By Sinishaw Hailu, Associate at DMLF
The Ethiopian Council of Ministers has recently enacted a significant update with the introduction of Regulation No. 550/2024 here in after the regulation, which establishes new fee rates for services provided by the Immigration and Nationality Service. This regulation repealed the previous Regulation No. 38/2022 and introduces a new fee structure for a variety of immigration services, including passport issuance, visa applications, residence permits, and the provision of vital event certificates from abroad.
Under the new regulation, the fee for obtaining a new passport is set at ETB 5,000, while the replacement of a lost passport will cost ETB 13,000. For those in urgent need, passports can be issued within two days for ETB 25,000 or within five days for ETB 20,000. When applying for passports from abroad, the fees range from 200 USD for issuance at an embassy to 250 USD for online applications and reissues, with urgent requests available for 350 USD.
Visa fees have also been revised. A private work visa now costs 400 USD for a single-entry visa valid for one month, and 1,000 USD for a 90-day multiple-entry visa. Investment visas are categorized by duration, with fees of 60 USD for one month, 150 USD for three months, 250 USD for six months, and 600 USD for one year. Transit visas are available at varying rates depending on the duration of stay, with fees ranging from 25 USD for 12 hours to 60 USD for 72 hours. Additionally, visa extensions carry their own fees, with private work visa extensions priced at 500 USD for one month and 1,500 USD for three months.
For residence permits, individuals seeking a temporary permit valid for one year that is not for work will pay 150 USD, while a work temporary residence permit costs 1,500 USD. Permanent residence permits, valid for five years, are set at 500 USD. Should applicants require expedited processing ( in two days), urgent fees apply, with costs escalating to 1,000 USD for a temporary residence permit and 3,000 USD for a work permit.
The regulation also addresses Ethiopian origin identity cards, where fees for new and renewal applications for a five-year ID are 300 USD and 400 USD, respectively. For children under 18, the fees are 100 USD for ordinary requests and 200 USD for urgent( in two days) processing.
In a significant enhancement to service delivery, the regulation introduces a door-to-door passport distribution system, allowing individuals to have their passports delivered to their homes for an additional fee. This option is particularly beneficial for those unable to attend in person due to health concerns.
Lastly, the regulation outlines fees for vital event certificates issued abroad, including birth, marriage, divorce, death, and adoption, each costing 30 USD, except for death certificates, which are priced at 20 USD.
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