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Ethiopia warning - Carnet is not enough Ethiopia warning - Carnet is not enough
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sub-Saharan Africa Topics specific to sub-Saharan Africa. (Includes all countries South of 17 degrees latitude)
Photo by Hendi Kaf, in Cambodia

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Photo by Hendi Kaf,
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  #16  
Old 3 Nov 2010
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FIY: We have just had correspondance with Travcor, the agency my wife used to get her Ethiopia VISAS from Nairobi. (UK company)

After our pannicky email to them they contacted the Ethiopian embassy in the UK to ask about this. The Embassy said catagorcically that they have not changed the rules...

So.. revert back to "perhaps they are trying to scam all you suckers...."

However, with my South African passport I had to send my vehicle registration papers with my application so that they could prepare a "border letter" which they then sent to the port of entry. I did not get a copy of this letter.
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  #17  
Old 4 Nov 2010
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Freeflyd, have sent you pm. You need to get in touch with the British embassy in Addis, contact details earlier in the post. They are more than aware of what is going on and will email you the letter.

Good luck

Maestro
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  #18  
Old 4 Nov 2010
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Hi

Maestro is absolutely correct, contact the embassy in Addis; the UK offices don't see local issues.

I have now received my letter, basic but hopefully it will fulfill the need
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  #19  
Old 4 Nov 2010
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We sent the email and recieved an "out of office" reply...

That was the gelilawit.damena@fco.gov.uk address.

I agree with getting the letter rather than have ahssles at the border though.
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  #20  
Old 4 Nov 2010
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This is the address that you need to email for the letter. These are the folk based in Addis at the British embassy.

adabavisainfo@fco.gov.uk

Maestro
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  #21  
Old 4 Nov 2010
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I believe the individual is on vacation

There is another person, PM if you need this addy

PS karma is needed for these urgent times
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  #22  
Old 19 Nov 2010
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All working well
We just crossed with a letter from the Addis embassy no probs at all. The customs officer seemed to think this issue will disappear in the future. A cursory glance was made at the letter. Others with letters of photoshop origin passed with no problems!
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  #23  
Old 29 Nov 2010
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Hi

Has anyone crossed the border recently without the letter? My embassy (Finland) does not give any letters of guarantee anymore, they say they can't take the responsibility of my bike. I'm not sure I should make the letter myself since I don't know what the letter from the embassy of Finland should look like.

Any ideas, anyone?

Jami
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  #24  
Old 30 Nov 2010
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jami View Post
Hi

Has anyone crossed the border recently without the letter? My embassy (Finland) does not give any letters of guarantee anymore, they say they can't take the responsibility of my bike. I'm not sure I should make the letter myself since I don't know what the letter from the embassy of Finland should look like.

Any ideas, anyone?

Jami
Fake it !!!!!!!!!!
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  #25  
Old 30 Nov 2010
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Originally Posted by *Touring Ted* View Post
Fake it !!!!!!!!!!
Yeah but I don't know how the Finnish letter should look like with stamps and everything. And they've seen a Finnish letter some time ago.

Jami
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  #26  
Old 1 Dec 2010
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Djibouti to Ethiopia (via Galafi)
Coming from Djibouti couple of days ago (on Sunday) and the guarantee letter was not required - the customs did not even ask for it. Thank God for that since my country has absolutely no representaion in Ethiopia.

Carnet business was not computerized and very basic with their own book. Very smooth and quick border crossing.

Margus
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  #27  
Old 16 Dec 2010
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Originally Posted by Margus View Post
Coming from Djibouti couple of days ago (on Sunday) and the guarantee letter was not required - the customs did not even ask for it. Thank God for that since my country has absolutely no representaion in Ethiopia.

Carnet business was not computerized and very basic with their own book. Very smooth and quick border crossing.

Margus
Not surprised at all. Folks on that (Djibouti) side of the boarder are generally more relaxed.
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  #28  
Old 20 Dec 2010
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Not surprised at all. Folks on that (Djibouti) side of the boarder are generally more relaxed.
Indeed, in 5 min it was done. You can even get away without a carnet.

Laurent
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  #29  
Old 22 Dec 2010
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Yeh, so no one coming from Kenya was asked for the letter either.

Conclution: One silly official on one border who had his knickers in a twist about somehting.
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  #30  
Old 2 Jan 2011
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Now the letter of guarantee is not enough!
I crossed the border at Gallabat - Metema two days ago and they said that the law has changed just two days ago: Now you need a confirmation from the foreign ministry of Ethiopia. Me and some other overlanders were stuck in the border but they let us through the next day. I still don't know what happened and whether the law has really changed or not but just a heads up for anyone crossing the border - it might take a while.

I was in contact with my ambassador but I don't no whether it helped or not. If the law has really changed, it could be that in the future they don't let people through that easily.

Jami
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