Last verified: September 2026. All information was checked against evisa.gouv.dj and gov.uk on this date. This is an independent informational website, not affiliated with the Republic of Djibouti government or evisa.gouv.dj. We do not process visa applications.
To learn how to apply for Djibouti eVisa, visit evisa.gouv.dj, create an account, complete the online form, upload a passport scan and digital photo, pay the USD 23 fee by card, then submit. Approval arrives within 3 to 4 working days via email as a printable single-entry PDF.
UK passport holders must ensure their passport is valid for at least six months beyond the date of arrival and has at least one blank page. The Djibouti eVisa is single-entry, valid for 31 days from your chosen visit date, and permits stays of up to 14 days (Option 1) or up to 90 days (Option 2, at a higher flat rate). The eVisa replaced the visa-on-arrival system and is now the mandatory entry document for all nationalities travelling to Djibouti by air. You will need a passport bio-page scan, a passport-style photograph in PNG format on a white background, a confirmed flight reservation showing entry and exit, and a hotel booking or invitation letter. The approved Djibouti eVisa is delivered by email as a PDF and must be printed and carried with your passport at all times while in Djibouti.
What Is the Djibouti eVisa and Do UK Travellers Need One?
The Djibouti eVisa is a mandatory electronic travel authorisation that all UK passport holders must obtain before entry by air. All nationalities, including UK citizens, need a valid visa (per the UK government’s travel advice for Djibouti, gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/djibouti/entry-requirements, accessed September 2026) – there is no visa-free arrangement for British citizens.
The Djibouti eVisa application process replaced the previous visa-on-arrival system, which historically allowed cash purchases at the airport. In 2026, on-arrival issuance is confined to genuine emergency situations only. UK travellers must instead apply online at evisa.gouv.dj, the Republic of Djibouti’s eVisa portal, where the approved document is delivered by email as a printable PDF.
The Djibouti eVisa is valid for single-entry only and expires the moment you leave the country. Permitted travel purposes include tourism, commerce, and transit; employment and studies are excluded and require a traditional embassy visa. Entry is restricted to air arrivals via Djibouti-Ambouli International Airport (JIB) – overland crossings from Ethiopia or Somaliland and sea arrivals are not covered. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your date of arrival. Note that holding an eVisa does not guarantee entry; border authorities retain the right to refuse in rare circumstances.
Step 1 – Create Your Account on evisa.gouv.dj
Creating a Djibouti eVisa account on evisa.gouv.dj requires an email address, password, full name, date of birth, and passport number, followed by email verification. We completed a test application for a UK passport holder in August 2026 to verify the form fields described below.
Go to evisa.gouv.dj
and select the registration option. The portal is managed by ANSIE (Agence Nationale des Systèmes d’Information de l’État), under the Présidence de la République.
Enter your email address (adresse email)
this is where your verification link and approved Djibouti eVisa PDF will be delivered.
Set a password (minimum 8 characters recommended)
you will need it to log in later.
Fill in your full name (Nom), date of birth (Date de naissance), and identification number.
The form asks for a CNI number (numéro CNI); for international applicants, this field accepts your passport number.
Verify your email.
Check your inbox for a confirmation message. If it does not arrive within a few minutes, check your spam or junk folder – this is the most common registration pitfall.
Once verified, log in with your credentials to proceed to the Djibouti eVisa application form.
Step 2: Complete the Djibouti eVisa Application Form
The form has four sections: personal data, passport info, travel dates, and accommodation. Permitted travel purposes are tourism, commerce, and transit (per the Republic of Djibouti’s government portal, evisa.gouv.dj). Employment and studies are excluded and require a traditional embassy visa.
| Form Field | What to Enter | Tip / Warning |
|---|---|---|
| CNI number (numéro CNI) | Your passport number (for international applicants) | This field is labelled for Djibouti national IDs; foreign applicants must enter their passport number instead. |
| Date of birth | Date in DD/MM/YYYY format | Use the day-month-year order shown on your passport bio page. |
| Travel dates | Exact arrival and departure dates | Must match your real flight booking; mismatches lead to rejection. |
| Purpose of visit | Tourism, commerce, or transit | Employment and studies are not eligible for the Djibouti eVisa. |
| Accommodation | Hotel booking or invitation letter | Hotel reservations must be confirmed and show the applicant’s name on the booking. |
Step 3 – Upload the Required Documents
A Djibouti eVisa application requires uploading a passport bio-page scan, a passport-style photo in PNG format on a white background, a flight booking, and hotel confirmation.
Automated verification rejects wrong formats or unreadable scans. Your passport must contain at least 1 blank page and the scan must show the full information page clearly.
- ✅ Passport bio-page scan – clear, complete copy of the information page
- ✅ Passport-style photograph – PNG format, white background, recent
- ✅ Flight reservation – confirming both entry to and exit from Djibouti
- ✅ Hotel booking – confirmed, with the applicant’s name visible
- ❌ Blurry or cropped passport scan – will cause rejection
- ❌ Photo with non-white background or wrong format – will cause rejection
- ❌ Flight booking with dates that do not match the application form – will cause rejection
If staying with friends or family instead of a hotel, the Djibouti eVisa application process accepts a personal invitation letter confirming accommodation, accompanied by a copy of the host’s Djibouti ID. Travel dates entered on the form must match the real arrival and departure shown on your flight booking exactly.
Step 4 – Pay the Djibouti eVisa Fee
Fee: ~USD 23 (14-day option) or higher flat rate (90-day option), paid by card at evisa.gouv.dj. Payments are in USD; UK banks apply their own FX conversion rate.
American Express is confirmed as an accepted card type. Visa and Mastercard are recommended as the most reliable options, as Amex may trigger 3D Secure delays for UK cardholders. If a payment fails, retry with a Visa or Mastercard before contacting support.
| Factor | Government Portal (evisa.gouv.dj) | Third-Party Agency (e.g. VisaHQ) |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ~USD 23 (14-day option) | Several times the real cost |
| Processing time | 3 to 4 working days | Similar, with agency handling |
| What you get | Direct submission and email PDF | Agency-managed submission |
| Risk | Lowest cost; you control the data | Higher price; no hidden fees stated |
The Djibouti eVisa fee is non-refundable. Applying directly on the government portal avoids the large markup charged by third-party services, which can cost several times the real government fee.
Step 5 – Submit, Track, and Receive Your Djibouti eVisa
After submission, you get a reference number to track status; approval comes by email as a printable PDF.
Submitted
the portal issues a unique application reference number. Save this immediately; you will need it together with your passport number to check status on evisa.gouv.dj.
Under Review
Djibouti immigration officers verify your uploaded documents and form data. Standard processing time is 3 to 4 working days. According to user reports on travel forums (2024-2025), some applications have been processed in as little as 2 days, but this should not be treated as the standard expectation.
Approved
the system finalises your single-entry Djibouti eVisa, valid for 31 days from your chosen visit date.
Email received
the approved document arrives in your inbox as a PDF attachment. Check spam folders if it does not appear within the expected window.
Print PDF
you must print the eVisa and carry it with your passport at all times; airlines require a printed copy at check-in.
If processing exceeds the stated timeframe, contact the eVisa support team via WhatsApp at 00253 77 722 124, available Sunday to Thursday, 08:00 to 16:00 Djibouti local time (UTC+3).
What If Your Djibouti eVisa Is Rejected?
The ~USD 23 fee is non-refundable; the portal usually gives no rejection reason. Common rejection causes include mismatched travel dates, a blurry or non-compliant photo, and insufficient passport validity. If you can identify and fix the error, reapply directly on evisa.gouv.dj.
If the issue cannot be resolved online – for example, a non-standard travel document – the fallback is a traditional consular visa from the Djibouti Embassy in the UK, which also handles applications for work, studies, and overland or maritime entry. For urgent queries about a pending or rejected Djibouti eVisa application, the eVisa support team is reachable via WhatsApp at 00253 77 722 124, Sunday to Thursday, 08:00-16:00 Djibouti local time (UTC+3).
Special Cases – Groups, Children, and Non-Standard Passports
Each traveller, including children under 18, requires an individual Djibouti eVisa account and a separate application submitted on the portal. There is no linked family or group submission option. Parents should create an account for each child, complete a full application, and upload the child’s passport bio-page scan, photograph, and supporting travel documents just as they would for an adult applicant.
Dual nationals and holders of non-standard documents such as laissez-passer, refugee travel certificates, or emergency passports are not eligible for the Djibouti eVisa and must apply through the embassy. The Djibouti Embassy in the UK handles these cases alongside traditional visa applications for work, studies, and overland or maritime entry.
Tips for UK Travellers – Before You Apply
Require: passport valid 6 months beyond arrival, possibly yellow fever certificate, apply 1-2 weeks before.
- Your British citizen passport must be signed and have at least 1 blank page (per gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/djibouti/entry-requirements, accessed September 2026).
- Standard processing takes 3-4 working days; applying 1-2 weeks before travel avoids last-minute issues.
- A yellow fever vaccination certificate is mandatory if arriving from a country listed as a transmission risk (per gov.uk).
- You must print the approved Djibouti eVisa PDF and carry it with your passport at all times; airlines require a printed copy at check-in.
Important – air entry only: The Djibouti eVisa covers air arrivals only via Djibouti-Ambouli International Airport (JIB). Overland crossings from Ethiopia or Somaliland and maritime arrivals are not permitted with an eVisa – a traditional embassy visa obtained in advance from the Djibouti Embassy is required for those routes.
Djibouti eVisa Application FAQ
How much does a Djibouti eVisa cost?
14-day option: ~USD 23. 90-day option: higher flat rate (exact not specified). Payment is by card on evisa.gouv.dj. Third-party agencies charge several times the real government cost.
How long does it take to process a Djibouti eVisa?
Standard processing: 3 to 4 working days. User reports on travel forums (2024-2025) mention 2-day approvals, but this is anecdotal. Apply 1-2 weeks before travel.
Do I need to print my Djibouti eVisa?
Yes. The approved Djibouti eVisa arrives by email as a PDF and must be printed. Airlines require a printed copy at check-in, and border authorities at Djibouti-Ambouli International Airport will ask to see it.
Can I enter Djibouti by land with an eVisa?
No. The Djibouti eVisa is valid for air arrivals only via Djibouti-Ambouli International Airport (JIB). Overland and maritime entries require a traditional embassy visa.
What happens if my Djibouti eVisa application is rejected?
The portal does not issue refunds or provide rejection reasons. Identify and correct the likely error (mismatched dates, blurry photo, insufficient passport validity) and resubmit, or apply through the Djibouti Embassy in the UK.
Do children need a separate Djibouti eVisa?
Yes. Each traveller, including children under 18, requires an individual Djibouti eVisa account and separate application on evisa.gouv.dj. There is no linked family or group submission option.
What passport validity is required for a Djibouti eVisa?
Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your date of arrival (per gov.uk), signed, and have at least one blank page. It must be an ordinary full British citizen passport.
Which payment cards are accepted on the evisa.gouv.dj portal?
American Express is confirmed as accepted. Visa and Mastercard are recommended as most reliable for UK applicants. Amex may trigger 3D Secure delays. Fees are charged in USD, so expect FX conversion from your bank.
