Switzerland’s consulates will once again be able to issue Schengen visas to Ethiopian nationals under standard rules after the Council of the European Union formally revoked the restrictive measures it imposed in 2024. The decision, adopted in Brussels on 18 May and circulated to associated Schengen states on 19 May, recognises “substantial” progress by Addis Ababa in accepting the return of its citizens who have no legal right to stay in Europe. For Switzerland, the move means the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) can immediately reinstate fast-track procedures for short-stay (type C) visas and stop applying the surcharges and longer processing times that were introduced two years ago. Ethiopian travellers will once again benefit from standard €80 visa fees, the possibility of multi-entry visas valid for up to five years, and reduced documentation requirements.
![EU lifts visa restrictions on Ethiopia: Switzerland to resume normal Schengen processing]()
Travellers and corporate mobility teams who want to make the most of the restored Schengen facilities can streamline the process even further through VisaHQ’s online platform. The service, which covers Swiss short-stay visas among many others, provides step-by-step guidance, document checks and courier options, saving applicants time and reducing the risk of errors. For more details, visit https://www.visahq.com/switzerland/
Swiss companies with operations in the Horn of Africa, including ABB, Roche and SGS, say the change will shorten deployment lead-times and lower compliance costs for technicians and project managers who regularly shuttle between Zurich or Basel and Ethiopia’s emerging industrial parks. The decision also removes a reputational irritant in bilateral relations. Ethiopia’s embassy in Geneva had repeatedly criticised the “punitive” measures, warning they undermined scientific cooperation with institutions such as ETH Zurich and EPFL. SEM officials estimate that Swiss representations in Addis Ababa, Nairobi and Khartoum will process about 3 000 Ethiopian applications this year, roughly double the 2025 volume. Practical advice for mobility managers: update invitation letters and travel policies to reflect the restored processing times (typically 15 days) and normal fee levels; withdraw any budget surcharges that were introduced in 2024; and remind travellers that biometrics enrolled during the restriction period remain valid for 59 months.
Travellers and corporate mobility teams who want to make the most of the restored Schengen facilities can streamline the process even further through VisaHQ’s online platform. The service, which covers Swiss short-stay visas among many others, provides step-by-step guidance, document checks and courier options, saving applicants time and reducing the risk of errors. For more details, visit https://www.visahq.com/switzerland/
Swiss companies with operations in the Horn of Africa, including ABB, Roche and SGS, say the change will shorten deployment lead-times and lower compliance costs for technicians and project managers who regularly shuttle between Zurich or Basel and Ethiopia’s emerging industrial parks. The decision also removes a reputational irritant in bilateral relations. Ethiopia’s embassy in Geneva had repeatedly criticised the “punitive” measures, warning they undermined scientific cooperation with institutions such as ETH Zurich and EPFL. SEM officials estimate that Swiss representations in Addis Ababa, Nairobi and Khartoum will process about 3 000 Ethiopian applications this year, roughly double the 2025 volume. Practical advice for mobility managers: update invitation letters and travel policies to reflect the restored processing times (typically 15 days) and normal fee levels; withdraw any budget surcharges that were introduced in 2024; and remind travellers that biometrics enrolled during the restriction period remain valid for 59 months.
