be allowed to bring in the equipment. The person to call at the Ministry of Information to make sure the list and permit are sent to the airport is:

  Ms. Tenagne Kebede
  Tel: 251-1-52-79-62

For a film crew

Any group wishing to shoot films in Ethiopia should submit a written application to the Ministry of Information before arrival in the country:

1. The application should contain:

- name of the company
- names, passport numbers, and nationality of members of the crew
- purpose and title of the film
- duration of the shooting period and exact location(s) of where the shooting will take place
- production cost of the film

2. The applicant should also submit

- a copy of the film script and synopsis both for feature films and documentary films
- a list of equipment needed for shooting the film in four copies

3. Any group applying to shoot films in Ethiopia will pay a permit fee to the Ministry of Information

4. If an applicant wishes to use an aircraft for the shooting of the film, he/she needs to obtain a flight permit from the Ethiopian Civil Aviation Authority.

The permit and letter to the Customs Office will be issued immediately after a member of the film crew appears in person at the Ministry of Information Press Licensing and Permit Office, and signs an undertaking to adhere to the conditions of permit and respect the law of the land.

For more details, see also the film shooting permit Council of Ministers Registration No. 66/200.

For further information, please contact:

Mr. Fantahun Asres
Head of Press Licensing and Permit Office
Addis Ababa
Telephone 251-1-53-73-55, 251-1-52-79-67, cell phone 251-9-24-00-66
Fax: 251-1-52-79-55 
P.O. Box 1364
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia