Ethiopia has enacted a sweeping overhaul of its visa framework, introducing long-term investment visas and a new category of multiple-entry permits designed to reduce barriers for foreign investors and position the country as a competitive destination for business and tourism.
The Immigration and Citizenship Service Fee Regulation No. 587/2026, which took effect on Feb. 24, 2026, extends the Investment Entry Visa from a one-year term to three- and five-year options and introduces a Golden Visa, a 10-year multiple-entry permit targeted at investors operating across borders.
The regulation also eliminates visa fees for transit passengers who remain in Ethiopia for up to seven days, provided they present a planned itinerary that includes tourism activities within the country.
Writing in The Brief, the monthly publication of the Ethiopian Embassy in London, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Biruk Mekonnen described the reform as more than an administrative adjustment.
“It is a carefully constructed gateway designed to make entry into Ethiopia not only easier, but strategically compelling,” he wrote.
The reforms arrive as Addis Ababa expands its role as one of Africa’s primary aviation hubs, supported by the growth of Ethiopian Airlines and the planned development of Bishoftu International Airport, which is projected to handle tens of millions of passengers annually.
The stopover provision is intended to convert transit traffic into direct tourism spending, capturing revenue from passengers who would otherwise pass through without engaging the local economy.
Ambassador Mekonnen argued that the stopover framework carries implications that extend beyond the aviation sector.
“A traveler passing through Addis Ababa is no longer only in transit but represents a potential visitor,” he wrote, adding that short stays can generate economic activity through accommodation, local services and tourism, often exceeding the limited revenue traditionally derived from transit visa fees.
The visa reforms align with a parallel policy change that permits foreign nationals to own residential property in Ethiopia under defined conditions.
That provision, combined with the extended visa terms, is intended to give investors a clearer and more stable basis for establishing a long-term presence in the country.
Ambassador Mekonnen framed the coherence of these measures as their defining feature.
“Immigration policy is being aligned with investment strategy, infrastructure development and service modernization,” he wrote, describing the integrated approach as one designed to lower barriers while improving efficiency and predictability.
Ethiopia’s reforms reflect a wider trend across the continent toward visa liberalization as a tool for economic competitiveness.
The Africa Visa Openness Index, published annually by the African Development Bank and the African Union Commission, has consistently identified restrictive entry regimes as a constraint on intra-African trade, tourism and investment flows.
Ambassador Biruk concluded that the direction of travel is deliberate.
“For investors and travelers alike, the message is measured but evident,” he wrote. “Ethiopia is positioning itself as accessible, coordinated and prepared to engage.”
