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Toronto – Ethiopia’s Immigration and Citizenship Services this week introduced changes to the fee structure for all forms of passport services. The change is effective as of Wednesday this week.
The announcement came a week after the Ethiopian government introduced devaluation of the Ethiopian Birr as per the conditions that IMF and the World Bank attached to what is said to be over ten billions of dollars in the form of loan and grant.
Just a renewal of passport ( which takes several weeks) now costs 5,000 Ethiopian Birr. For those who would like to get express service, they have two options – according to the information from the office. To get it in five days, citizens will have to pay 20,000 Ethiopian birr. The Fastest option is two days but it costs 25,000 Ethiopian birr. It is the same pricing if it is pages running out case.
The fee is even higher for missing passports. To replace it within a regular processing time, the agency charges 13,000 birr. The express service is priced at 28,000 and 33,000 birr for five days and two days respectively.
Damaged passport that needs correction as well costs 20,500 birr just for regular processing time. The price goes up to 35,500 if it is an express service within five days and 40,500 if it is an express service within two days. The fees are said to be higher even compared to fees in western countries. The fees for all kinds of passport services are shown in the following image.
FDRE Immigration and Citizenship Service is saying that the changes are made in accordance with the regulation from the Council of Ministers.
Express Passport Services are offered at the main office in the capital Addis Ababa whereas those opting for regular processing time could pick up their passport from branch offices in the regions.
The changes to the pricing has triggered discussion on social media. Even some supporters of Abiy Ahmed’s ruling party, like Seyoum Teshome, are opposing the changes on grounds that it is not affordable to many millions of Ethiopians.
What happens to citizens that must get a passport within five days for some pressing reasons but could not afford to pay the hefty service fees is unclear. There is an even more serious problem. The agency has a history of bad service delivery and citizens might have to wait for several months before they get a passport.
Ethiopia’s Immigration and Citizenship Services has been making news headlines in the country in connection with corruption. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has made changes to executives within the agency but there are still complaints in the way that the agency is offering service.
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