The Ethiopian Immigration and Citizenship Service (ICS) is offering a one-time amnesty on visa overstay penalties for U.S. citizens of Ethiopian origin, with a 60-day application window that closes May 23, 2026.
Under the waiver, minors under 18 receive a full 100% waiver of all accumulated overstay fines, while adults 18 and older are eligible for a 50% reduction. The amnesty window opened March 24 and runs through May 23, 2026. Applications must be made in person at ICS Headquarters, located at the Gotera Interchange in Kirkos Sub-City, Addis Ababa.
The announcement, published by the U.S. Embassy in Ethiopia on March 25, specifies that applicants must bring evidence of Ethiopian origin. Under Proclamation No. 270/2002, a "Foreign National of Ethiopian Origin" is defined as a foreign national who was an Ethiopian national before acquiring foreign citizenship, or who has at least one parent, grandparent, or great-grandparent who was an Ethiopian national. The proclamation excludes foreign nationals who forfeited Ethiopian nationality to acquire Eritrean nationality.
The waiver applies specifically to U.S. citizens of Ethiopian origin. The announcement does not indicate that citizens of other countries are eligible under this particular program.
Why this matters for the diaspora: Overstay penalties have long been a significant pain point for Ethiopian-Americans visiting family back home. Many community members travel to Ethiopia on tourist visas or Ethiopian Origin ID cards — the _ye-woled meታወቂያ_ — and end up staying longer than planned, whether for family obligations, medical care for relatives, or the simple pull of being home. The fines accumulate quickly and can reach thousands of birr, creating an unpleasant surprise at departure from Bole International Airport and, in some cases, deterring future travel altogether.
The amnesty fits into a broader pattern of Ethiopian government outreach to its diaspora. In recent years, Addis Ababa has expanded the Ethiopian Origin ID card program, launched diaspora bond offerings for infrastructure projects, organized Great Ethiopian Homecoming tourism campaigns, and established the Ethiopian Diaspora Agency to coordinate engagement. For families carrying unresolved overstay penalties — sometimes accumulated over multiple trips and several years — this waiver offers a concrete, practical resolution.
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The critical limitation is the in-person requirement. The amnesty is only available at ICS headquarters in Addis Ababa, meaning it serves those currently in Ethiopia or those willing and able to travel there before the May 23 deadline. The announcement makes no provision for applications at Ethiopian embassies, consulates, or through any remote process.
Community members in the DMV area, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Dallas, and other cities with large Ethiopian-American populations who are planning trips to Ethiopia in the coming weeks may want to factor the deadline into their travel plans. Those already in-country visiting family — a common pattern during the spring season ahead of _Fasika_, Ethiopian Easter — are positioned to take advantage of the window immediately.
Key details at a glance:
- Who qualifies: U.S. citizens of Ethiopian origin (as defined by Proclamation No. 270/2002)
- Waiver amount: 100% for minors under 18; 50% for adults 18 and older
- Window: March 24 – May 23, 2026
- Where to apply: In person only — ICS Headquarters, Gotera Interchange, Kirkos Sub-City, Addis Ababa
- Required: Evidence of Ethiopian origin
