Ethiopia and India implement visa waiver for diplomatic passport holders
Ethiopia and India have brought into force a mutual visa waiver for diplomatic passport holders, effective 15 January 2026, following an exchange of diplomatic notes. The measure aims to ease official travel and deepen bilateral cooperation, building on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Addis Ababa and commitments agreed with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
Ethiopia’s Director‑General for Middle Eastern, Asian and Pacific Countries Affairs, Dewano Kedir, described the step as a milestone, while India’s ambassador Anil Kumar Rai confirmed implementation and said it will facilitate the movement of policymakers. Although limited to diplomatic passports, the agreement strengthens government‑to‑government engagement that can underpin broader initiatives relevant to the travel sector, including air services and tourism cooperation.
Source: Ethiopian News Agency
