Ethiopia Passport Application Guide
An Ethiopian passport is issued through the Immigration and Citizenship Service — online and at branch offices inside Ethiopia, or through an embassy abroad. This guide covers the cases, the photo and the ePassport fingerprint rule. Evidence level: B (a dated embassy snapshot), so treat the details as indicative and confirm current rules.
The 15-second answer
The photo is a recent colour photo on a white background with both ears visible, your name written on the back, and the quantity depends on the case (2 for a replaced expired passport, 4 for a lost passport or a non-holder). The ePassport requires fingerprints (children under 14 are exempt), and you should apply at least 45 days ahead.
Evidence note (read this first)
The requirements below come from an archived embassy page (2021); the embassy's current passport page no longer resolves. Ethiopia's issuing body is the Immigration and Citizenship Service (immigration.gov.et / ics.gov.et). No numeric photo size is published in the source, so this page deliberately gives none — do not treat any mm/px figure as official.
Which case are you?
- Replacing an expired machine-readable passport: 2 photos.
- Lost passport, or a non-holder application: 4 photos.
The photo
- Colour, on a white background.
- Both ears visible.
- Recent.
- Write the applicant's name on the back of the photo.
Because the source gives no numbers, keep to these qualitative rules and confirm the exact size with the office. For a photo for a different document, see the photo size chart and the passport photo checker.
Biometrics and timing
- The ePassport requires fingerprint capture (children under 14 are exempt).
- Apply at least 45 days ahead.
Children and the photo back
Because the name must be written on the back of the photo, applications for children are worth preparing carefully — see the baby passport photo guide for child-photo specifics.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I apply for an Ethiopian passport?
Ethiopian passports are issued through the Immigration and Citizenship Service, online via immigration.gov.et and at its branch offices, or through an Ethiopian embassy or consulate if you live abroad.
How many photos do I need for an Ethiopian passport?
It depends on the case: an expired machine-readable passport being replaced asks for two photos, while a lost passport or a non-holder application asks for four.
What does an Ethiopian passport photo look like?
A recent colour photo on a white background with both ears visible. The applicant's name is written on the back of the photo. No numeric size is published in the source consulted.
Do children need fingerprints for an Ethiopian passport?
Fingerprints are required for the ePassport. Children under 14 are exempt.
How far ahead should I apply?
The guidance is to apply at least 45 days ahead.
Is there a photo size in millimetres for Ethiopia?
Not in the source consulted. It gives only "passport size photograph" with no numbers, so none is stated here rather than guessed.
Photo size chart → Passport photo checker →
Source note (B): the case split (2 vs 4 photos), the white-background colour photo with both ears visible and the name on the back, the ePassport fingerprint requirement (exempt under 14) and the 45-day advice are from an archived 2021 embassy page; the current embassy page does not resolve. The issuing body is the Immigration and Citizenship Service (immigration.gov.et / ics.gov.et). No photo size is published, so none is stated. Confirm all details with the office before applying.
Browse all passport guides or the photo size chart.