Ethiopia plans to introduce a 10-year Golden Visa during the 2026/27 fiscal year, allowing eligible foreign investors to obtain long-term residency through a minimum investment of $10 million.
According to africa.businessinsider, Ethiopia’s Immigration and Citizenship Service plans to begin issuing 10-year Golden Visas during the 2026/27 fiscal year, which started on July 8, as East Africa’s second-largest economy seeks to attract high-value foreign investment.
According to local media reports, applicants will be required to invest at least $10 million. Investors committing $5 million may also qualify if their projects create a significant number of local jobs.
A standard application will attract a $10,000 processing fee, while express handling will cost $12,500. Applicants may also choose a premium home-delivery service.
Importantly, the processing charge is separate from the investment requirement, despite early reports that treated the $10,000 fee as the minimum investment.
Qualifying investors will receive 10 years of residence with fewer immigration procedures under a programme based on frameworks such as the United Arab Emirates Golden Visa.
According to the Immigration and Citizenship Service, the “Golden” description reflects the premium status and privileges offered to permit holders.
Legal approval for the programme has already been secured from Ethiopia’s Council of Ministers and House of Peoples’ Representatives.
Meanwhile, the Immigration and Citizenship Service is working with the Ministry of Justice to finalise the rules, build the technical system and prepare personalised cards.
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Preparations are expected to be completed by July 2027, when the final directive will set job-creation requirements, sector conditions and security rules for the $5 million route.
Ethiopia sets Africa’s highest reported bar
Ethiopia’s $10 million requirement would be the highest publicly reported entry point for a 10-year investor residence programme in Africa.
Mozambique offers the closest comparable route, granting a 10-year residence permit for investments of at least $5 million and up to five years for commitments starting at $500,000.
Elsewhere, Namibia’s property-linked residence route starts at about $316,000, while Seychelles requires investors seeking permanent residence to commit at least $1 million to a local business.
Mauritius, one of Africa’s wealthiest countries by income per person, is also preparing a Golden Visa programme approved by Cabinet in April.
Applicants under the Mauritian programme will be required to invest $1 million within 12 months of arrival in one of five priority sectors.
Successful investors will receive a renewable two-year multiple-entry visa rather than Ethiopia’s decade-long residence card.
However, African programmes offer different immigration benefits. Egypt, for example, grants citizenship through investment routes starting with a $250,000 contribution, while Ethiopia has not announced a direct path to permanent residence or citizenship.
Addis Ababa’s programme stands out because it targets investors capable of financing large projects and links its alternative $5 million route to local job creation.
Ethiopia’s threshold stands out globally
Beyond Africa, Ethiopia’s proposed requirement is unusually high compared with major international investor programmes.
Singapore’s Global Investor Programme requires S$10 million, or about $7.7 million, under its business investment route and grants successful applicants permanent residence.
New Zealand’s Active Investor Plus Visa requires NZ$10 million, or about $5.8 million, under its Balanced category. Investors must maintain the investment for five years before applying for permanent residence.
In the United States, President Donald Trump’s Gold Card programme requires a $1 million contribution from an individual or $2 million from a sponsoring company. It offers an expedited route to an immigrant visa.
By comparison, Ethiopia is seeking more capital in US-dollar terms while initially offering a 10-year residence permit rather than permanent status.
