Single window valuation system cargo tracking

PART II: HOW TO IMPORT AND 
EXPORT GOODS IN 
ETHIOPIA
3 How to import goods into Ethiopia - 
step by step
This step-by-step guide provides an overview for importing goods 
into Ethiopia. Figure 1 provides a summary of the steps that an 
importer has to take, and the following pages provide more 
information regarding each of the steps. Further details are provided 
in Part III of this customs guide. Importers can also obtain additional 
information from ERCA (contacts given above) and/or use the 
services of a clearing agent to facilitate imports.
3
3 Licensed clearing agents are trained and certified by ERCA and have a business license. The list 
of licensed clearing agents can be obtained from ERCA’s Customer Service Directorate.

---

ETHIOPIAN CUSTOMS GUIDE -
MARCH 2017
16
Figure 1: How to import goods into Ethiopia – summa-
ry of steps
1. Obtain an import license / investment license
4. Collect commercial documents required for customs dec-
laration
5. Prepare the customs declaration
6. Submit the customs declaration
9. Submit clearance declaration to NBE
7. Obtain import customs clearance and goods release note
8. Pay service charges, exit goods from customs warehouse, 
and receive final import customs declaration
2. Obtain a pre-import permit (for certain restricted goods 
only)
3. Arrange payment issues
(a) Foreign currency approval
(b) Obtain bank permit/arrange mode of payment or
Franco valuta permit

---

ETHIOPIAN CUSTOMS GUIDE -
MARCH 2017
17
1. Obtain an import license
The first step to import a good is to obtain an import license.
4 
Licenses are issued by the concerned government offices against 
the submission of a completed application form
5
along with the 
following documents:
• A copy of the Tax Identification Number (TIN);
• A copy of the Memorandum of Association and Articles of 
Association for private limited and share companies;
• A contractual agreement of office rent or office building plan;
• A document evidencing the capital allocated for the 
commercial activity;
• Two passport size photographs taken within the last six 
months;
• If the applicant is a foreign investor, the investment and 
residence
• permits; and
• A valid business registration certificate.
Currently, import licenses are issued through a manual process 
which requires the applicant to visit the government offices in 
person.
4 According to Article 43 of the Commercial Registration and Business Licensing Proclamation 
No. 980/2016, the Ministry of Trade based on the national interest and with the approval of 
the Council of Ministers can ban the importation or exportation of certain goods and services. 
It can also give permission for persons who have no import or export license to import or 
export goods. The Proclamation is available online from the MoT website: http://www.mot. 
gov.et/trade-proclamations. In addition, some other licenses also entail the authorization to 
import, e.g. an investment license can also serve as an import license to import investment 
goods.
5 Application forms can be found on the MoT website, http://www.mot.gov.et/forms, and are 
available from MoT offices.

---

ETHIOPIAN CUSTOMS GUIDE -
MARCH 2017
18