The Federal Council has revoked the additional visa hurdles it imposed on Ethiopian nationals in April 2024, bringing Switzerland back into full alignment with standard Schengen rules for Ethiopia. The decision, adopted at the government’s meeting on 12 June 2026, follows a parallel move by the EU after Brussels judged Addis Ababa’s cooperation on returns to have “markedly improved”. In practical terms, Ethiopian business travellers and tourists once again benefit from the option to waive supporting documents, fee exemptions for holders of diplomatic and service passports, the routine issuance of multiple-entry visas and a statutory 15-day processing time.
![Switzerland lifts Schengen-linked visa restrictions on Ethiopia]()
Companies and individual travellers who wish to streamline the paperwork can turn to VisaHQ, an online visa-processing platform that constantly tracks regulatory changes. Through its Switzerland portal (https://www.visahq.com/switzerland/), VisaHQ provides step-by-step guidance, document verification and courier handling, helping Ethiopian applicants take full advantage of the reinstated Schengen facilitation.
For multinational companies that source talent or manage projects in Ethiopia, the removal of the surcharge in paperwork and time reduces administrative friction and travel costs. The step also signals Bern’s willingness to calibrate migration measures swiftly when partner countries demonstrate better cooperation on readmissions. Human-resource managers should nevertheless note that normal Schengen documentary requirements (travel insurance, proof of funds, return ticket) continue to apply, and that the facilitation can be re-suspended if cooperation deteriorates. Swiss missions in Addis Ababa are already applying the new policy; stakeholders are advised to download the updated checklist from the Embassy website and to schedule appointments early because an initial surge in deferred applications is expected.
Companies and individual travellers who wish to streamline the paperwork can turn to VisaHQ, an online visa-processing platform that constantly tracks regulatory changes. Through its Switzerland portal (https://www.visahq.com/switzerland/), VisaHQ provides step-by-step guidance, document verification and courier handling, helping Ethiopian applicants take full advantage of the reinstated Schengen facilitation.
For multinational companies that source talent or manage projects in Ethiopia, the removal of the surcharge in paperwork and time reduces administrative friction and travel costs. The step also signals Bern’s willingness to calibrate migration measures swiftly when partner countries demonstrate better cooperation on readmissions. Human-resource managers should nevertheless note that normal Schengen documentary requirements (travel insurance, proof of funds, return ticket) continue to apply, and that the facilitation can be re-suspended if cooperation deteriorates. Swiss missions in Addis Ababa are already applying the new policy; stakeholders are advised to download the updated checklist from the Embassy website and to schedule appointments early because an initial surge in deferred applications is expected.
