Ethiopia sets a $10 million threshold for a 10-year “Golden Visa”: rollout planned for 2026/27

The Ethiopian Immigration and Citizenship Service (ICS) plans to begin issuing 10-year “Golden Visas” during the current fiscal year, which started on 8 July. To qualify, applicants will need to invest at least $10 million. An alternative route is available at $5 million, provided there is substantial job creation in the country.

Alongside the investment requirements, the fee structure is also set: a card-based residence permit carries a $10,000 fee, while the amount rises to $12,500 for accelerated processing. A home delivery option is also available for an additional charge.

As reported by the state newspaper Ethiopia Today, authorities have officially codified the investment threshold for the first time since the program was launched in March. Previously, only the fee figure was circulating publicly, and a number of reports mistakenly treated it as the investment amount.

The Council of Ministers and the House of Peoples’ Representatives have approved the required regulations. ICS is now finalizing an operational framework together with the Ministry of Justice and building the necessary technical infrastructure—including card personalization—so that the full launch falls within the 2026/27 fiscal year.

The final document will spell out the remaining conditions: the exact job-creation quotas for the $5 million scenario, the grounds on which authorities may revoke the visa for security reasons, and sector-specific requirements.

Officials say the program design draws on international practices, including the UAE. However, Ethiopia’s threshold is far higher: under the Emirati model, real estate starts at roughly AED 2 million (about $545,000)—around an order of magnitude lower than the planned Ethiopia requirement.

Real estate and the citizenship question

The “Golden Visa” program first appeared on 9 March: the Council of Ministers approved amendments to ICS fee structures that established the 10-year resident status and came with higher payments for several immigration procedures.

At the end of March, ICS Deputy Director General Gosa Demisse announced the launch, referring to a standardized electronic authorization intended to provide investors with a decade-long continuous residence status while minimizing repeated administrative steps.

At the same time, a more accessible route is available through opening the real estate market. In July 2025, parliament passed a law that took effect in October, allowing foreign nationals for the first time to own residential property. This requires purchasing a unit worth from $150,000 per home with payment in convertible foreign currency through banks in Ethiopia.

Since land is state-owned under the constitution, foreign buyers receive rights to the structure, while the land plot is issued on a leasehold basis. Under this scheme, foreigners can obtain a multiple-entry real-estate visa valid for up to five years.

Authorities have not yet announced any separate “bridge” to citizenship under either program. That said, naturalization remains possible through the general process: a foreign citizen may apply after four years of lawful residence, provided they speak one of the country’s languages, have a lawful income, and demonstrate good conduct.

A further complication is Ethiopia’s approach to dual citizenship: the country does not recognize dual citizenship. Naturalization requires renouncing the prior citizenship, and it remains unclear whether future rules will include an exception for holders of a “Golden Visa.”

How $10 million compares with investor residency programs worldwide

Compared with other African investment-based residency and citizenship offers, Ethiopia’s threshold looks exceptionally high. For example, Mauritius offers a 10-year investor visa from $50,000, and permanent residency from $375,000 in real estate. Egypt effectively “sells” citizenship via a charitable contribution starting at $250,000, while Namibia begins at about $316,000 via property.

Even the continent’s more expensive programs are still well below Ethiopia’s benchmark. In the Seychelles, investors need to put $1 million into a local business; Sierra Leone offers accelerated citizenship for $140,000; and Cabo Verde under its “green card” route requires around $94,000 in real estate.

Mauritius, meanwhile, is also preparing its own “Golden Visa”: the cabinet approved it in April, but issuance has not started yet. The plan is for investment of $1 million within 12 months after entering one of five sectors—i.e., ten times less than Ethiopia’s stated figure. In Mauritius, however, it is a two-year visa with renewal and multiple entries, not a ten-year status.

The closest structural analogue in the region is considered to be Mozambique: there, a 10-year investor residence permit is available for investments of $5 million and above. Ethiopia’s $5 million option with job creation matches the threshold in amount, but in the Ethiopian model the conditions are tied to employment—unlike Mozambique’s.

Outside the African context, Ethiopia’s $10 million also places the program among the world’s most exclusive options. For instance, Singapore under its Global Investor Programme requires S$10 million (about $7.7 million) in the business stream, while New Zealand under Active Investor Plus requires NZ$10 million (around $5.8 million) for the Balanced category.

However, those programs typically go further on average: Singapore grants permanent residency immediately, and applications for citizenship can be made as early as two years later. New Zealand offers a pathway to permanent status through its visa framework. In Ethiopia, by contrast, no scenarios have yet been announced for moving from an investor status to permanent residency or citizenship.

The next key date is the release of the operational framework ICS is preparing together with the Ministry of Justice. It will define job-creation quotas, sector-specific coefficients, and the conditions for visa revocation. Once the document and card infrastructure are ready, the agency plans to begin issuing visas before the end of the 2026/27 fiscal year—i.e., before July 2027.

If you’re exploring an investment residence permit / “golden visa” to secure a foothold in a new jurisdiction, keep an eye on how the thresholds and conditions evolve. In Ethiopia, the program is set to begin with an investment requirement from $10M (with an alternative option tied to job creation). The team at Digital Nomad can help you assess eligibility, prepare the documentation, and plan the process around your timeline and budget.

Our Telegram channel about various types of Greek residence permits, digital nomad programs, and the Greek Golden Visa: @digitalnomadgr