EU Tightens Visa Rules for Ethiopian Nationals

Temporary Suspension of Visa Code Benefits

On 29 April 2024, the Council of the EU decided to temporarily suspend certain provisions of EU law regulating visa issuance to Ethiopian nationals. Member states can no longer waive requirements regarding evidence submission by Ethiopian visa applicants, issue multiple entry visas, or waive visa fees for holders of diplomatic and service passports. This suspension comes in response to Ethiopia's insufficient cooperation in readmission cases affecting EU member states.

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Extended Processing Times

The visa processing period for Ethiopian nationals has been significantly extended from the standard 15 calendar days to 45 calendar days. This change reflects the heightened scrutiny now applied to visa applications from Ethiopia and represents a substantial operational shift for EU consulates and embassies managing these applications.

Readmission and Review Mechanism

The Commission's assessment identified a low return rate and insufficient issuance of travel documents by Ethiopian authorities in response to member states' readmission requests. The suspension is temporary but has no specific end date and remains subject to the Commission's continued assessment of progress on readmission cooperation. EU member states and the Ethiopian government are expected to work toward resolving these concerns to restore normal visa procedures.