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Ethiopia Travel

The Ethiopian adoption process requires two trips. For your first trip, both parents are expected to travel so that you can meet the child and be present for the court hearing. Your adoption is finalized in Ethiopia after the court hearing. There could be additional court hearings, but you will be required to attend only one. That first trip when you attend the hearing will require a short stay of only 3 - 4 days. Your second trip, which will occur approximately 6 - 10 weeks later, will be the trip in which you will pick up your child and apply for a visa at the US Embassy. FTIA does not allow escorts to bring a child home for you.

We strongly recommend that all parents travel to see the child's birth country and experience the culture. Also, parent(s) will need to be present for the visa interview at the US Embassy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The trip is approximately 7 - 10 days and travel time may vary depending on how available flights are at the time of your pick-up trip. We strongly encourage you to make travel arrangements which are flexible should you need to stay longer in Ethiopia.

Although many reading this information about travel may find themselves dreading the trip, most of you will eventually consider your trip to Ethiopia one of the highlights of your life.

Families travel to Ethiopia individually or in small groups of other parents adopting from Ethiopia. You will be responsible for arranging your flights to and from Ethiopia and sending your finalized travel itinerary to FTIA as soon as you have it. You will be given a Travel Information Sheet to complete. You will return it to FTIA when you are close to traveling. Our in-country representatives will help you with anything you might need during your stay in Ethiopia.

After we receive your Application and Adoption Services Agreement, FTIA will send you a username and password. Use them to access My FTIA, our Online Tracking and Adoption Resource Center. The Ethiopia Travel Guide is available on your My FTIA page each time you login. The Ethiopia Travel Guide offers extensive information to help you prepare for your trip and covers everything from what to pack to travel tips.

Our FTIA representatives in Ethiopia will:

• Arrange every appointment;
• Attend every appointment with you and translate;
• Arrange all transportation;
• Help complete all necessary paperwork;
• Meet you when you arrive and travel with you during your entire stay in Ethiopia;
• Tend to special needs and requests as possible .

Go to our main travel webpage to see a list of travel links for Ethiopia.