Which ways of paying are legal?
Three routes are legal and one is not. Either way, the money enters Ethiopia through a bank or an agent on the National Bank of Ethiopia’s (NBE) licensed list.
| Route | How it works | What arrives | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank transfer to the hospital | From your bank to the facility’s account at an Ethiopian bank | The bill is settled, nothing to collect | Admissions, surgery, large bills |
| Licensed transfer agent | An operator on the NBE list, online or at a counter | Birr at the day’s rate, or foreign currency into an FCY account | Regular sums for your parent |
| Your own FCY account | A dollar, pound or euro account at an Ethiopian bank, funded from abroad | Converted into birr when a bill is due | Siblings sharing the cost |
| Hawala or unlicensed agent | Informal, outside the banking system | Illegal: the recipient can face action | Never |
How do I know a transfer agent is licensed?
The National Bank of Ethiopia lists every licensed money transfer agent at nbe.gov.et/mta. Check the exact name there before your first transfer.
A licence in the UK, the US or Djibouti is not enough: the NBE has publicly named operators that are not licensed in Ethiopia. It says it acts against the recipients of money sent through illegal channels, not only against the operators.
Can I open a foreign-currency account in Ethiopia?
Yes. Non-resident Ethiopians and foreign nationals of Ethiopian origin can open a foreign-currency (FCY) account at any authorised bank, in dollars, pounds or euros, from USD 100. Two or more people can hold one account together, which suits siblings sharing the cost.
You fund it by transfer from abroad and convert to birr at the day’s rate when a bill is due. The bank asks for an application and a passport, or the Ethiopian-origin ID card; the rules allow applications online.
How do I pay the hospital without surprises?
Ask the facility for a written quote: the total in birr, what is included, what could be added and any deposit. Pay against that quote, and get a receipt in your parent’s name.
Agree in advance which relative approves new costs, so treatment never waits on a family discussion. Leave the person on the spot a small reserve for emergencies; the ambulance number in Addis Ababa is 907.
In Addis Ababa, Medyc arranges a doctor or nurse home visit, video consultations, lab samples taken at home, medicine delivery and appointments with partner facilities. The team confirms the total cost and how to pay from your country before any care, on WhatsApp at +251 999 67 67 25.
Is your parent already insured?
Community-based health insurance (CBHI) is Ethiopia’s public scheme for people working in the informal sector. If your parent has a CBHI card, check its renewal date and ask the facility what it covers before paying privately for the same care.
Your questions, answered
What is the best way to send money to Ethiopia from the USA or the UK?
A bank transfer, or an agent on the National Bank of Ethiopia’s licensed list. Compare the amount in birr that will arrive, not only the fee, and pay large medical bills straight into the hospital’s account.
Is it legal to send money to Ethiopia through hawala?
No. The National Bank of Ethiopia says illegal hawala networks are prohibited, and it acts against the people who receive the money as well as the operators.
Can my parent receive US dollars in Ethiopia?
Yes, if they hold a foreign-currency account at an Ethiopian bank: a transfer can then be credited in foreign currency. Otherwise it is paid out in birr at the day’s rate.
Can I pay an Ethiopian hospital directly from abroad?
Ask the hospital whether it accepts transfers from abroad and for its official bank details. Then pay against a written quote, through your bank or a licensed agent.
Sources & further reading
- National Bank of Ethiopia: licensed money transfer agents
- National Bank of Ethiopia: notice on using licensed money transfer agents (hawala prohibited)
- National Bank of Ethiopia: Foreign Exchange Directive FXD/01/2024 (FCY accounts, remittances)
- Ministry of Health Ethiopia: health insurance
- Ethiopian Health Insurance Service: community-based health insurance
- Ethiopian Red Cross Society: ambulance services (907)
- Medyc: arranging a relative’s care in Addis Ababa from abroad
This guide explains how to organise care. It does not provide a diagnosis or individual medical advice. How we write our guides
