Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa

Information on photograph procedures for Ethiopian passports was scarce among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.

In a telephone interview with the Research Directorate, a representative at the Embassy of Ethiopia in Ottawa, who consulted with the official in charge of consular affairs at the embassy, indicated that for passport applications made within Ethiopia, the photographs are taken by government staff (Ethiopia 10 Sept. 2015). In correspondence with the Research Directorate, a representative from the immigration law section at Fikadu Asfaw and Associates Law Office in Addis Ababa similarly stated that the "applicant is not responsible for bringing photographs" when applying for a passport and that staff at the immigration office will take the passport photographs (Fikadu Asfaw and Associates 1 Sept. 2015). The same source said that this has been the policy for over five years (ibid.). The source further stated that, in his view, it is now "very easy" to obtain a passport in Ethiopia and that the waiting time for passport issuance has been reduced from "months" to approximately one week (ibid.). Further and corroborating information 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. 10 September 2015. Embassy of Ethiopia, Ottawa. Telephone interview with a representative.

Fikadu Asfaw and Associates Law Office. 1 September 2015. Correspondence from a representative to the Research Directorate.

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral sources: Ethiopia – Main Department for Immigration and Nationality Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Internet sites, including: Africa Confidential; African Research Bulletin; ecoi.net; Ethiopia – Ethiopian Government Portal, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; International Organization for Migration; Jane's Intelligence Review; United Nations – International Civil Aviation Organization, RefWorld.