Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — May 20, 2026 | Horn News Hub
The Council of the European Union has lifted visa restrictions that had been imposed on Ethiopian nationals in 2024, citing improved cooperation between Ethiopia and the EU on migrant readmission procedures.
The restrictions were introduced last year after the EU said Ethiopia had not cooperated sufficiently in accepting the return of its citizens who were residing illegally in European countries. The measures affected visa processing conditions for Ethiopian applicants seeking entry into EU member states.
In a recent assessment, the European Commission concluded that Ethiopia had made significant progress in addressing the concerns raised by the bloc. According to the Council, Ethiopian authorities have improved efforts in identifying nationals living without legal residency status in Europe, issuing emergency travel documents, and facilitating return operations.
The decision marks a shift in relations between Ethiopia and the European Union on migration management, an issue that has increasingly become part of broader diplomatic engagement between African countries and European states.
The European Chamber of Commerce in Ethiopia had previously called on the EU to remove the restrictions, arguing that the measures were negatively affecting business relations, mobility, and people to people engagement between Ethiopia and Europe.
The lifting of the restrictions is expected to ease visa procedures for Ethiopian travelers and could support wider economic and diplomatic ties between Ethiopia and EU member states.
