Ethiopia government has launched an Online Entry Visa Application and Issuance (E-Visa) for citizens of 39 countries.

Ethiopian Airlines said that the policy was launched by Ethiopian Immigration and Nationality Affairs.

Of the total, only citizens of South Africa are eligible from the African continent, while Kenya and Djibouti are exempted because their citizens do not need a visa to enter Ethiopia.

Majority of those eligible for the E-Visa are European countries.

China, North Korea, South Korea, India, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Australia, Israel, Kuwait, Mexico and the US are also on the list of eligible countries for the initial phase of the E-Visa service.

The service is provided only to those seeking a tourist visa.

It was not yet clear whether the E-Visa was applicable to those who use the Ethiopian Airlines only or not.

The press statement from Ethiopian Airlines stated that the E-Visa would be processed and issued on a single Web page where applicants apply and pay online.

Director Main Department for Immigration and Nationality Affairs, Mr Gebreyohannes Teklu, was quoted as saying: “Now international visitors to Ethiopia, from countries provisioned for visa upon arrival, will make use of this service. Moreover, we have set up separate counters to process the visas of travellers under electronic travel authorisation.”

Once the online application is approved, applicants will receive an email authorising them to travel to Ethiopia and they will get their passport stamped with the visa upon arrival.

The press statement also explained that the E-Visa project was part of a new national initiative to transform the Ethiopian tourism sector.

NAN