Ambassador Ervin Masinga of the United States Embassy in Addis Ababa urged Americans living in or visiting Ethiopia to strictly comply with the country's immigration laws.

In a message sent through the embassy, the ambassador emphasized the importance of Americans being aware of and prepared for the laws governing their stay in Ethiopia, noting the changes made to Ethiopia's immigration policy.

Masinga said that in November 2023, the Ethiopian government increased the fine for overstaying a visa to 30 US dollars per day in an attempt to reduce illegal immigration, noting that this fine can quickly accumulate.

Ambassador Masinga warned that Ethiopian immigration authorities “may prevent American citizens who have been fined for overstaying their visas from leaving the country until they pay their fines in full in dollars.” He also explained that the US Embassy is not authorized to provide loans to pay off these fines.

To avoid penalties, the ambassador advised American citizens to apply for a visa extension or residence permit from the Ethiopian Immigration and Citizenship Service Headquarters before their 30- or 90-day tourist visa expires.