Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa

1. Procedures for Obtaining a Passport from Within Ethiopia

Information on the procedure for obtaining a passport from within Ethiopia could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response. However, the following information may be useful.

According to the Ethiopian Embassy in Washington, DC and the Ethiopian Embassy in Australia, in order to obtain a passport for the first time, the applicant must submit the following to the embassy:

• four recent colour photos of the applicant (Ethiopia n.d.b; ibid. n.d.a), with the name of the applicant on the back (ibid.);
• two copies of the passport application form (ibid.; ibid. n.d.b), a copy of which is attached to this Response;
• two copies of a document showing Ethiopian citizenship (ibid.) or "any supporting documents" demonstrating Ethiopian citizenship (ibid. n.d.a), including, for example,
• a birth certificate that is authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (ibid.; ibid. n.d.b),
• a copy of a parent's passport (ibid. n.d.a), or
• a Kebele identification card (ibid.); and
• Fingerprints of the applicant (ibid.; ibid. n.d.b), including the originals and a copy (ibid. n.d.a). According to the Embassy of Ethiopia in Australia, applicants under the age of 14 are exempt from having to submit fingerprints (ibid. n.d.b).

According to the websites of the Ethiopian Embassies in Washington, DC and Australia, the fee for a passport for a first-time applicant is US$60 (ibid. n.d.a), or 78 Australian dollars [C$75] (ibid. n.d.b).

The website of the Ethiopian Embassy in Washington, DC advises applicants to submit their applications at least 45 days prior to travel (ibid. n.d.a). The Ethiopian Embassy in Australia website similarly advises applicants to submit their applications at least 2 months prior to travel (ibid. n.d.b).

According to the website of the Ethiopian Embassy in Washington, DC, if someone has an expired Ethiopian passport and needs to return to Ethiopia for an emergency, they can use a Laissez-Passer to return to Ethiopia and before returning to the US, they must go to the "Ethiopian Immigration Office" to obtain a passport (ibid. n.d.c).

Further and corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

2. Information Included in the Passport

Information on the appearance of, and information contained in the new biometric Ethiopian passport could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Ethiopia. N.d.a. Embassy of Ethiopia in Washington, DC. "Passport Service." [Accessed 8 May 2015]

_____. N.d.b. Embassy of Ethiopia in Australia. "Passport Services." [Accessed 8 May 2015]

_____. N.d.c. "Passport Service: FAQ." [Accessed 8 May 2015]

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral sources: The following were unable to provide information for this Response: Ethiopia – Embassy of Ethiopia in Ottawa.

Attempts to contact the following were unsuccessful within the time constraints of this Response: Ethiopia – Embassy of Ethiopia in Washington D.C., Main Department for Immigration & Nationality Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Internet sites, including: ecoi.net; Ethiopia – Embassy of Ethiopia in Ottawa, Embassy of Ethiopia in Stockholm, Ethiopian Government Portal, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Factiva; United Nations – Refworld; United States – Department of State.

Attachment

Ethiopia. N.d. Embassy of Ethiopia in Washington, D.C. "Application Form." [Accessed 8 May 2015]