Ethiopia and India have formally activated a mutual visa exemption agreement for holders of diplomatic passports, allowing eligible officials from both countries to travel without visa requirements starting January 15, 2026.
The agreement entered into force through an exchange of diplomatic notes between the Embassy of India in Addis Ababa and Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, following the completion of all required domestic procedures under an accord signed earlier on February 19, 2021.
In its diplomatic communication, the Indian Embassy said the two sides had agreed that January 15, 2026, would serve as the official “entry into force” date of the agreement, in accordance with Article 13 of the pact, and that implementation would proceed under the terms outlined in the remaining articles.
The activation was marked by a signing ceremony at the Indian Embassy in Addis Ababa, where India’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Anil Kumar Rai, and Dewano Kedir, Director General for Middle Eastern, Asian, and Pacific Countries Affairs at Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, exchanged the formal diplomatic notes bringing the agreement into effect.
“Diplomatic passport holders can begin travelling without visa delays,” Ambassador Rai said at the ceremony. “Eligible officials could depart as early as tonight without waiting for permit approvals.”
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