EU eases travel for Ethiopians days after the US clears path for unrestricted weapons trades

The Council of the European Union (EU) has formally restored standard visa processing for Ethiopian nationals, thereby strengthening diplomatic relations between Brussels and Addis Ababa, and effectively repealing the restrictive measures implemented in 2024.

• The EU has restored standard visa processing for Ethiopian nationals after improvements in Ethiopia’s migrant readmission cooperation.
• Visa application fees for Ethiopians are reduced from €120 to €80, with fewer paperwork requirements now in effect.
• The decision, seen as a diplomatic win for Ethiopia, is expected to facilitate business and charitable travel, especially benefiting Irish companies active in Ethiopia.
• The United States has also recently lifted an arms embargo on Ethiopia, which had been imposed during the Tigray war.

This resolution, adopted on May 18 and officially published the following day, follows a period of "substantial improvements" in Ethiopia’s cooperation regarding migrant readmission, as seen on VisaHQ.

Specifically, European Union officials cited Ethiopia’s increased proactive engagement in issuing emergency travel documentation and facilitating the return of its citizens who lack legal residency within Europe.

Ethiopian nationals applying for visas to EU member states, including Ireland, will now be able to use regular visa processes outlined in the EU Visa Code.

This includes lower application fees, returning to €80 from the previously raised €120, as well as fewer paperwork requirements in some situations.

The reversal is likely to bring immediate relief to businesses and charity organizations that have battled with stricter visa requirements.

Irish companies working in Ethiopia, notably in industries such as renewable energy, aircraft leasing, and agricultural technology, expect speedier staff rotations and smoother project-related travel in the second half of 2026.

The EU's decision is seen as a diplomatic win for Ethiopia, which has been seeking to restore international trust and develop ties with European partners.

While visa easing helps Ethiopian tourists traveling to Europe, Irish residents traveling to Ethiopia must still obtain entry visas before departure, which are available through the country's online e-visa system.

This new update comes just days after the United States lifted an arms embargo on the East African country.

The US lifts Ethiopia's ban on arms dealing

The decision of the United States to lift an arms embargo imposed on Ethiopia during the Tigray war was announced on Thursday, May 14, 2026, by the US State Department’s Directorate of Defence Trade Controls, which confirmed that Ethiopia had been removed from the list of countries subject to a “policy of denial” under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR).

The restrictions were originally imposed in September 2021, as violence between Ethiopia's central government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front escalated.

Washington cited worsening humanitarian conditions and rising violence as reasons for halting regulated defence deliveries to Ethiopia and Eritrea.

The conflict, which began in November 2020, was resolved with the signing of the Pretoria peace deal in November 2022.

However, tensions have remained in northern Ethiopia, with the TPLF lately accusing Addis Abeba of breaking portions of the ceasefire agreement.

During the embargo, Ethiopia increasingly sourced military weapons from Russia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Azerbaijan.