ADDIS ABABA — The Council of the European Union has officially adopted a decision to repeal the strict visa restrictions imposed on Ethiopian nationals since 2024. The shift marks a major diplomatic breakthrough between Brussels and Addis Ababa, bringing an end to a two-year period of elongated processing timelines and tighter application requirements.
The decision, formalized under Interinstitutional File 2026/0092(NLE), entirely repeals Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/1341. This 2024 resolution had suspended parts of the standard EU Visa Code for short-stay Schengen visas as leverage to pressure Ethiopia into improving migration and readmission management.
Why the Restrictions Were Dropped
According to the official text released by the European Council, the decision follows a continuous and rigorous assessment by the European Commission regarding Ethiopia’s performance on migration protocols.
The Council noted a “substantial and sustained improvement” from Ethiopian authorities across critical benchmarks, including:
- Verification & Identification: Better cooperation in identifying Ethiopian citizens residing irregularly within EU member states.
- Document Issuance: Increased efficiency and speed in issuing emergency travel and consular documentation.
- Return Operations: Seamless cooperation and execution of regular return logistics.
“Therefore, it is no longer necessary to suspend the application of certain provisions of the Visa Code in respect of Ethiopia,” the Council stated, justifying the swift return to normal regulatory standards.
What Changes for Ethiopian Travelers?
With the lifting of these measures, the standardized framework of the EU Visa Code will be reinstated for applicants from Ethiopia. Travelers can expect several significant rollbacks on previous limitations:
| Previous Restrictive Policy (2024–2026) | Reinstated Standard Policy (Effective Immediately) |
| 45 Days standard visa processing time. | 15 Calendar Days standard processing window. |
| Stringent and un-waivable documentation requirements. | Re-established flexibility and waivers for specific background evidence. |
| Complete freeze on issuing routine multiple-entry visas. | Re-allowed issuance of multi-entry visas for qualifying travelers. |
| Mandatory visa fees for all applicants. | Fee waivers restored for holders of diplomatic and service passports. |
Scope and Implementation
The new policy takes effect immediately upon its formal notification to individual EU member states.
The implementation applies across 25 Schengen-area nations addressed in the document, including France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Per standard protocols, Ireland is not participating in the adoption due to its separate border framework. Denmark, while opting out of the initial collective adoption, has a six-month window to decide on applying the changes to its national law. Non-EU Schengen associated states, including Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein, will mirror the rollout via separate associative agreements.
This regulatory rollback is expected to ease travel significantly for Ethiopian business professionals, students, and tourists heading to Europe, solidifying a renewed era of bilateral engagement.
