Ethiopian immigration authorities announced the resumption of electronic and on-arrival visas last week, marking the end of a suspension for all travellers that began in mid-June 2021.

The announcement comes as good news to businesses involved in the hospitality industry, which had been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic and expressed their misgivings about the suspension. Starting on June 18, all travellers were required to apply for visas at Ethiopia's embassies or consulates, many of which are now closing.

Officials at the Immigration, Nationality & Vital Events Agency attributed construction works and internal system updates as the reason behind the suspension of electronic visas.

The reforms also comprised hiring staffing, training employees, and upgrading the system to reduce fraud and improve response rates, according to Desalegn Teresa, director of communications at the Agency. The Agency recruited around 60 staff to facilitate online visa processing.

"Reenforcing our firewall against cyber-attack was also part of it," he added.

The electronic visa programme was launched by the former Department for Immigration & Nationality Affairs, restructured under an agency, in 2017. The visa application process can take up to three days. Once approved, the e-visa is sent to the applicant through email.

All foreign but Djibouti nationals seeking to enter Ethiopia must hold a visa except passengers arriving at Addis Abeba Bole International Airport for connecting flights, who are exempt if they do not leave the airport. Travellers from African Union member countries have been eligible for visas on arrival since 2018; a decision followed after officials, including Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD), pledged to lift visa restrictions to attract foreign investments and encourage businesses involved in the hospitality sector.

The Agency charges 52 dollars to process an e-visa and 70 dollars if the applicant is a US citizen. The Agency had generated over 10 million dollars last year, issuing more than 200,000 visas, the majority of which were electronic.