Ethiopia - Obtain a Trade License

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Procedure

Apply In-Person:

1. Application form for obtaining a Trade License is available in the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
2. Location link of the ministry is contact link
3. Applicant has to fill-in all the necessary details in the application form.
4. Applicant must make sure to carry documents that are listed under “Required Documents” section of this page (Both photocopies and originals).
5. Applicant has to attach photocopies of documents (whichever is necessary) along with the application form.
6. The fees depend on the company’s registered capital. If the company has a registered capital of ETB 15,000, the registration fee is ETB 15,
   • The licensing fee is ETB 35,
   • Forms and cards cost ETB 12, and stamps cost Birr 10.
   • If the company’s registered capital is ETB 200,000, the registration fee is ETB 100, the licensing fee is ETB 200, and the costs of forms and cards and stamps remain ETB 12 and ETB 10, respectively.
7. If all the procedures mentioned above are followed properly, applicant can get their license within 15-30 days.
8. If the applicant didn’t get the license within a month, then, the applicant can visit the office to know the details on their application.
   

Apply Online

1. Application form for obtaining a trade license is available online on the following website application link.
2. If the applicant is an existing user, they can login directly with their “Email or Phone Number” and “Password”.
3. If the applicant is a new user, then, they have to register first before logging in.
4. For a new registration, the applicant has to click on the “Register” button.
5. Applicant has to enter all the credentials required for a new registration on the page that opens right after that.
6. After registering successfully, the applicant can login using their new login credentials.
7. Applicant has to fill in all the necessary details in the online application form.
8. Applicant has to upload the digital copies of the documents (whichever is necessary) that are mentioned under the “Required Documents” section of this page.
9. The Fee for this procedure can be paid online.
10. If all the procedures were followed properly, the applicant can get their trade license within a month.
11. If the license was not issued within a month, the applicant can check the status of their application online.
    

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Required Documents

• Completed Application Form and application fee of ETB 100.
• Copy of Certificate of Incorporation for a company or registration certificate in case of individuals or partnership applicant.
• Certified copies of Form 2, and copies of share certificates of the company directors and shareholders.
• Proof of availability of business premises (written undertaking lease in lieu of agreement or title deed).
• Certified copies of valid Omang for citizens, and passport for non-citizen Directors and Shareholders
• Certified copies of valid work and residence permits for Non-citizen managers.
• A covering letter explaining how the business would operate and provide itemized list of goods or services.
• Satisfactory Physical Planners report for zoning of the plot.
• Satisfactorily Environmental Health report for the business premises from District Council Health Inspectors
• Drug and Regulatory Inspection report in case of Pharmaceutical Products and Pharmacy license (Ministry of Health Quarters)
• Clearance letter from Bureau of Standards (BOBS) in case of filing station or of a Liquid Petroleum Gas seller.
  

Office Locations & Contacts

Location: Addis Ababa
Address: Ministry of Trade and Industry, Adwa Street, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Contact: +251115518025
Contact link

Eligibility

Trade Act has reserved the following businesses for citizens of Ethiopia:

• Auctioneers
• Car wash
• Cleaning Services
• Curio Shop
• Fresh Produce
• Funeral Parlor
• General Clothing
• General dealers
• Hairdressers
• Hire Services
• Laundromat
• Petrol Filling Station
• Takeaway
  

Fees

Payment is done at the same time. The fees depend on the company's registered capital. If the company has a registered capital of ETB 15,000, the registration fee is ETB 15,

• The licensing fee is ETB 35,
• Forms and cards cost ETB 12, and stamps cost Birr 10.
• If the company's registered capital is ETB 200,000, the registration fee is ETB 100, the licensing fee is ETB 200, and the costs of forms and cards and stamps remain ETB 12 and ETB 10, respectively.
  

Validity

License is valid for 1 year.

Documents to Use

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Sample Documents

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Processing Time

The process can be done within 15-30 days.

Related Videos

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications.
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Instructions

• Please ensure that you print the form on legal size paper (8/1/2 X 14).
• Please ensure that the form is completed in its entirety
• Please sign at the bottom.
  

Required Information

• Full name of Applicant
• Registered/Residential Address of the Applicant
• Date of Birth
• Place of Birth
• Nationality of the Applicant
• Occupation/Business
• Description and Location of Property
• Condition of Property
• Name, Address and Nationality of vendor
  

Need for the Document

• Any person desiring to engage in a commercial activity shall submit to the appropriate authority application for Trade license by completing an application form.
• Doing business in Ethiopia requires business registration and licensing. The Ethiopian government can use to improve the existing commercial registration, implementation and business licensing rules the Ethiopian Commercial Registration and Business Licensing Proclamation No. 686/2010 was issued in 2010.
• The Ministry of Trade and respective trade bureaus in different regional administrations of the country are responsible bodies for business registration and license.
• The Trade Act of Ethiopia provides for the establishment of the Trade Licensing Committees, Control Authorities and the Regional Appeals Boards. The issuance of licenses has been decentralized to the Local Authorities.
• Before a business can begin operating, owners must first obtain a license to trade. Following are procedures on how to apply for a trade license.
  

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Other uses of the Document/Certificate

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External Links

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